The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-24
CHAIRMAN JONES IN A CHAT.
DOESN'T EXPECT MUsH FROM THIS
CONGRESS-.

vor Higher Taxes ON Tobacco,
COffee or Tcn-Manufa cturers TO he
Disappointed In the Republican
TariT BiIl-Tells why bryan Was
Defeated.
Washington, Nov. Ex-senator James X.
Jones. chairman OF the national democratic
committee. reached Washington this after
noon, and will remain here now until con-
gress adjourns
| A reporter of the Southern Associated
Press saw him at his home shortly after
his arrival. to whom the senator talked
| frankly and entertainingy upon several
matters Of current interest. He carries In
his appearance no trace of fatigue from
the arduous work Of the campaign, his
magnificent physique proving more than
equal to all the demands made upon 1t.
| He had just come from his hunting trip in
| Southern Missouri, in company with Mr..
Bryan and Gov. Stone of Missouri, which,
while not satisfactory from the game bag
standpoint, was eminently successful as
health restoring scheme
'"rhe weather was too dry" said the
senator, in explanation of the failure Of
the party to bag much game. "The leaves
were 50 dry that it was impossible, owing
to the noise of the rustic, to get within
| quarter of a mile of a deer. But it's an
| ideal place for hunt" continued the sen
| ator.
| II have no idea" said Senator Jones, an
swering a question in regard to the prob
able legislation of the approaching session
of congress, that anything will be done
aside from passing the usual appropriation
| bills 1t will be a short session, and 1t
| will afford no time in which TO consider
other matters. As to the Dingley bill,
what is there in the present condition to
make it any more acceptable or necessary
than It was last session? 1 do not see
how anything in the line of revenue legis-
lation can be accomplished at this session
| of congress-
Discussing. plans for raising revenue,
Senator Jones advanced several interest
ing propositions. MANY of the manufac-
turers,, he said. "who supported McKin-
ley will doubtless be surprised at the
character Of the bill that will be presented
to the country. The conditions that exist
ed when the Mckinley bill OF 1890 was
passed were very different from those that
will confront congress when II comes to
deal with the question. Then there was
a surplus to be dissipated; now there is a
formidable deficiency to be considered
That viii make necessary a radically diff
ferent sort of measure.
For myself" said the senator, II
should support and vote for a bill 10 I'M
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 whisky,
and in the second place, 1t is a tax that
can be easily borne. One dollar barrel
means an additional cost only Of 1-5 of a
cent glass, and the consumer would GER
tainly not notice that.
II do not think that tobacco should he
taxed to any greater amount than is now
levied. 1t 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, ana In
less degree of tea, and for that reason /
do not favor taxes on them The beer
tax should be an Independent proposition
lit viii add $50. 200 to the revenues, and
II II be put In bill by itself, the money
would come in at once.
LAS to the income tax, / have not ex-
amined the decision of the supreme court
with a view to determining whether or not
a measure could be passed which would
produce revenue from that source without
waiting for an amendment to the const-
tuition. A per capita tax might be levied"
said Senator Jones, but am opposed to
taxing property. think the property
i and wealth OF the country should bear the
cost of the 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 to him
just as public schools are given to him.
What will be the policy of the demo-
cratic committee, senator? VIII 1t con-
tinue the fight as the republican committee
are reported to have decided to, by main
tanning headquarters in the interim. be-
tween the campaigns and educating the
people by the issue of lterature?"
THAT has not yet been officially decid-
ed" Senator Jones answered, land II will
not be until after a consultation, the date
Of which has not been settled. 1t will
probably not be until after congress meets.
But / think, you can say" he continued,
that the fight will be kept up until the
issue has been fought out"
when will that be?"
when the people of the United States
have expressed their opinion directly on
the question of restoring silver to the
position 1t occupied prior TO 1873. The
platform OF the republican convention
was a straddle-it did not declare for tho
single gold standard, but only for It's
maintenance until bimetaillsm could be
secured by international agreement.
have been assured since the election Dy
republicans some of wide reputation, that
thousands Of them voted for Mckinley be-
cause they believed him to be a bimetal-
list, and that as much would be done for
SILVER under his administration as could
he accomplished were Bryan to be elected.
And II would be secured, too, without
danger OF the disturbances that were
feared IN case Of Bryan's election. There
was behind Maj Mckinley a large con-
seryatiye element which dlstrusted the
radical supporters of Bryan, afraid to
trust them with the administration OF
affairs. But the republicans are not unit
cd on this question and they will have to
settle the matter for themselves between
now and 1900 I am firmly convinced" !"
addeU the senator, with great serious
ness, "the vast majority of the peo-
pie OF this country desire bimetallsm, and
II the republicans place themselves square
ly In line for the gold standard. and the
use OF silver 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 secured
| the bulk Of the artisan vote, and we failed
/ IN ConNorf onOHuh of the farmar yofa IN