The Portland daily press., 1896-11-24
Popecratic Chairman Begins to Talk
Like Other Folks.
HE DOESN'T ONCE SAY "COERCION'
"CORRUPTION."

| P"n Aiatiorm WASN'T Tor dplo
Platform at A1l-Admits Country vas
| Afraid to Trust Bryans Friends.
Washington, November Ex-senator
James Ks Jones, chairman Of. The
National Democratic committee reached
Washington this afternoon and will re-
main here until Congress adjourns. 81
have no idea, >" said Senator Jones, an.
swsring the question In regard to the
probable legislation of the approaching
session of Congr ess, "that anything viii
be done, aside from passing the usual ap-
preparation bills. 1t will be a short
session and will afford no time In which
to consider other matters. As to the
DinRley bill, what is theirs in the present
condition to make 1t any more acct ptable
or necessary than 1t was last session !? II
do not see how anything in the line of
revenue legislation can be accomplished
at this session of Congress. .
Discussing plans for raising revenue,
Senator Jones said, "Many manu-
facturers who supported Mckinley will
doubtless be surprised at the character of
the bill that will be presented to the
public. The conditions that existed
when the Mckinley bill of 1890 was
passed, were very different from those
that will confront Congress when 1t
comes to deal gain with the question
Then there was surplus to be dissipated
now there is formidable deficiency to
be considered.
THAT will make necessary radical
" different sort Of measure. For myself,
should support bill to increase the
tax on beer by 81 barrel. The alcohol
in beer does not pay an equal tax with
that In whiskey. 1t is tax that can be
easily borne. A dollar barrel mean an
additional cost of only ope-fifth of cen t
glass, and the consumer would not
notice it, do not think tobacco should
be taxed to any greater amount than is
now levied, II Is the one thing that the
poor man almost universally uses, and he
should he spared an additional Import.
he same thing is true of coffee and
in less degree of tea. For that reason
do not favor taxes on them. The beer
tax should be an independents proposition.
1t will add $50, 900 600 to the revenues.
if it bs put in bill by itself. and the
money would come in. As to the income
tax, have not examined the decision OF
the Supreme court with view deter
mining whether measures should of be
taken which would produce revenue
from that source without waiting for an
amendment to the Constitution.
" A per capita tax might be levied, but
am opposed to taxing poverty. think
the property and wealth of the country
should bear the cost of the govern nent.
The poor man Of course receives just as
much and the same benefits from our in
stitutions as the rich man, but they
should be given him, just as the public
schools are given him."
"Will the Democratic committee con-
tinue the fight as the Republican COM
mittee are reported to have deeiIsd to
do, by maintaining headquarters be-
tween campaigns and educating the
people by the issue of literature?"
That has not yet been officially de-
cided," Senator Jones answered. "Iu
will not be until afuer consultation. Il
think you can say that the fight will be
kept up until the issue has been fought
out"
"When will that bea''
when the people of the United States
have expressed an opinion directly upon
the question Of restoring silver to the |
position it occupied prior to 1878. The
platform of the Republican convention
was straddls. 1t did not declare for
single gold standard, but only for It's
maintenance untll Dim etall1sm could be |
secured by international agreements.
have been assured since election by Re- |
publicans, some of wide reputation, that
thousands of them voted for Major Mo- |
Kfnley because they believed him to be |
a bi-metallst, and that as much would |
be done undsr his administration as
could be accomplished were Bryan to be |
elected.
There was behind Mckinley a large |
nservative element which distrusted |
the radical supporters of Bryan, aud
were afraid to trust them with the ad-
ministration of affairs. The Republicans
are not united on this question and they |
will have TO settle matters for them |
selves between now and 1900.
u am convinced majority of the |
people of this country desire BIZ |
metallisn, and if Republicans place |
themselves squarely In line of the gold |
standard and she use of silver as sub |
sidiarv sUin only, there can be no doubt |
of the result OF the contest. We failed to |
elect Bryan this year, rs the Republicans
received the bulk of the partisan vote
and we failed to secure enough Of the |
farmer vote to Offset lit. Farmers are
coming our way. If Mr.. Hanna ia pro-
oeeding upon the theory that the farmers
vote is lost to the Republicans, why
there can be no doubt of the issue"