Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-04-04

noIe Dy comparison WIN tue Wll5OI
bill as it passed the house than b.
comparison with the Mckinley law
for, while it was not what the demo
Gratis desired and had right to ex
poet, it really made material reduc
ton IN the tariff rates and took the
first step in the direction Of a tariff
for revenue only. The fact that the
republicans are not now agitating the
tariff question shows that there is moi
to be any determined effort on the
part of the republicans to revive Nc
KInleyism in 1896, and we need moi
be surprised if the republicans them
SELVES consent to still further reduc.
tions within very few years as the
protectlonlsts did after the Walker
tariff In 1S47. This congress has an
other important measure credited TO
it, namely, the income tax, The in
come tax was first reported by the
democrats of the ways aud means
committee on close vote, it was then
endorsed by democratic caucus, it
WAS next adopted by a democratic
house and is at last upon the statute
books. The senate limited it to five
years but the opposition to it is al
ready dying out and 1t will doubtless
remain permanent part Of our rev.
enue system. The house also adopt.
ed by nearly three fourths vote Il
JOINT resolution submitting to tn
states for ratification an amendment
providing for the election of senators
by the people.
The resolution has not been acted
upon in the senate, but 1t is only q
question Of time when the senate
must meet this question and consent
to a change in the method of election.
/ believe the proposition to elect sen
ators by direct vote was first pre-
sented to congress some ten or fifteen
ago by j. B. Weaver of Iowa, years
and it has been growing in public
favor ever since. The house Of rep
resentatives should be credited also
with the passage Of the Bailey bank
ruptcy bill. This bill prodides for
voluntary bankruptcy and allows
debtor to apply for a discharge in
bankruptcy after he has honestly and
impartially distributed his property
among his creditors under state laws
1t is more simple in It's operation
than the Torrey bill, and less expen-
sive also and lacks the harsh features
OF an involuntary law. The bill dies
in the senate, however, for want Of
time to consider it, Notwithstanding
the fact that majority of the senate
favor the bill. The house has passed
a bill permitting greenbacks to be
taxed like other money by state and
municipal authorities. 1t has been
the custom IN some places for wealthy
persons TO convert all their money
into greenbacks on tho day Of assess
ment and thus escape taxation. The
bill passed the senate also and ia now q
law. The house passed law provld-
ing that no pensionar should be sus-
pended until notice given and hear
ing had. This also passed the SEN
ate and for the first time the pension
or was protected from suspension
without notice. The house passed a
bill increasing the penalty for embez-
element by national bank officials
when the amount exceeds 100000
and also providing that persons in
custody for the violation of this law
shall not receive other or better treat
ment than those in custody for viola
ton of other laws of the United
States. This bill has not been con-
sidered in the senate. The house has
also passed an important arbitration
measure.
l have given above number OF
important measures which have origi-
mated in and passed the house during
this congress, and submit that few
congresses can show better record.
Were it not for the action of congress
on the money question its members
might point to 1t with considerable
degree of pride On the money ques-
ton, however, the action of congress
has been such as to satisfy nobody.
The extra session was consumed in
he effort, finally successful, to repeal
he purchasing clause of the Sher-
nan lay. The senate occupied two
months in debate on this question
.