The morning times., 1896-01-08
SENATOR VEST ON SILVER
Irreplessihle Conflict Might as
Well Come Just Now.
MUST BE SETTLED SOON
For Two Hours the Eloquent Mis-
souriaD Spike is Answer to Mr..
Sherman's Speech of Friday-Criti-
cised the Decision of the Supreme
Court on ilIe Income Tax Act.

4 VI u tCul4t lotls StndtOI
Vest of Missouri, spoke on finance.
He held the interest OF 10th sides OF the
chamber from the Beginning 10 the end.
He was interrupted by queries several times.
His speech was Cn the resolution Intro
duced by Mr. Sherman last Friday, ant
was fair exposition OF Tie beneIs oi tue
Democratic party.
He said the last Congress passed a ill
that provided sufficient revenue for
the government but the Supreme Couri
robbed it or the income tax feature. he
reviewed the decision OF the Supreme Court
OF the United States which declared that ia X
unconstitutional ard asserted Il at TO oe-
cison lad ever been rendered by that court
which had done SO much TO destroy its in
flnence and TO excite distrust among tie
masses of the American people, including
intelligent and thoughtful lawyers.
For one hundred years, he said, no Ia w
yer had doubted that Congress had the right
to tax the income Of real and personal
property without apportionment accord
ing to population among the States. That
had been decided hundred yearsago by the
Supreme Court in the Hilton case, and years
arterward Chief Justice Chase had given
the unanimous Judgment OF the Supreme
Court to the same effect.
THE INCOME TAX.
He did not propose to analyze the decision
OF the Supreme Court declaring the income
tax unconstitutional, nor should he trust
himself to enter into the conjecture as to
the reasons which caused one member OF
that court, after agreeing deliberately as
to the Consututionaiity of the largest por-
ton OF the law. TO reverse his opinion two
weeks afterwards on a rehesring and To
fasten on the country the sordid despotism
or wealth.
The Senate, Mr.. Vest. exclaimed. had
been ridiculed and NAL gned, because of con-
cessioHs to the executive: but what would
be thought, he asked, of a Senator who
on grea I question like the income tax, had
not the manhood to stand before the
American people and declare his RESPONSE
biiity for his vote. He could imagine the
scorn of opprobrium,. the charges of cor
ruptioD, the W hite wrath of the independent
press against Senator who would dare
TO hide his name in order to escape re-
sponsibility for a public act.
He commented on the fact that counsel
who argued against the income tax We're
permitted to assail Senators and to char
acterZe them as legislative communists,
while one of the same counsel (alluding to
Mr.. Choatc) was seen a few weeks after
ward standing before u New York jury,
Bible in hand, reading the parable OF
Lazarus and Dives, and asking verdict
for his client on the ground that he was
poor deyil-as he was, in having such an
advocate. tLaughter)
Leaving that subject, Mr. Vest went on to
reply to Mr.. SleImans speech in criticism
of the Democratic administration and be
pointed Out the fact that during the four
years OF Mr.. Cleveland's first term the
export of gold was only STS 900 900
while i'm the next four years of Mr. Harrison's
the export OF gold was
SCI 1000, GOO,
FREE COINAGE.
Coming to the question OF the free coinage
OF silver Mr.. Vest declared that the Repubii-
can party was divided on that question
as the Democratic party was, and be quoted
Mr.. Teiier's statement the other day that If
the Finance Committee had not been organ
lied in favor of tlc free coinage OF silver.
no committee would lave been appointed
and no chairmaEship made.
"All the people Of this country" Mr..
Vest exclaimed, are euga ged i'll all ire
pressibIe conflict, as irrrepressibe as that
which marched tue armies OF the Nortn
md South in the civil war. i trust that
The arbilrament will not be 10y violence.
hope and believe that it will not be. Bat
Inc conflict Is Just as irrepressible and
nust De fought out 10 the last extremity.
All attempts to evade the issue are impos-
lDle. The sooner 1t is settled the better
-
better for the pdblic and private life of
he land
In the further course of his speech Mr..
Vest spoke of the tin plate industry. which,
le said. had thriven under the low rates
If the Wilson bill. He also asserted that in
he Mckinley bin of 1890 there was Il duty
IN hides provided; bat that Mckinley had
lad TO withdraw that item in order to
,lacate New England.
lfr p ha .ga,,r.
being the chief element of vitality in the
protective system of the Republican party.
ind said that he had voted for the Wilson
lill because ii provided free wool. And he
Isserted that free wool had done more for
he wool growers and for the wooden manu-
acturers than any legislation ever enacted
" Congress.
ABOUT BONDS
Mr.. Vest then turned his attention to the |
ssuance of bonds and said he preferred war |
o such a calamity as was witnessed last |