The Washington times., 1894-04-10
torial proceedings One procedure is necessary
and unavoidable, the other is not

and unavoidable, the other is not
POOR TENANTS WILL BE AFFECTED.
The public should not be misled into the
belief that only those whose incomes exceed
$4,000 are affected by this bill That is mis-
In the first place, all those having incomes less
than "a 900 but more than $500 are put TO the
annoyance Of making sworn returns, and they
neglect 1t at their peril
In the second place, IL may be reasonably ap-
pretended that some portion Of the tax will re-
imburse itself by an increase Of rents where the
income was derived from that source So poor
tenants will be affected In some degree as well
as the rich landlords The bill seriously affects
the rights and interests Of building and loan as
sociations throughout the country Incorporated
under state laws The Senate amendments do
not cure the defects complained Of
lnquiring as to the source OF the demand, he
said that nothing was heard in Its behalf on the
the campaign Of 1892 Neither the Republican
nor Democratic platform proposed any such
method Of raising revenues. prominent DEM
Its approval was limited to the platform of the
newly formed Popuiist party, and Its advocacy
was restricted TO Populist orators
He protested against the Democratic party be-
ing made tail to the Populist Kite, and denied
the right of Democratic Congress to make new
principles for the party not sanctioned by its
representatives In national convention duly as
sembled. For one he repudiated any such doc.
trine.
It was his belief that the complete substitu-
ton Of internal, direct or income taxes for tarin
interests of this country under existing condi-
tions abroad partial substitution at this time
would be proportionately disastrous
SUICIDAL POLICY.
This bill proposes a suicidal policy when 1t
seeks by its extreme provisions to discard
numerous reasonable tariff duties, and thereby
imperil many industries and create deficiency
in necessary revenues, simply for the purpose
Of afIording an opportunity or excuse for the
substitution of an incomet tax There is an
ample field for genuine tarih reform without a
resort to such an unwise and dangerous expert
ment
The substitution of internal or direct taxes for
custom house taxation meant the reduction of
the wages of the American workingmep to the
European standards 1t meant the degradation
Of American labor; 1t meant the deprivation to
our workmen Of the comforts and luxuries OF
life to which they have been accustomed.
In outlining his position he said that one dol
lar of tariff taxation should be imposed except
what is necessary for the needs OF the govern
ment, economically administered; but whatever
those needs are, the necessary revenues there
for should be supplied for tariff taxation, and
that alone, save and except the taxes upon
liquors oleomargarine, and tobacco, TO which
the country has long been accustomed and which
for obvious reasons need not be disturbed
To show the sectional determinations OF the
tax he referred TO the income tax OF lSiil3 which
extorted from the people an aggregate sum of
$3i7, ,220 Sg7 Sc OF this sum the eastern states
paid IS per cent, the middle states 50 per cent,
and together they paid II per cent New York
that these percentages will be materially
II changed this bill becomes law.
These figures spoke louder than words. They
were significant of the selfish purposes of the
BILL the real motives behind it, and the source
or section from which the votes necessary for its
passage are expected to be secured Further
comment was unnecessary.
II will only add" he went on, "that am not
ashamed OF the fact-on the contrary, l am
proud of the fact-that New York is the wealth.
lest state in our Union, but protest that this
.ir usfa pc.. shO q
target of every vicious scheme which discrimi-
mates against her interests, and especially that
the blow should not be struck by those political
friends who never appealed to her in vain when
they needed evidences of her friendship.
TAKING A SHOT AT Mr. CLEVELAND
mo American statesman of rank, except Mr.
Cleveland, has deemed it eligible, since our war
experience of an income tax made manifest
that here, too in the northern states 1t was
peciaIly odious. IL is a novelty in American pol
itics TO make its conclusions and procedures of
fensive 1t is like making religion immoral and
urbanity noisy in order TO commend and prope-
gate them.
mo such Federal aggrandzement was ever
projected-no such insidious and deadly assault
upon state rights, state powers, and state inde-
pendence Federal income tax"
To double the deficit of s1s,0000Oo by way of
ending it; to discard Sc 100000 of annual revenue
in order 10 collect twice as much in other ways;
TO "embody tariff reform" as the President i'm
agined himself TO be doing in his scheme 10 sub
were TO be reformed; to reconstruct all the
schedules instead Of amending or discarding one
group at time. the worst first, and each upon
its own demerits; to disturb and distress as
many business men as possible and all at once,
Instead Of few at time, is not a, programme
perfectly matured and suited to conduct the
policy and principle of tariff reform uEimDaired
through period Of general business prostra-
tion, public deficit, and private bankruptcy. he
declared
For my own part as a Democrat, he said,
prefe IN reform above
direct taxes and tariff extinction i prefer tax
ing foreign products rather than home products
follow Jefferson in regarding even the species
of indirect taxation on home products by internal
revenue war taxes as not good to be extended
and the first to be rid of when their need is past
SECTIONAL AND CLASS TAXATION.
The taxation of incomes in the United States
would be sectional, and class taxation is pre-
cisely why it commends itself to some men Of the
European tradition. The advocacy is sincere
and has one small excuse, that through our own
stupidity and negligence some parts oi our tariff
schedules have been shaped to enrich few Car
negies with texts for sermons on triumphant
Democracy and the best use of wealth.
If Mckinleyism is socialism for the benefit of
the rich and income-taxing is socialism Tor the
benefit OF the poor, no true American Democrat
will look to the hair of the dog TO cure his bite.
American Democrats will reject socialism Of
both kinds
If my counses were needed would surprise
and satisfy the country by the conservatism OF
our progress in revenue reform The Mckinley
bill lost the country TO our opponents by Its ex-
treme features in one direction, and We should
avoid the opposite extreme
If the contention that the rich should pay all
the taxes and the poor be exempted therefrom is
well founded, then it may well be urged that the
rich should monopoize the suffrages and offices
Of the country
The very fact that every citizen is obliged to
contribute something, no matter how little, to-
ward the expenses of government, whether he
owns property or not fortifies his right TO the
elective franchise and augments his claim for
political preferment. He should regard it as
privilege conferred upon him, a shield against
political ostracism; 1t increases his dignity and
influence. and he naturally takes q keener in
terest in public affairs. The true welfare of the
community is subserved by this system OF in
direct taxation, which reaches all but oppresses
none.
He maintained that the necessities of the
government did not require an income tax, and
quoted from the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury in support OF his assertion. he quote1
from the speech of Senator voorhees, that the
passage of the bill would produce a surplus, and
said that according to this statement the bill has
Jumped out of the frying pan into the fire
From n deficiency there has arisen an immode-
rate surplus One extreme has been exceeded
by another The committee made many changes,
taking sugar. iron, COAL lead, and other articles
from the free list and making them dutiable,
and providing for tax upon sugar estimated
by Official experts to realize 81, SO 6s&6l, and
an additional tax on spirits from which SlO.VOo,-
600 is anticipated Yet, notwithstanding these
large additions of revenue sources TO the bill,
the committee still retained the income tax
SENATOR VOORHEES, CRITICISED.
He criticised the recent speech OF Senator
voorhees, for his fierce denunciatiors of the peo-
pie of the country who have been fortunate
enough to acquire a competence, and defended
the men Of New York whom Mr.. voorhees, had
mathematical. He became sarcastic in refer
ring to Mr.. voorhees, unwillingness TO make
such serious charges against the money men of
New York as asserting that they were "ft asso-
ciates for thieves, housebreakers, forgers and
thieves"
He summed up by asserting that the enemies