The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-02-10

Last evenings meeting OF tho ltcpub.
lican clubs mock legislature was per-
haps the most interesting and at tilncs
amusing OF tho entire acrIcs. The at
{ tendance OF delegates was fair, and
quite mn audience was on hand to wit
moss the gladiatorIal fcats OF eloquence
that wore in or,ler on both sjdoS OF tho
house. Speaker Alex. r. Campbell &C.
cupied tho chair for portion of tho
session, but finally could not resist tho
infection and resigned his reign for q
time 10 Mr.. Mueggc (Dem.) aud took
Spart in tho debate. The new speaker
was even moro autocratic and one.sided
in his rulings than his distinguished
; predecessor. '.g-56.
Mr.. W. J. ". Cowden opened tho dc.
z bate on tho resolution denouncipg the
income tax feature OF tho Wilson bill and
tho threatened repeal OF the 10 per cent
tax on state banks. It was decided to
discuss only the income Tux at this ses-
sion aud leave tho state bank issue Tor
tho meeting next Friday night. Mr..
,Cowden opened with tho statement OF
the claim made by the Democratic party
that an income tax ia necessary on aC-
count OF the reductions in lRritl duties
by the Wilson bill. lie claimed that
! had the proper duties been levied undor
the provisions OF tho tariff act such n
course would bo entirely unnecessary.
He dweltupon the fact that IN income
tax Is not Il measure that has been a
fayorltein the legislation OF republics,
and that,lit is n relic OF monarchlal in
atitutiona. STho pending measure, too,
rs ono that bears on one class to the ex-
sclusion Of tho others, and hence is un-
just, besides being highly inquisitorial.
Mr.. Cowden's review OF the subject was
very clear and convincing.
Mr.. Hart Dem replied to Mr.. Cow
den. Ho made the claim that the on
forcement OF the proposed income tax
would not be inquisitorial or not more
SO than the county assessor to whom no
objection Ia made. Tho enforcement OF
the income tux would simply mean n
United States assessor. He spoke OF
the claim made by tho gentleman on
the other side that this law would open
tho door and put premium on fraud
5ulent appraisements OF property and
income, and said that is no argument
against tho bill. 1t had been said that
the peni,entiaries would not hold the
thousands if the law goes into effect.
Turning to his Republican opponents
the speaker said:
BE not afraid. you will be accommo-
dated"
Continuing tho speaker remarked that
III the income tax bill could be put to n
vote OF the people it would BIO support
ed unanimously, thus attcsting to it's
popularity. "if the bill passes you
know tho grand old Democratic party
willbe so safely lodged III power and
favor that it will not be ouated for five
hundred years"
"a Mr. Bentley Jones Dem OF Howley-
town precinct, made the point that in
Great Britain, at least, tho income tax is
mot the result OF monarchials institu.
& tons, as the tax legislation there is en-
tirely controlled by tho house Of COM
mons, the lords having nothing to do
:. with it. 4
Speaker Campbell (erstwhilc Dem.
now Rep was the next speaker on
the subject OF income tax. He launched
into eloquent paragraphs which, how
ever, were frequently brought to an un-
timely end by Interruptions from the
Democratic side of the house, MI. Hart
being especially humorous" The
speaker, however, sided with Mr..
I Campbell, and the Democratic mem
4 bers had little show for anything in the
noble art of repartee. A delegate on the
s Democratic sido wanted the speaker to
conline himself to tho question under
consideration.
Speaker Muegge-1 am TO judge OF
that.
$ The gentleman subsidized.
Mr.. Campbell made really able argu-
ment on tho income tax question,
which he denounced rs inqusitorial
andjunjust. The Republican party had
& never favored legislation arrayinc ono
class or one section against another.
I III sections and all classes should array