The herald., 1894-12-13
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Consid GRAFTON of the Urgency Deficicn'
Bill Begun.

Bill Begun.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l2.-The house to-
day, in committee OF the whole, entered
upon consideration of the urgency def.
cheney appropriation bill, which carries
1886, ,515. and contains two disputed
items-the appropriation of $3.50, 900 for
special pension examiners and SPAS, 900
for the collection OF the income tax.
The former appropriation opens the
door for de bate on the condition OF the
pension office. especially the practice OF
summarily suspending the payment OF
alleged fraudulent pensions. The debate
on the income tax appropriation was
especially lively, but the motion to strike
it out was defeated in committee by q
vote of 81 to l27. 1t is probable that a
record-making vote will be demanded in
the house tomorrow.
An attempt to secure an agreement
fixing a limit to general debate failed,
owing to the objections OF Bartlett OF
OF New York, who led the opposition to
the income tax, and Henderson OF Iowa,
who led the opposition to the spproprl-
alton for special examiners OF the pen-
sion Office.
The latter took the floor and vigor-
ously antsgonizsd the appropriation for
the special examiners, criticizing severe-
ly the conduct of the pension office. The
com missioner OF pensions had boosted
that s3, 900 900 OF pension money had
been eaved to the government last year.
The mission of examiners was to secure
evidence against, not in favor OF, the
pensioners and claimants. He favored
an amendment thst would cut of this
fnv and kRnD
in the field only the regulation num-
Der, 100.
Sickels Democrat OF New York; amid
roar of Republican applause, repudi-
ated the charge OF wholesale frauds
made against pensioners, and declared
hia unalierable opposition to the appro-
priatioD.
After some further debate, Bartlett
democrat OF New York; got the floor
and opened the discussion of the income
tax appropriation. He was earnestly
opposed to this vicions tax. He real
lied the majority of his party were
against him, and that the Republicans
would support him as a party, yet he did
not consider 1t party question. Inc
Democrats had. in his opinion. made a
fatal mistake in passing it, and that 1t
was mistake had been proved within
lew weeks by the ballot box. This bur
den would not fall on the rich. Ulti-
mately the poor must pay it.
McMillin defended the income tax.
In the course OF a hot colloquy with
Bartlett that followed McMiliin said:
I'm order to show the fragrant wrong
and misery of that system OF taxation
under which we have been living, will
call your attention to Mr.. William Wal-
dorf Astor. This gentleman ran for con-
gress once against the present governor
of New York, Mr.. Flower. and was de-
teated. His defeat soured and embit-
tered him against the government and
our institutions. He moved abroad, and
not content with what he could ssy
against America himself and our
American institutions, ne purchased
one of the abiest journals in
Great Britain. He lives there now. and
his paper is doing its work against our
institutions. The income of this man,
derived from property in New York, is
more than $5.000.000 year, and he
does not pay (he does pay state tax,
county tax, municipal tax, it is true)
the government of the United States,
and has not paid $40 in 10years, although
he has this colossal fortune. which is
protected by our army and defended by
our navy"
BARTLETT will answer the gentleman
that there is no better tax paid in the
state of New York than that OF Mr..
William Waldorf Astor; there is no
family in the state or county OF New
York that contributes more largely to
taxation purposes, state. county and
municipal, than does the Astor family,
"How about the federal tax 2'' in
quired McMilin.
If it be your purpose to prescribe the
rich," began Bartlett. but McMillin
quickly dsclaimed such purpose.
The secretary OF the treasury re-
ports. interrupted Strauss, Democrat, OF
New York, THAT there will be a surplus
OF revenue to tho extent of $50, 900, 900
for the year ending June 80. 1895. Now
if there should be a surplns of revenue
Is not the gentleman willing 10 have the
income tax repealed ?''
Il would not be-" replied McMillin,
"until you have complied with the law.
When you pay up the 500, 900. coo OF
d ebt which has been incurred in that
way; when you comply with the law
siul ing fund-then if we have surplus |
eDal O0 IcdOJ W ulbCubo tiubetiOb vi
the epeal OF this tax, but even then |
W oulc take taxation off clothing and
other necesssries of life rather than off
wealth :"
Cock an, Democrat, of New York,
said he and his New York colleagues
had beli ,ved that tariff reduction meant
a stimuli, ls to trade that would result in
increased revenues to the government.
~ tn ha tnit that rau
reductions would depress instead OF
stimulate avenue? If 80, then revenue
reform was what its enemies termed a
war on ind ustry and a menace to the
pl osper!ty. Republican sp-
plause.
"But am etll believer in tariff re-
FORM" he COZ ltinued. ~ still believe
in the princN ples of tariff taxation. /
believe prosper ity you'd have followed
the enactment ,1f the Wilson bill; that
our imports and exports would have
been ouadrupled and our revenues in-
creased instead c diminished. II one
man in the United States 10 SO
strong that he oan drive the people
into a mistaken system, he is stronger
than he should be. If Mr.. Astor has
been able to drive the flower of Tennes-
see Democracy (Mr. McMillin) into this
heresy, then MIR. Astor is more power
ful in the Democratic party than he
ever proved himself to be in the ranks
of the opposition.
Alter a short speech by Breckinridge,
who was in charge of the bill. in which
he defended the income tax, general
ebate closed and Bartlett moved to
strike out the appropriation for the col
4 1. 49, H., -