The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-24

Washington, NOV. Ex-senator James
K Jones, chairman of the national
Democratic committee, reached Wash
ington this afternoon and will remain
here until congress adjourns. A repre-
sentative of the United Associated
Presses saw him at his home shortly
after his arrival. The senator talked
frankly and en1ertainingly upon sew
eral matters of current interest. He is
looking remarkably well. He had just
come from his hunting trip in Southern
Missouri, in company with Mr.. Bryan
and Governor Stone, of Missouri.
The weather was too dry said the
senator, ''to bag much game. The
leaves were so d-y that it was fmpos-
sible, owing to the noise of the rustic,
to get within quarter of a mile Of a
deer I have no idea" said Senator
Jones, answering a question in regard
to the probable legislation of the aD-
preaching session Of congress. that
anything will be done aside from pass
ing the usual appropriation bills. AS
TO the Dingley bid, what is there in
the present condition to make il any
more acceptable or necessary than 1T
vas last session."
In the discussion Of plans for raising
revenue, Senator Jones advanced sew
eral interesting propositions. Many of
the manufacturers he said, who sup
ported Mckinley will doubtless be sur
prised at the character Of the bill that
will be presented to the country. The
conditions Of the country when the Nc
Kinley bill of 1890 passed were very
different from those that will confront
congress when it comes to deal with
the question. Then there was q surplus
to be dissipated; now there is a for
midable deficiency to be considered.
That will make necessary a radically
different sort of measure.
For myself" said the senator, Il
should support a bill to increase the
tax on beer by 81 barrel. In the first
place, the alcohol in beer does not
pay an equal tax with that in whisky
and in the second place, it is a tax that
can be easily borne. I do not think
that tobacco should be taxed to any
greater amount than is now levied. 1t
is the one thing that the poor man al
most universally uses and he should
be spared an additional impost The
same thing is true of coffee and in a
less degree of tea and for that reason
1 do not favor taxes on them The
beer tax should be an independent pro-
position. II will add sSOOOO.OOO to the
revenues and if il be put in 4 bill by
itself, the money would come in at
once.
CAS- to the income tax, I have not
examined the decision of the supreme
court with a view of determining
whether or not a measure could be
passed which would produce revenue
from that source without waiting for
an amendment to the constitution. A
per capita tax might be levied" said
the senator. but. I am opposed to
taxing poverty. I think the property
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 insti-
tutions as the rich man, but the.-
should De given to him just as public
schools are given to him"
What VIII be the policy of the Dem
fight as the Republican committee
have been reported as having decided
to do. by maintaining headquarters in /
the interim between campaigns, and !
educating the people by the issue of
Iterature?"
THAT has not vet been officially de- |
cided,' Senator Jones answered, and /
it viii not be until after consultation. !
the date of which has not been set
tied. It viii probably not be until af-
ter congress meets, but I think you
can say" he continued. that the fight
viii be kept UP until the issue has been
fought out
"Wnen will that be?"
when the people of the United
States have expressed their opinion q
rectly upon the question of restoring
silver to the position it occupied prior
to 1873. The platform of the Repub-
lican convention vas straddle; it did
not declare for the single gold stand
ard, but only for its maintenance until
bimetallism could be secured by inter
national agreement. have been as
sured since the election by Repub-
licans, some of wide reputation, that
thousands of them voted for Major
Mckinley because they believed him
to be a bimetallist, and that as much
would be done for silver under his adj
as could be accomplished
were BRYAN TO be elected. And it
would be secured, too, without the
danger of disturbances that were
feared in case Of Bryan's election.
There were behind Major Mckinley
large conservative element which dis
trusted the radical supporters of
Bryan afraid to trust them with the
of affairs. But the Re
publicans are not united on this ques-
ton and they will have to settle the
matter for themselves between now
and 1850. 1 am firmly convinced
added the senator with great serious
ness, that a vast majority of people
in this country desire bimetallisnn, and
the Republicans place themselves
squareiy in line for the gold standard,
and the use of silver subsidiary coin
age, there can be no doubt of the re-
suit of the contest. We failed to elect I
Mr.. Bryan this year, because the Re
publicans had the bulk of the artisan
vote, and we failed to convert enough !
II the farmer vote to offset il Rut. ;