New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-02
PRICE THREE CENTS.
THE METROPOLIS PROTESTS.
AWAY WITH THE INCOME TAX
LARGE AND REPRESENTATIVE GATHER
ING IN MUSIC HALL.

p. TOWNSEND. G. WALDO SMITH AND
FREDERIC TAYLOR A LETTER
FROM SENATOR HILL
THE RESOLUTIONS.
In RESPONSE TO call issued by the business
men Of New-York at a gathering on last Mon-
day afternoon in the NewYork Life Insurance.
Companys Building. for mass-meeting 10 pro-
test against the income proposition contained
in the pending Tariff bill, large number OF
people assembled in Music Hall last night. The
call was made by representatives OF nearly every
financial and business institution in the city.
Included in the list Of vice e-presdents were the
names Of many men prominent in almost an
branches of business in the city. The list mas al
ready been published in the call for the meeting
rho Music Hall was we'll filled, and while
the people were gathering band OF music In
the rear CT the stage played inviting music'
but some of II was amusing. particularly sor'
of concatenation Of notes which brought lor'n
"cuckoo' songs now and then heard on the stage
or elsewhere and the rendering OF these was
source OF much entertainment TO the auuenee'
which evidently appreciated their bearing upon
the occasion. The speeches We're strongly @s-
gressive against the income tax people
THOSE WHO MADE SPEECHES.
William L. Strong called the meeting 10 oroer
and Evan Thomas. who is just retiring from INC
o1ca y, president Of the Produce Exchange.
presided The call was read by the secretary
Edward f. ODwyer. and addresses were de-
,,.arod h.. simon Sterne Charlton T. Lewis,
renresentine the life Insurance interests; John
p Townsend who spoke for the savings .panKs'
louis Windmuller. representing the commission
business: G. Waldo Smith. who spoke for the
wholesale grocers and Frederic Taylor VINO
voiced the sentiment Of the banking and brok-
erage interest in Wall Street. The speeches were
all on a high plane The Idea prcdominated that
an income tax, while justihable IN great
emergency such carrying on war; was
most repusive to a free people In time OF ao-
solute peace.
The meeting was In no sense partisan In its
character; but II was the outgrowth OF strong
sentiment against return to methods which
the party now in control Of the Government con-
demned with intense bitterness at the time wnen
the Nation was struggling to maintain ltsen
against rebellion There was considerable en-
thusiasm. and many OF the strong points brought
out by the speakers OF the evening were iouuiy
applauded The remarks OF Simon sterne. OK
Charlton T Lewis and OF G. Waldo Smith were
particularly acceptable. while the common-sense
views expressed by Louis Windmu.ier iSiI John
p Townsend received hearty approval Frederic
Taylor is always entertaining on public occa-
sions. and he managed to bring into his dis
course last night many wittcisms.
While the orchestra was playing many OF the
persons named in the original call gathered IN
| the hall and assembled on the platform shorty
| arter o'clock William L. Strong advanced amid
much applause TO the desk OF the presiding orcer
and called the meeting to order He said: IN
response to the call for non-partisan business
mems meeting here this evening have the
honor Of presenting 10 you as presiden' Evan
Thomas. president of the Produce Exchange.
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDING OFFICER.
Mr. Thomas spoke Follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen: l have been requested to
preside this assemblage for the reason that
preside over largest business association In this
or any other country The New-York Produce Ex-
change has 5000 members who last year ala casn
business in first hands OF over Ai6.ooo.WO
This is one OF the few communities in the country
that allows no politics 10 mix with It's business
| operations Taxation and tariff should be cohsio-
cred simply as business matters and not POLITICAL
When this happy time arrives which the common
sense OF the American people will some day prins
about this divorce will take place: and then proper
consideration will be given TO the representations
OF those who know what the needs OF the country
our object IN meeting tonight is TO protest In
| most earnest manner against having tne lnquisi-
tion again established among us An income n,rX raX
that It should not be tolerated among free peopis;;
Inat IL %t and ndH rust that YOU viii ali do what in
| YOU lies TO prevent this onerous tax, with the
| hories OF spies that II VIII necesstate' oe'ns in
posed on the people.
The secretary. Edward F. O'Dwyer, read the
call Of the meeting. Then list OF the vice.
presidents were read 10 the number OF several
hundred subsequently the secretary read also
a number OF letters from Congressman OF the
State. sigournay W. Fay then read the fol-
lowing letter from Senator David b. Hill:
United States Senate.
Washington d. c.. May 81. lSi
Colonel W. L. Strong. Chairman. etc
Dear Sir | regret that official engagements mere
will preyent my acceptance OF your courteous invita-
ton TO be present at the meeting Of the business
men Of New-York on Friday evening next to pro
test against the incorporation OF an income tax IL
| The pending Tariff bill
need hardly assure you that in hearty
sympathy with the purposes OF your meeting An in
come tax feature has proper or legitimate place
! In a tariff reform bill.
II endangers and embarrasses an honest and equit-
able revision OF our tariff laws which was ex-
pec,ed ii not desired. by the citizens Of all par
ties The unfortunate effort 70 incorporate It in the
nending measure has delayed a speedy disposition
| of the tariff subject. and induced surrender OF
neary every correct and consistent principle upor
which tariff reform measure shoud De Ssi osssd gov
An income tax Is scheme OF nohareniesi Al eTs' s
! ernments only, which always sanction class leglsa
cent from dire necessity during the emergency OF
| war II Ia neither Democratic nor a kepuDncan
principle but Is socialistc In its inception un,Amerl'
| can In theory unequal in its operation. and neces-
sar.y offensive in It's execution II Is unjust because
n is unnecessary for purposes of revenue II Is an
lily disguised sectional attack upon the INDUSTRY
| he Empire State, which should be vigorously re-
sented by the men OF all parties. II is an odious tas
nrovai nj the polls In my Judgment. It will surely
bring disaster the political party that enacts H.
II Is clear that II would not be adopted by Con-
gress il Senators would vote according TO their con
scsn,ious convictions rather than In pursuance or
6Icksr and a contemplate compromise founded upon
no principle and tolerated only as miserable IN MAKE axe
ahI{t or excused only temporary eXped .ent
I am opposed 10 compromises where questions OF es-
sental principle are involved -. i, ,. -.
=, 90 ,,materIa whether this scheme Is popular OF
unpopuiar or whether It taxes the many for the
nannoat ~ n few or a few for the benent or the
manv II IA equally indefensble vicious and unrea'
sonable , ,.,.., o,d . rar-,s.r ,
hovs onnossd this income tax folly from the start