Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-01-24
FEDERAL LAW MAKERS.

Washington, IAN. 11.-Practically
the whole of the session of the senate
was occupied il the discussion of Sem
ator Hills amendment to the urgent
deficiency bill designed TO afford an
opportunity to test the constitution
ality Of the income tax law Mr.. Hill
delivered long and carefully pre-
pared speech in Support of his amend
ment. He asked where had congress
the right TO exempt any class. He at
tackled the regulations of the treasury
for the collection of the tax and said
that he was within bounds when he
characterized the pending bill relating
10 the income tax as a slip ShOd AZ
rangelnent; Us under it citizens had
no protection. Another serious am
blguIty in the law was what assess
ment or whose assessment is TO be IL
nal. Is the tax payer to have any APP
peal or the commissioner! There is
nothing IN any section OF the income
tax law OF 1894 that authorized suit
against the tax collector or any one
else to recover back taxes illegally eN-
acted. Senator Hill also questioned the
right of congress under the conStitu-
ton to. tax the income from notes.
bonds or other securities issued by the
states or minor divisions Of the
states.
Mr.. Dubois, Of Idaho, followed in
support Of the appropriation to make
the law operative, but soon drifted into
Il discussion Of the silver question in
which he said that no currency bill
could pass that was not liberal towards
silver.
MI. Quay moved to postpone any
further consideration Of the bill and
amendments until February l. It was
the duty of congress to exercise all it's
power to prevent the collection OF the
income tax. At the conclusion of Mr.
Quay'S remarks the motion was defeat
ed, L to ~. Mr.. Sherman said that
the senate had no moral right to re-
fuse the appropriation.
Washington, Jan. 11.-In the house
the day was private bill day. The
feature of the night session was Cne
debate which grew out of an attempt
Of Mr.. Springer, democrat, of Illinois,
to pass a bill granting 500 per month
to Major General John A. McClernand.
Mr.. Jones, democrat, of West Virginia,
insisted on making the point of no
quorum, and got fearful roasting,
but stood his ground till the bill was
withdrawn for the time being.
Washington, JAN 12.-In the senate
Mr.. Teller, who began talking on the
income tax, soon branched off into a
comprehensive review Of the present
conditions of the treasury and of the
remedies demanded. He severely ar
raigned the administration for the eff
feet on the country by the agitation
over the currency bill. The senator
urged that the restoration of silver is
the only effective solution, but said
that he did not expect this solution at
the present time from either of the
great parties, or from the populists.
Mr.. Lodge also addressed the senate
urging that if the democratic party
would present a measure to raise rev.
enue instead of the currency bill that
sist i'm enacting it.
Mr.. Stewart followed with a speech
urging the restoration of silver as the
only means of remedying the present
distressed condition of the govern
ment.
In the house tributes were paid to
the late congressman Shaw by NJ.
Shaw's successor. MI Griffin, and by
Messrs. Lynch, CWis.). Cooper, CWis.),
Babcock, (Wis.), Somers, Wis.,, Cous-
ms, Qowa), Henderson, QOwa), Can
non, illinois, and Haugen, wis.
Washington, Jan. 16.-The senate
voted down Mr.. Hills proposition to
refer the legality of the income tax
ito the courts, only five senators join
ing with Mr.. Hill in supporting the
proposition The vote was not taken
until late in the day, and up ito that
time til ere was a spirited debate that
the Hill proposition called out. 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 committees secrets, which he felt
justified in disclosing.
This closed the debate and for the
purpose of SimplificatiOn is was agreed
to take the first vote on sustaining
the chair in ruling out of order the
Hill amendment referring the income
tax to the court. The chair was Sus-
tanned on yea and nay vote, 40 to 6,
only five senators, Dubois, Davis,
Mitchell (Ore.) Quay and Pettigrew,
voting with Senator Hill against the
decision of the chair. By this vote
the Hill amendment disappeared, as
the chair had ruled it out of order.
Mr.. Lodge presented an amendment
ito the income tax appropriation pro
yiding that the tax be under civil ser
vice rules. The amendment was dc
feated.
Mr.. Quay sought to get the income
tax before the courts by proposing a
new section, but on yea and nay
vote the section was defeated-19 to
80. Mr. Hill offered an amendment to
the income tax provision restricting
interrogatories to persons or firms,
Notwithstanding the printed regula-
tons Of the internal revenue bureau.
After Mr.. Hill explained how far the
treasury department regulations went
beyond the law, Mr. Cockrell, in charge