The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-08-29
LOOKING BACKWARD.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF
PRESENT CONGRESS.
Mr.. Mcmillan Reviews
Them OH the Pages of
the Record.
A Forecast of the Annual
Report Of Secretary
Morton.

preparing the statement, and it Is
a semi-official showing, from a po-
litical standpoint, of what the ma
jority has done. After reviewing
what laws it has heretofore framed
Mr.. McMillnn says: "I come to a
few things it has done during this
administration. 1t has repealed
all force laws and left elections
free. 1t found system Of oppres-
siye laws on the statute hooks
authorizing the use of troops at the
polls and has repealed them. In
the dark days of the republic the
Republican party also enacted a
law authorizing the United States
Supervisors of Elections and
deputy marshalls to be appointed
| by the federal courts wholly inde-
pendent of the States were cleo
tions were to be held. They were
expected to dominate and did
dominate the elections.
"Thousands of men were arrest
ed without cause and imprisoned
within the States of New York,
Ohio aud Indiana in a single elec-
tion and imprisoned to prevent
them from voting. They were
turned out after it was to late to
vote without the formality of in
dictment, presentment, arraign-
ment or trial. The Democratic
party determined this should not
continue. To repeal it, it forced
an extra session of Congress in 1879
and passed the repeating bill. Mr..
Hayes vetoed it. But it has kept
up the fight nearly sixth of a
century and at last triumphed DUR
ing this administration. 1t has
repealed the law authorizing the
President to levy and remit taxes.
1t cannot conceive of surrender
of a great prerogative more dang
erous and objectionable than this.
We denounced it at the time in.this
hall. We went forth to the people
and denounced it. We pledged
them in our platform that if in
trusted with power we would take
this ancient right from the Presi-
dent and give it back to the peo-
ple's representatives. We have
now kept the promise.
"This Congress has also authoriz-
ed the State to tax grselnbbaacks and
other United States currency. For
! ttie exemption of these has
been Il crying evil. The law auth.
orizing the issue of greenbacks and
the treasury warrents under the
Sherman act exempted them from
State, county and municipal taxa
ton. Hundreds of millions there
by escaped all taxation. Individ'
uals escaped it by having theil
funds in bank nominally invested
! in greenback or United States
Treasury warrants on the day fol
assessment. Banks accomplished
the same object in the same way
No doubt can exist that in some
banks, the United States Treasury
warrants were placed to the credit
of more than one individual on the
day for assessment, to escape nun
icipaFand State taxes.
. "It is also charged that certain
, banks would aid each other in diff
ferent States by changing thei
treasury warrant deposits from
one to the other to suit the differ
ent days for assessment existing il
different States. All this is stop
, ped now. Under the bill introduc
ed and passed by the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Cooper) al
United States currency heretofor'
escaping taxation will be reachet
by the tax gatherer. United
States Treasury warrants know
, as greenbacks and the bills issuet
under the Sherman bullion pur
chase law amount to about half {
billion dollars and the countr.
owes him a debt of gratitude fo
his patriotic exertion."
Mr.. Mcmillan next reviews tn,
reductions and appropriation
heretofore set forth by Representa-
/, tive Sayers Of the Appropriation
Committee. He then continues
at has passed the most stringen
law against trusts ever enacted Il
I. this country. At the same tins
, the Attorney General has institui
} ed proceedings in the courts to tr
to dissolve illegal trusts. Th
: amendment offered by the Senate
: from Alabama, Mr.. Morgan, cal
3 ries into law the most ellectiv
t means ever yet devised for cor
!. trolling and curbing the power {
10.