Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-12
Both Branches of the National Leg
islature in Session.
Mr.. TELLER FAVORS TIE INCOME TAX
He Speaks of the Frantic Appeals
Of the Treasury.
MATTERS IN THE HOUSE

Inc senate galleries were fairly well
! filled today in anticipation of a speech by
Senator German on the currency question
in which, it was thought, he would pro-
pose some solution to the problem from a
Senate standpoint. 1t was observed also
that Senator Quay of Pennsylvania spread
before him on his desk roll of manuscript
which looked like one of the formidable
and carefully prepared speeches for which
he is noted. Senator Wilson of Iowa ap-
peared on the floor for the first time this
session, after a long Illness
Gov. Foster of Louisiana was also on the
floor, being introduced by Senator Blanch-
ard.
When the routine proceedings were out of
the way, Mr. Cockrell called up the urgent
deficiency bill.
The Parliamentary Status.
The presidirg officer, Mr.. Harris, ex-
planned the parliamentary situation coming
over from yesterday. Mr.. Hill had offered
an amendment to the item apprOpriating
funds for collecting the income tax, so
that the legality CT the tax would be re-
ferred to the courts. The chair had ruled
out the amendment on a point OF order
Mr.. Hill appealed from the decision OF the
chair, and Mr.. Morgan moved to lay the
appeal on the table. In order to permit
Senator's to further discuss the income tax
Mr. Morgan agreed to withdraw his motion
and thus postpone vote on Mr.. Hills ap-
peal
Mr.. Teller FnvOrs the Tax.
Mr.. Teller (Col) then addressed the Sem
ate in support of a continuance of the in
come tax. He pointed to the large deficits
which had been temporarily met by bond
issues. The gold supply was down to ST.
100000 and was rapidly disappearing. Any
proposition to do away with the income
tax should, therefore, be accompanied by
plan to raise the revenue the government
required. MIR. Teller gave it as his opinion
that the income tax would become per-
manent, even though 1t was limited to five
years by the present law. He believed it
was such an equitable tax that the people
would insist upon it's continuance.
Import duties could not be put so high
as to entirely keep cut goods. And with
out these high duties there was certain to
be deficit in revenue. 1t was essential
therefore that some middle course should
he adopted, and the income tax was the
most just mode of taking this course. Mr..
Teller spoke of the vain and fruitlesS ef-
forts OF the executive branch of the gov
present distress of the government and the
people 1T shows said the Senator,
that the executive branch is in the wrong
hands"
The Treasury Currency Scheme.
Mr.. Teller spoke caustically Of the
scheme of banking coming from the
Treasury Department" He referred to the
current reports that the bill had been
jotted off in thirty minutes to stenogra-
pher. Il wish to show all due respect to
this bill,'' said Mr.. Teller, coming as 1t
does from such high sources, but if such
measure came from any Senator or MEM
Der, if it came from any populist, it would
be branded as the height of lunacy."
Mr.. Teller declared that the currency bill
proposed to inaugurate the old era of wild
cat paper. 1t violated every principle of
finance in this country or any other. II
the currency of the government was to be
turned over to corporations, then the pres
ent national bank system was the best
one possible and should be retained rather
than proceeding on some experimental
plan. MIR. Teller ridiculed the talk about
an elastic and flexible" currency when
barking corporations had charge OF the
elasticity.
There are about six weeks remaining to
this Congress- said Mr.. Teller.
Why These Frantic Appeals:
Now does any person seriously believe
that q revision of this vast currency sys-
tenn can be accomplished in that time?
Why, then, are Congress and the country
stirred by these frantic appeals from the
If there was a little less alarm, little
less fright, proceeded the Senator, the
country might preserve its equilibrium. If
the president of a bank ran out In the
street and held up his hands in alarm at
the condition of his bank, the institution
would be in the hands of receiver in
short order. The Senator urged that it
was time the executive authorities stopped
what he characterized as frantic demon
STATIONS of fright.
MIR. Teller explained in detail the BIZ
metallic system of France, under which
that country now enjoyed absolute tran
guilty. The French people were satisfied
because they We're not being threatened
by their financial ministers with
Senator Hnwley's Experience in Paris
Senator Hawley Comm at this point in
terjected and gave a graphic narrative of
his personal experience in Paris on the
night before France raised the vast sum to |
pay it's war indemnity to Germany.
The popular bond subscription was to be |
opened at o'clock Sunday morning. The |
Senator went along the Champs Elysee the |
night before and saw the hundreds of plain |
people crOwding up to the Palais D'Indus- |
Lrie to take some small share of the gov |
debt. 1t showed, the Senator |
said the close touch between the people !
and the government and the remarkable |
lis tribution of wealth and debt into every |
household
Mr. Teller argued at length to prove that
he low prices OF agricultural products to-
.ation of silver, first by Germany, then by
he United States, and lastly the Latin
union.