Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1895-01-24
GENERAL NEWS.
Senate Favorable to Income Tax

y
the income tax to the courts, only
five senators joining with Mr.. Hill
in supporting the proposition, says
Washington dispatch. But the
vote was not taken until late in the
day, and up to that time there was
Il spirited debate. Mr.. Vest was
the principal speaker of the day
and in view of his service on the
tariff conference committee there
was great interest manifested in
some Of the committee secrets which
he felt justified in disclosing. In
the course Of his speech Mr.. Vest
called attention to the gravity of
the tariff war which foreign coun-
tries had begun against the United
States as result Of the one-tenth
cent sugar diferential.
Mr.. Vest took up the question of
raising more revenue. Many of the
sources of income under the new
tariff law had not begun to yield as
yet. The senator referred in detail
to the status of the sugar duty and
the tax on spirits. The one-tenth
ditferential on sugars had aroused
Il: contention by Germany, Austria
and other countries. Mr.. Vest ex-
planned the contention of each for
eign country on the sugar question,
He thought there was a good deal
of pretense in Germany's claims
against American cattle.
"But the contentious with foreign
countries" said Mr.. Vest, "indicate
that we are entering upon Il great
commercial war, the extent of
which it is difficult to fcresee."
He urged that it was essential
that the one-tenth differential should
be taken off in order to avert this
tariff war and its disastrous conse-
quences on our revenues.
Mr.. Vest proceeded to state the
substance of an agreement that had
been made as to taking up the free
sugar bill. 1t was his understand
ing that the managing committee of
democratic senators had agreed
with leaders in the house that if the
latter body yielded and passed the
amendments to the tariff bill the
senate would, in turn, take up the
special tariff bills, particularly that
as to sugar.
At this point Mr.. Harris (Tenn.)
urged that there should be no mis-
apprehension. He was one Of the
halfdozen senators. The senator
from kentucky (Blackburn) had
proposed action in line with that
spoken of by Mr.. Vest. Thereupon
Mr., Blackburn had beer authorized
to say to leaders in the house that
if the senate amendments were ac-
cepted the senators present at that
gathering would do all in their
power toward securing action on
the other bills. But there was no
distinct pledge.
Mr.. Vest said he did not mean to
say that there was positive guar
anty, but it was general under
standing which warranted him urg-
ing that this sugar question should
be acted on.
Mr.. Hill again addressed the SEN
ate, answering objections to his
amendment. This closed the de-
bate, and for the purpose of simlifi.
cation it was agreed to take the
first vote on sustaining the. chair in
ruling out of order the Hill amend
ment referring the income tax to
the courts. The chair was sustained
on a yea and nay vote, 40 to 6, only
five senators-Dubois, Davis, Nit
chell (Ore.3, Quay and Pettigrew--
voting with Mr.. Hill against the
decision Of the chair. By this vote
the Hill amendment disappeared,
us the chair had ruled it out OF
order. !,
Mr.. Hill offered an amendment
to the income-tax provision restrict.
ing the interrogatories to persons
Or firms, Notwithstanding the print
ed regulations of.the internalreve'
nue. bureau. After Mr.. Hill ex.
planned how fsf the treasury de-
partment regulations went beyond
the law, Mr.. Cockrell, in charge Of
the bill, agreed to the amendment,
and it was adopted. If the house
agrees t6 the amendment. it will
have the elfset of .cop,pellinE modi'
tcations inlthe treasury regulations