Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-04-05
CLEVELAND CONVERTED
HE BELIEVES THE INCOME
TAX A GOOD THING.
THE DEBS' CASE INTERESTS
CLEVELAND.
The Supreme Court VIII Decide in May
General WashiL gton News
Special Correspondence.


General WashiL gton News
Special Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, April 2-Presidont Cleveland
said TO a prominent western politician, a
few days ago IL was opposed TO the income
tax. but have recently become "A convert. and
now believe il to- be- good thing" This
50 pleased the western man. that he went on
the highways and by ways of the national
capital and proclaimed the glad tidings. II
has been known for some time that the hun
ter who occupies the White house has been
weakening in his unfriendliness toward that
law. but this is the first authoritative state
ment of his change of ideas. He has at least
reached the conclusion that it is measure
very popular with the masses, and that if the
rich men do protest against it, the burden
imposed by the law Is equally distributed
among a class best able to bear it.
Anent this measure: Attorney General
Olney has informed the president that he has
no doubt that the supreme court will declare
the law constitutional. II is generally con
coded thar the attorney general has greater
facilities than any other man in Washington,
mot member of the supreme court for
knowing in advance the findings of the conrt
on questions of importance, and so correct
have been his 'precasts' ina the past, that
when he says the supreme court will uphold
the validity of the income tax law. his words
have the weight of authenticity.
The strike of last summer, and the case of
Debs, resulting therefrom. has troubled Mr.
Cleveland not a little. So ksenly does he
feel the criticisms passed upon his course
during the Chicago strike, that vindication
at the hands of the supreme court would give
him more real pleasure than to be made the
nominee of the next democratic national
convention. Be IL said TO his credit, he be
lieves that he acted exactly right on that try
ing occasion, and that the firm stand taken
by the government TO suppress lawlesness
saved the country from reigh of terror. To
be censured by the supreme court, too, would
make him willing to Join with the man from
the nutmeg" state in an express ion of fati-
que IN trying To keep mp with :'all the nncon-
stitutiOnal decisions of the supreme court"
And in this instance, too, the attorney gen
eral applies soothing balm, and says that
the supreme court will "vindicate" Grover,
~
The hearing on the application of Debs
and others for writ of habeas corpus for
their release from imprisonment occurred
one day last week. Attorney General Olney
do IA trz L inc in hah
of the government opposition to the applica-
ton. Mr. Olney admitted that that il was
the duty of the state authorities to deal with
certain phases of the offenses committed,
and said. If they had done so promptly and
vlgorousy,the interruption of interstate rail-
road transportation might possibly have
ceased, but they allowed day after day to
pass, marked either by total inactivity or by
effort so illy-directed and inadequate as to
aggravate the evils of the situation"
Hence II became necessary for the federal
government 20 step in, not only in defense
of individuals, but to protect inter-st com
merce, and because it Is the duty of every
government TO exercise its functions when
ever occasion revuires. In speaking of
the means at the command of the govern
ment for the suppression of the strike, Mr..
Olney said the principal one was the courts,
which must be depended upon so far as
practicable to deal with it. Mr.. Olney was
followed by the attorney in defense of the
petitioners, and when he had closed, the su-
preme court took the briefs. and will an
nounce its decisions before the adjournment
in May.
About &C, 600 pensioners will be affected by
the recent legislation raising all pensions be-
low sc a month. to that rating. The neces-
sary steps for putting into effect this new
legislation at the next quarterly payment
day have been taken by the pension bureau
This change will add about $l,50000o to the
pension expenditures.
IL has been reported that the United States
will enter the proposed international none
tary conference, but the report lacks con-
frmation. In case the conference Is held,
it is believed that President Cleveland will
accept the invitation under the terms of the
law enacted during the last session, and ap-
point three delegates necessary to complete
on behalf of this country. 1t is thought that
il will not forego any opportunity that prom
ises substantial progress to promote an in
ternational agreement on this question, but
it ia not pr obable that he will take any deci-
sive action until he has seen the terms upon
which the United States is asked to partici-
pate.
Already there are rumors of a collision be-
tween Senators Sherman of Ohio and Nor
rill of Vermont when the senate reorganizes,
in a contest for the chairmanship of the fl
nance committee. These gentlemen are
both advanced in years, Sherman being ~
and Morrill, So years of age. Sherman is re-
ported to have said shat Mr. Morrill, is SUI
perannuated, and ought not again to be
placed at the head Of such an important
committee. This same quertion was agi-
tated few years ago, at which time Mr..