The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-01-25
THE CONGRESSIONAL OUTLOOK
No Prospect OF Anything of Consequence
Being Done.

THE CONGRESSIONAL OUTLOOK
No Prospect OF Anything of Consequence
Being Done
Nothing good can be expected from
congress during the rest of this session
1t started wrong, and has been con-
trolled by false notions from the first,
and an overwhelming popular defeat
does not seem to have brought out the
best of democratic statesmen. Prob
ably they will not dare to correct even
the most obvious and grave deficiencies
IN the new tariff, because they appre-
bend that they may be plunged into
interminable debate ON that subject,
and serious changes may possibly be
favored by a majority in either house.
The necessities of the treasury would
receive attention, undoubtedly, but for
the wildcat banking scheme which
blocks the way. 1t is questionable
whether congress will get anything
done that it ought to do, because this
measure and the bill to provide for the
collection of the income tax are in the
way, and will be, as they ought to be,
stubbornly resisted.
There are many who believe that the
provisions of the income tax may be
defeated, so that the tax itself may be
rendered innocuous. Perhaps it is a
little too much to expect. But it would
be well for the country if the collec-
ton of this tax could be prevented.
The tax is indecent and offensive at the
best. 1t should never have been i'm
posed. Probably this same congress
would not have ventured to impose the
income tax if it had not hoped for very
different results from the election in
| the western and southern states. But
in view of the decision of the people in
those and other states, it is perhaps not
too much to expect that members of
congress may see their way to aban-
| don a policy which has been SO dis
tinctly condemned.
There ought 20 be a general agree
ment among congressman of both par
ties to reverse. as far as possible, the
mischievous and dangerous action of
the last session. The people have some
right to be heard. There is no room to
doubt the meaning of their verdict.
They have decided that congress ought
to go no further in the direction
marked out by its action and its com
mittees at the first session, and it is
clearly their wish that its action should
be as far as possible reversed. There
ought to be no feeling of hesitation on
the part of the democratic majority to
prevent ready submission to the will
of the people in this matter. 1t is
their government. The democratic
has had ample opportunity TO test its
theories and has given such expression
to its theories as it saw fit. and the
people without hesitation condemn the
course it has chosen thus far. As to
the income tax. one. thing at least is
clear, that while it was expected to
save the democratic party in western
and southern states. it has entirely
failed to strengthen it in that quarter,
but has undoubtedly contributed large
" to the defeat of the party in the
eastern states. The best thing that
could happen for the democratic party,
it is probable, would be the failure to
provide for collection of the income
tax, so that the people may never come
to feel this particular burden or realize
its offensiveness.
1t is too much to expect that con-
gress will materially alter the revenue
bill or give serious attention to the
duties on sugar or to the tax on
whisky. Whatever has been granted
to the mOhopolies by means of these
impositions will remain until a repub-
lican congress has opportunity to re-
wise the revenue law. But it would be
well if congress would make provision
at once for raising Money to meet the
necessities of the government, and this
it ought to do by providing for pOpu-
lar loan at low rate of interest. The
dissolution of the bond syndicate
makes it only too clear that the govern
ment will not be able to raise much
money in future by appealing to the
bankers and fnanciers of this and
other countries, and if it does not pro-
vide means for raising money by direct
appeal to the people, it is exceedingly
likely to be embarrassed within the
nezt year-N. Y. Tribune.