The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-16
MUCH DEPENDS ON IT
INCOME TAX LAW DECISION AWAIT
ED WITH GREAT INTEREST.
IN the Act liz Declared demonstrations
al an Extra Session os Congress
VIII Probably BE Called.
Special to the indianapolis journal.

before the Supreme Court President Cleve-
land, too, is intensely concerned, for there
is well-defined belief that on the opinion
of the Supreme Court hinges the fate of an
extra session of Congress. Treasury Off
Gals concede that IL the tax law is de-
clared unconstitutional the receipts of. the
government win not for many months yet
TO come. even approximate the expenditures
by million or more a month; that in this
event withdrawal of the gold in the treas
ury is inevitable. in spite of the Belmont
Rothschild syndicate, and that as soon as
the endless chain once again begins its
fatal round extra session of Congress
is only a question of months.
The argument in the Supreme Court has
attracted some of the greatest lawyers in
the United States. Unfortunately for the
case of the government, the greater abil-
ity does not appear to be OH its side Ex-
Senator Edmunds, still smiling over his
recent great victory in overthrowing the
anti-trust" law, is in general charge of
the opposing counsel and there is every
prospect that the brilliant Vermonter is
again on the winning side. Encouragement
Olney has not made a very powerful plea.
Indeed in spite of the rather demagogical
turn he gave his argument at its conclusion
on Tuesday. his heart hardly seems in the
case. A corporation lawyer all his life, it
can hardly be wondered if he will hear the
final decision of the court with divided feel
ings. From some portions of his argu-
ment 1t looks very much as If Mr.. Olney
himself felt doubt as to the legality of
some. of the methods adopted to enforce
the tax, nor does he appear to feel much
faith In that part of the law which pro-
vides for the taxation Of incomes of States
and municipalities by taxing their securi-
ties. for 1t will be noticed that he argued
mat the unconstitutionality of parts of the
lay did not vitiate the whole law.
Speculation to the decision of the
court apart from the inference drawn from
Mr. Olneys own apparent hopelessness
not rise beyond mere surnlise The court
itself is in receptive mood This was evil
denced by the announcement of Chief JUS
ice Fuller that the usual limitation of
time for argument had been set aside by
the court, and shat each side might have
for argument The frequent questions
asked by nearly every member of the court
shows, too. that they are all seeking in
formation. There is reason to believe
that the mere fact that there are earlier
decisions OF the court declaring that an in
come tax Is not a direct tax, to which Mr.
Olney returned so frequently. is any indi-
cation OF the decision OF the court in the
present pre- contention y is more than likely
leak out before the opinion is finally read
from the bench. Opinions affecting the Pc
cuniary interests of great corporations have
curious way of oozing out from the sacred
precincts of even the Supreme Court cham
cision in the Sugar Trust case and of the
Bate refrigerator case are both in recent
Should the court decide against the gov
ernment the treasury will undoubtedly be
in a critical condition. The Commissioner
iations. has given Secretary Carlisle the
assurance that the income tax could be de-
pended on to yield between twenty-five and
thirty millions OF dollars. His estimates of
the total revenue aaI. 49, from r his department
fa(l on nc Inxyn hot
might be expected from the Income tax.
The daily receipts OF the internal revenue
sioner Miller's forecast of revenues both
from sugar and from whisky. so that the
III tb nre v;t nrp n the me tax
Secretary Carlisle. Up to the present time
there have already been paid in some SIS,
by the law. as revised at the last session of
Congress. is April Is. These payments are.
however only the paltry returns of men
whose tax does not amount to more than
ten fifteen dollars, and can by no means
that the supreme Court viii declare the u' law
constitutional II to the present daily dis
appointment from custom receipts and in
tcrral revenue there comes the further
crushing blow of an adverse decision from
the Supreme Court. 1t is conceded both by
the treasury officials and by Representative
Sayers. who was the chairman of the APP
preparations committee In the last House.
and who has been daily visitor TO the
is inevitable
The Supreme Court to-day, took recess
until Monday, the 18th inst, with the excep-
ton that 1t will sit next Monday for the
delivery OF opinions and to hear motions
heapi h a IN the White Cap cases Of 5. W.
Todd. Allen Lights, George Simms and ten
Of Alabama Of intimidating witnesses. etc.
and sentenced to imprisonment.
Lxncher. Acquitted.
WASHINGTON, March 15.-The State De-
partnlent has received a dispatch from
United States Minister Baker at Managua
Nicai qua. dated Marcn 5 last. relative to
the cases of seven Americans who were
held under arrest at Matigaipa. Nicaragua,
since September last on charge of lynch
Ing a native of Nicaragua who had con-
fessed to having participated in the murder
OF German IN the neighborhood. The
minister reports that after seven had
been in jail for some time two of the party,
DIR. Gilman and Fred Hoppe, confessed to
having committed the lynchng alone and
declared that the others knew nothing of
the affair. Thereupon the five innocent men
were released. Gilman and. Hoppe were held
IN jail and were tried for the lynching last
minister reports that tLey were set at
liberty.
Cadet Nominations Confirmed.
WASHINGTON, March l5.--Secretary Her
bert has finally decided that he viii recog-
nize and confirm the nominations of naval
cadets received by him from outgoing mem
bers or Congress, under the special pro-
vision outlined in the naval appropriation
in those cases. numbering sixteen, that
were handed in to the department before
nooa on the fth OF March last. There are
three or four cases where the nominations
came in after the hour of II O'Clock, and,
as the Secretary Is not clear as to the
competency OF the congressman to make
them efser they themselves ceased to hold
Office, he has referred tc the Attorney-gen-
eral the legal question, and will withhold
his decision as 10 the cadets until an an
swer is returned.
GenernI Notes.
WASHINGTON, March 10 - To-days
statement OF the condition of the treasury
shows: Available cash balance $3.50, $40, ISL
gold reserve, $9o.1a2, S82
Mr.. John r.. Leonard, formerly of Indian
apoiis. now warden OF the District JAIL he
Awarded
Highest Honors- Worsd'S Fair.
DIR;