The Portland daily press., 1894-06-02
BUSINESS MEN PROTEST..
Denounce the Income Tax Clause Of
the Wilson Bill.
1T is UNAMERICAN AND PARTIAL
THEY SAY.


That Included Prominent Men of Each
Political Party-The Measure is Dis
cussed From Business Standpoint.
New York, June 1.-The business men of
New England turned out in great numbers
tonight at Carnegie Music hall to protest
against the income tax. Every available
seat in the immense hall was filled, and the
platform was thronged with representative
citizens. Great enthusiasm was displayed
Evan Thomas, president of the New York
Produce Exchange acted as chairman.
Among the vice presidents were the
presidents of all the life in
surance companies, savings banks, trust
companies, heads of principal dry goods cor
porations, jewelry houses and other busi-
ness concerns. Mr.. Thomas was introduced
as chairman by Col. W. L. Strong, president
of the Central National bank. He was re-
ceived with great cheering. He made an
address in which, among other things, he
said: "Taxation and tariff should be con-
sidered, simply as busiA ess matters, not as
political The income tax is un-American
and so partial it should not be tolerated
among free people.
The secretary read letters Of regret sent
by Senators Hill and Murphy, Congressman
Quigg, Mervin and Covert, and kilograms of
regret from Congressman Sickles and
Hendrix. Senator Hills letter was received
with great applause.
Louis Windmu1ler was introduced. In the
course of his remarks he said as friend of
tariff reform would rather continue to suffer
from business stagnation than to have the
obnoxious income tax imposed on the con-.
munity. The income tax is embodied in the
tariff bill for no ether puprose than to
pander to socialism and to secure the favor
of Representatives with Populistic tenden-
cies.
Hon. Simon Stern an attorney, was intro
duced. He denounced the income tax and
said there never was time in the history
of the United States when there was less
excuse for the passage of such measure.
John sP. Townsend and Fred Taylor,
representatives of banking and brokerage in
terest, Prof. G. t. Lewis, representing the
life insurance companies, and Waldo Smith,
also denounced the income tax.
committee on resolutions offered the
following preamble and resolutions. which
were unanimously adopted:
Whereas, 1t is proposed, after nearly
thirty years of peace to enact a law taxing
incomes, measure which has never been
resorted to in this country except in time of
war.
Whereas, In addition to the tax upon in
dividual incomes it is proposed to levy "a
tax of per centum ON the net profits or in
come above the ordinary or working or
operating expenses of all banks banking in
stitutions trust companies savings institu-
t1ons fire marine life and all other insurance
companies therefore it is voted against the
proposed legislation in any form as un-
necessary and lndefensible for purposes of
revenue in time of peace; the fnquisitorial
lmprov1sions are unjust in its discrimina-
tlons as socialistic in principle and ten
dency since it places a double burden upon
enterprise economy and thrift
Resolved, That this assemblage composed
| of every. political faith and representing a
multitude of business and trade interests of
this metropolis stands united in opposition
to the proposed tax on incomes either. as a
temporary or permanent jHseasure and call
upon the Senators represet$ting the state of
New York to refuse to vote in favor of any
enactment thereof
Resolved, That we as representatives of
the greatest commercial and business in
terests of the Union most earnestly appeal
to the members of the United States Senate
when voting upon this provision to exercise
the broadest sense of Justice in behalf of
the entire country and be governed by their
own conscientious Judgment rather than by
any party caucus for the purpose of
stating alluring compromise.
The following resolution was offered by
unanimous vote of the executive committee
and was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That we call upon all business
associations and organizations of the
several cities of the Union to organize with
out delay by mass meetings similar to
our own, to voice protest of the great COM
| mercial interests affected too inju1iously by
| the Dronose Il income tax law