Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-24
WHAT JONES THINKS.
THE DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN on
BILL TO RAISE REVENUE.
FIGHT FOR FREE SILVER.
IL VIII he Continued, Says the Scnn-
tor. Until the Point at Issue IN De-
Standardization of the Hcpubli-
cans.


Of the Southern Associated Press saw him
at his home shortly after his arrival
and the Senator talked 10 him frankly and
entertainingly upon several matters OF
interest. The Senator carries in his APP
pearance no trace of fatigue from the
arduous work Of the campaign, his magni-
icent physique proving more than equal
to all the demands made upon it, He had
Just come from his hunting trip in South
ern Missouri. in company with Mr.. Bryan
and Governor Stone, of Missouri, which,
while not satisfactory from the game
bag standpoint, was eminently successful
as a health-restorlng scheme.
1.-THE weather was too dry" said the
Senator, I'm explanation Of the failure Of
the party to bag much game. The
leaves were SC dry that il was impossible,
owing to the noise Of the rusting, 10 get
within a quarter Of a mile Of deer.
But IT is an ideal place for hunt con-
tinued the Senator.
Il have no idea" said Senator Jones,
answering a question in regard 10 the
probable legislation Of the approaching
Congress, that anything will be done
aside from passing the usual appropIla-
ton bills. 1t will be a short session, ana
il will afford no time in which to con-
slider other matters. As to the Dinghy
bill, what Is there IN the present condi-
ton to make 1t any more acceptable OF
necessary than it was last session!
do not see that anything In the me OF
revenue legislation can be accomplished
at this session of Congress-
BILL TO RAISE REVENUE.
Discussing plans for raising revenue
Senator Jones advanced several interest
ing propositions.
MANY OF the manufacturers who sup
ported Mckinley" he said will doubtless
be surprised at the character OF the Dil
that will be presented to the country. me
conditions that existed when the Mchih-
ley bill of 1880 was passed were very all
ferent from those that Will confront Con-
gress when IL comes TO deal with the
question. Then there was surplus 10 be
dissipated; now there is a formidable de-
1ciency TO be considered. That will make
necessary a radically different sort OF
measure.
For myself" said the Senator Il
should support a vote for bill 10 In
crease the tax on beer by 81 a barrel. In
the first place, the alcohol In beer does
not pay an equal tax with that in whis-
key. and in the second place. ii is tax
that can be easily borne. One dollar "a
barrel means an additional cost Of only
one NTH of a cent a glass, and the con-
sumner would certainly not notice that. !
do not think that tobacco should be taxed
to any greater amount than IS now le-
We'd; it is the one thing that the poor man
almost universally uses. and he should be
spared an additional impOst. The same
thing is true of coffee and In less degree
Of tea. and for that reason don't favor
taxes on them. The beer tax should be an
independent proposition. IL Will add go
10000 10 the revenues, and IL IL be put in
a bill by itself the money would come In
at once.
"As to the income-tax / have not ex-
amined the decision Of the Supreme Court
with view 70 determining whether or
not a measure could be passed which
would produce revenue from that source
without waiting for an amendment 70 the
Constitution. A per capita tax might De
levied" said the Senator, but l am OPP
posed 10 taxing poverty. | think the pro-
perty and wealth Of the country should
bear the cost of government, Of course.
The poor man receives just as much and
the same benefits from our Institutions as
the rich man. but they should be given 70
him. just as public schools are given
TO him"
IhEE-sli-N En- lbil
what Will be the policy of the Demo-
cratic Committee Senator? VIII Il con-
tinue the fight, as the Republican Com
mittee are reported TO have decided to
do. by maintaining headquarters in the
interim between campaigns, and edu-
eating the people by the issue of ltera-
ture?'
THAT has not yet been officially de-
cided," Senator Jones answered, and IL
will not be until after consultation
the date of which has not been settled.
1t Will probably not be until after Con-
gress meets But l think you can say
he continued, that the fight will be Kept
up until the issue has been fought out.
"When will that bey'
"When the people Of the United States
have expressed their opinion directly upon
the question OF restoring silver TO the
position it occupied prior 10 1873. The
platform of the Republican convention
was a straddle-it did not declare for the
single gold standard bat only for It's
maintenance until bimetallism could be
secured by international agreement. l
have been assured since the election by
Republicans some OF wide reputation,
that thousands of them voted for Major
Mckinley because they believed him 10
be a bimetallist, and believed, further,
under his administration as could be
accomplished were Bryan TO be elected,
and that II would be secured, too, with
out danger of the disturbances that were
feared in case OF Bryan's election. There
was behind Major Mckinley a large
conservative element. which distrusted
the radical supporters of Bryan-was
afraid 10 trust them with the administra-
ton of affairs. But the Republicans are
not united on this question, and they
will have to settle the matter for them
selves between now and 1900.
II am firmly convinced added the
Senator. with great seriousness, that a
vast majority of the people of this coun-
try desire bimetallism, and II the Ike
publicans place themselves squareiy In
line for the gold standard, and the use
of silver for subsidiary coinage only
there can be no doubt of the result OF
the contest We failed to elect Mr.. Bryan
this year because the Republicans Sc
cured the bulk Of the artisan vote, ana
we failed to convert enough of the farmer
vote to Offset IT, But they are coming
our way. and If Mr.. Hanna Is proceeding
upon the theory that the farmer vote Is
lost to the Republicans, why, there can
he no doubt Of the issue"