New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-26
IN THE FIGHT.
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tBY TELEGRAPH TO The TkiB,SE.I
Washington Jan. 25.-After stormy session
which lasted two hours and half the Demo-
cratic caucus Of the House OF Representatives.
tonight voted to attach the Internal Revenue
bill reported from the Ways and Means Com
mittee Yesterday to the pending Tarih Dill.
Chairman Wilson's substitute. which provided
that the Internal Revenue bill should be brought
forward as a separate measure under speciai
rule as soon as the Tariff bill should have been
disposed Of by the House. was lost by vote OF
Il to 49, The vote. therefore, did not disclose
the full strength of the income tax men. great
many of whom thought that as a matter OK
policy IT. would be wiser not to cucumber the
Tariff bill with the Internal revenue sectiohs.
Bourke Cochran and number or other Demo-
Gratis who are opposed to income tax.
whether as a separate measure or Otherwise
served notice on the caucus that they would
not be bound by its decision, but 1t Is the opn-
ion of Judge Holman, who presided and who
fayors an income tax that the resolution binds
them. It was apparent from the time the caucus
assembled and Mr.. Fithian offered his resoiu-
ton that the men who were determined 70
fasten the income tax provision upon the wilson
bill would carry the day. but those VINO were
opposed TO this a matter OF policy aided oy
the men who were opposed TO an income tax az
all, made a gallant fight.
URGED AS PARTY NECESSITY.
To Mr. Fithian, OF Illinois, was intrusted ths
resolution which provides that the income TAX
and other internal revenue provisions snail Do
attached to the Wilson BILL and that two days
shall be allowed for debate thereon before the
final vote is taken on the bill and amendments.
He supported the resolution In a vigorous
speech and was followed by Mr.. Bryan OK
Nebraska. one Of the subcommittee that framed
cd
all the power and eloquence at his command.
He dwelt upon the necessity Of providing means
70 carry on the Government as speedily as
practicable. and urged that with Treasury
deficit staring It in the face the party could not
afford to oass. without any provision for rails
ing revenue a bill which would create further
large deficiency. Other speeches In the same
line were made by Mr.. Hatch, OF Missouri ana
several other leaders. Mr.. McMillin. OF Tennes-
see who was chairman OF the subcommittee
that framed the bill, said in part:
"The gentleman from West Virginia says
that the income tax is right. Then why not
take the matter up at once and pass II! he
says that the corporations are against U.S. Then
why should we hesitate? We need and must
have more revenue. and that as soon as pract'
cable The increase In the tax on whiskey ana
some other articles will speedily brng some
relief to the Treasury This is not the time TO
hesitate" Mr.. McMillin's speech excited gooo
deal of enthusiasm and applause
LIKELY TO DEFEAT THE WILSON BILL
The longest speech Of the evening was tnas
Of Chairman Wilson. who spoke with great
earnestness and deep feeling. He proposed Ihat
the Committee on Rules should be requested to
bring in a rule providing for the consideration
Of the Internal Revenue BILL and fixing a date
Immediately
Tariff bill is disposed of. without the interven-
ton Of any other business.
III YOU fasten the income-tax provision upon
the pending bill you invoke its defeat, ne de-
clared: and he continued: "An income tax -
light and under the circumstances 1t Is neces-
sary and yet II Is a measure that never was
proposed in democratic National PLATFORM
We went to tn country on the issue OF tartn
reform We pledged to 1t. Is 1t fair or just
TO the people vino intrusted us with power
on that pledge to cucumber the bill designed
to redeem it with a provision which VIII IN
evtaby embarrass and may defeat t| - ="
fair To the man who has been the foremost
leader and strongest champion of tariff reform
to do It
Mr.. Wilson spoke in this strain for some twenty
minutes. and begged Mr.. Fithan to withdraw
his resolution in the interest Of party harmony
and success bu: the latter declined 10 do so. "
is possible that Mr. Wilson might have carried
his point had it not been for the declarations or
several men who spoke on his side that they were
unalterably opposed to an income tax Speeches
in opposition to the Introduction OF the INTERNAL
revenue sections as an amendment To the Iarin
hill were made by Messrs. Reilly. OF Pennsylvania;
Black of Illinois: Outhwaite OF Ohio; Cochran.
and Tracey, OF NewYorl, and others Mr. Cock
ran was unfortunate in not obtaining the moor
until the caucus had become impatient Tor
vote so that he had not fair opportunity 70
submit his views He was not the only. speaker
however, who labored under that disadvantage'
for the caucus was a most disorderly gatnering.
and the loud and repeated cries for Order
"Order" could be distinctly heard In the corri-
doris adjoining the Representatives. chamber.
After ali was over and the caucus adjourned. a
member Of 1t remarked in sarcastic tone: It
was the most intellectual caucus ! ever ATTENDED
"A rich. intellectual feast indeed
MANY NETWORK DEMOCRATS OPPOSE IT.
What the effect of placing the income-tax
provision in the Wilson bill will have upon the
fate of that measure in the House remains to
no seen one of the Tammany Representa-
tives said to a Tribune correspondent this AFTER
noon that he thought fifteen sixteen Of the
New-York Democrats would vote against the
bill IL 1t should carry income tax, and. he
added. that the bill was a rather heavy load
to carry even without that obnoxious provision.
He also admitted that the opposition to the
bill is steadily growing and attributed it largely
tons which has been pouring in upon Demo-
cratic members during the last six weeks
Amos Cummings said. in reply to question.
that he had received at least a score OF protests
against the Wilson bill from workingmens
organizations in his district. and he presumed
that the experience Of other Congressman from
New-York and Brooklyn was similar TO his own.
There is doubt that the authors and advo-
Gates of that measure have begun to feel some
uneasiness I'm regard to It's prospects That
Enthusiastically increased by the appearance
at the Capitol this morning OF Richard Croker
who held a conference I'm the Speakers room
with the Representatives from New-fork CITY.
All sorts of reports in regard to this con-
ference were flying about the Capitol during the
day. but the one that gained general credence
was that Mr.. Croker's mission in Washington
to defeat the income tax. That was the
impression which Mr.. Croker himself seemed
to desire to create. for he caused 1t to be
spread among newspaper men and others. Men
who know something OF Mr.. Croker's methods
did not accept the statement, however. without
a large mental reservation, and their caution