The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-30
CLOSING TARIFF DEBATE.
Mir. MCMillin Will Get Down tC
a Revenue Basis.
HOW 1T is PROPOSED TO DO 1T
Democracy Has Just Three Days Now
to Secure the Passage of Its
Measure.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 29-The feature of
the debate upon the Wilson bill which
has been the most surprising, is the unex-
pectedly strong sentiment in the direction
of free trade and the sipgle-tax theories
developed among Democrats West and
South. 1t has remained for Mcguire of
California to bring forward the most far
reaching proposition placed before the
House. For the first time Congress will
be brought face to face and placed on rec
ord upon the single land tax scheme OF
which Henry George is the author.
Mcguire has drawn up with great care
and study a bill which gives effect to
singie-tax theories, and will propose it at
the proper time as a substitute for the in
come tax to the Wilson bill. This bill levies
direct tax OF S63. &C., go upon the value
OF all lands. exclusive of the Improve
ments thereon. in States and Territories /;
provides for the collection by collectors
and assessors for each State and Territory
to be appointed by the President, or tha:
the States shall collect the taxes them
selves aud turn them over TO the Treasurer
OF the United STATES, retaining 10 per cent
of the proceeds; the mortgage on real
estate 10 be treated as interest on the land
and the tax on the proportion of the value
represented by the amount due from the
mortgage shall be the primary charge
against the mortgage. but will constitute
a lien on the land to satisfy what may be
sold. In case the MORTGAGE falls to pay
his proportion the owner is to pay it and
be entitled TO receive credit for the amount
on his mortgage.
daAo
bill was opened in the Houseto-day by
McMIllin of Tennessee. He began by al
tributing the present depression in bust
ness to the protective policy of the Repub-
lican party and said: Come what will,
we will reduce the tariff to revenue basis
The large revenue necessary for the sup
port of the Government is raised almost
exclusively from consumption, very little
of 1t from a tax on the wealth of the
country. The man owning $50, COO, 600 or
S100,000,000 worth of property pays only
on what he eats, drinks and wears" He
then proceeded to argue in behalf of the
tax on large incomes, for the safety of
which this Government Is a guarantee.
Before McMillin began his address Nc.
Creary, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Committee, reported his resolution eX-
pressing the sense of the House on the
Hawaiian situation. The minority was
given leave 10 submit their views.
The House then went into committee OF
the whole on the tariff bill. and Nc
Milln offered an amendment TO the pro-
vision imposing tax of 81 per 1000 cigar
cites. The entire internal revenue bill
was then read. When the reading was
completed McMllin was recognized to
open the debate in favor of the amendment,
which he proceeded to do.
Ray of New York followed McMillin,
and opened the debate on the Republican
side iE opposition to the income tax.
Tarsney. Democrat, a member of the
Ways and Means Committee, defended the
bill as means of making men pay taxes
according 10 their wealth. Densmore,
Democrat. of Arkansas. advocated the bill
on similar grounds. Daniels, Republican,
of New York, quoted Samuel j. Tilden in
condemnation of an income tax. Will
liams, Democrat. of Missouri, and Hall.
Democrat, of Ohio, strongly advocated the
income tax. Covert, Democrat. of New
YoEk. criticized the action of the Ways
and Means Committee in framing the
tariff bill on fres-trade lines.
The House then took recess until s
o'clock.
The speakers at the night session of the
House were: Kilgore 3D. of Texas, Nc
Donald 3D. of Illinois, Stockdale CD of
Mississippi. Lynch 3D. of Wisconsin and
Williams Cd of Mississippi