The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-01-24
CONGRESS.
Abstract of the More Important Pho
CeedingS of Both Houses


snticpated for some DAYS At the outset Mr.
German give his attention TO the proposition
20 cripple the income tax by cutting off its ap
preparation. He declared himself opposed Il
that line of attack He then proceeded to TAX,
ND the tariff legislation as bearing on existing
conditions. The tariff bill which FIRST came Il
the Senate from the House overlooked the
greatest essential of legislation-to raise suit
Gent revenue TO carry on the Government.
The Senator said that he for one would
never have voted for the tariff bill if he had
not believed il had been shaped so rs to raise
ample revenue for the expenses of the Gov
eminent The Senate had added S60, 1000, DOC
TO the revenue under that law. And yet il
was now demonstrated that the revenues un'
der the law were insufficient to carry on the
ordinary expenses of the Government.
The Wilson BILL or the German bill, or the
Brice bill, or the Smith bill, or by whatever
names you desire to call il, was compromise
bill.
Mr. Hill was not a party to It. There was
something about Democrats from the section
whence he comes that prevents them from
ever compromising.
THE first thing to do is to pass the appro.
pTiation for collecting the income tax, said
Mr.. German. THE expenditures during the
four years of Republican administration" he
went on, exceeded the receipts 1896 000, 600,
yetthis Democratic Administration was blamed
Democrats had appropriated $26.000000 less
than the estimates. For the next fiscal year
the Government had obligations it could not
repudiate. 1t had public works in process of
completion, it was building navy, il had PEN
Eions to paw. it intended TO maintain The eur
rency on gold basis. No matter what il cost.
how many bonds il required, the President and
the Secretary of the Treasury were right when
they issued bonds for that purpose. He want
nd fp ba I'm Inn q ba
Slo0000.o 600 of bonds sold on the face of things
20 maintain the gold reserve were in fact sold
60 pay current expenses
Appealing directly to Republican Senators,
Mr.. German concluded:
You come into power on the 4th Of March
next under better conditions than we did on
the 4th OF March, 1893. We have removed
from your pathway many distractions You
have, as compared with our work, little 10 do.
You come with a ma ority in the other House
as great as we had there You have in this
body majority equal 20, il not greater than
than that which we have. The responsibility
will be then on you. And ] say TO the Senator
from Pennsylvania Mr.. Quay that /, for one,
will treat him and his friends in a spirit differ
ent from that which be has manifested to Us.
In any question that affects the finances oil the
Government, or that is necessary TO prevent the
bankruptcy of the Treasury, or that is neces-
ssry TO reform the currency, Will help you,
aud You ought to volunteer to help us now"
The Senator had not, said Mr.. Allison men
toned the currency question. He had gone 10
the really great emergency-the Governments
grave emergency in lacking revenue now, and
threatened with still greater lack of revenue.
" But there is a remedy at hand" continued
Mr.. Allison, with great earnestuess. There
are bills here, sent from the House, to further
reduce the revenue from coal and iron. The
duty OF the hour is to take these bills and, in
stead OF passing them to further reduce reve-
nue., to so frame them as to yield $50, 600, 900
additional 10 our revenues"
The Senator took up the revenues under the
Mckinley law. He urged that the statistics he
presented showed that the Mckinley law weuld
have yielded ample revenue. But. said he,
from the outset the normal action OF that law
was interrupted by the threat of revising and
multiplying il.
Senator Hill said be saw no reason Senator
German should not try to Yindicate himself
but be should not seek 70 impeach those who
supported the Wilson bill. That Senator Cor
man was among those who voted for that bill.
He liilD WAS not among those who voted for
IL. IL was peculiar situation TO find Senators
who had voted against bill criticised for its
existence by those who voted for IL. AS 10 the
income tax, be understood the Senator from
Maryland 20 be opposed to il, but after a time,
prestoi change. the Senator was found 10 favor
that tax for q period of five years.
Mr. Hill defined his position. which was 10
repeal the tax. III il was 10 stand be would
offer opposition TO the appropriation for
carrying il into effect.
Returning 10 the tariff Mr.. Hill said that he
had no retractions to offer for the criticisms he
had made against that law. lie objected TO the
dihereniial rate on sugar. Did the Senator
from Maryland think OF revenue when he voted
for that provision Pa provision that hurt the
Democratic party more than any other one
factor. One would think from listening 10 the
Senator from Maryland that he had stood there
and combaited Democratic mob. THAT
Senator" he went on, stands here to-day op-
posed to any change which will provide revenue
for this Government. He opposes change in
the rules. He appeals pi;eousy to the Repub-
lican side OF the chamber for help While the
Senator from Maryland pulled down be did
not bnild up lie offered picture Of the Gov
ernmeDI's distress from want of revenue but
he suggested no remedy. He (Hill) did not
intend 10 offer a scheme OF remedial legislation.
To do so would be idle until the rules were
changed"
In the House. Speaker Crisp laid before the
members al the opening Of the session the resig-
nation OF Representative John c. Black. of
Illinois. who resigned to accept the position
OF United States District Attorney for the
Northern District Of Illinois
Most Of the session passed in considera-
tion Of the bill 10 make oleomargarne and all
other imitation butter products subject TO the
laws OF the State or Territory into which they
arc transported.