Middletown transcript., 1896-07-18
THE INCOME TAX.

THE INCOME TAX.
There would be no deficit in the re-
venue but for the annulment by the
Supreme Court of law passed by a
Democratic Congress in strict pur-
suance ofthe uniform decisions of that
court for nearly one hundred years,
that court having in that decis-
ion sustained constitutional objec-
tions tosits enactment which had pre-
viously been oyerruled by the abiest
Judges who have ever sat upon that
bench. We declare that it is the duty
| of Congress to use all the constitu-
tional power which remains after that
decision, or which may come from its
reversal by the court, as it may
hereafter be constituted, so that the
burden cf taxation may be equally and
impartially laid, TO the end that wealth
may bear lis due proportion of the ex-
penses of the government.
IMMIGRATION.
We hold that the most efficient way
of protecting American labor is to pre-
vent the importation of foreign pauper
labor to compete with it in the home
market, and that the value of the
home market TO cur American farmers
and artisans is greatly reduced by
vicious monetary system, system, which de-
presses the prices of their products
below the cost of production, and thus
deprives them of the means Of purchas-
ing the products of our home maLu-
factories.
CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS.
We denounce the profligate waste of
the money wrung from the people by
oppressive taxation and the lavish ap-
propriations of recent Republican Con-
gresses, which have kept taxes high,
while the labor that pays them is rnem-
ployed, and the products of the peoples
toll are depressed in price till they no
longerrepay the cost of production. We
demand retrrn to that simplicity and
economy which beflts a Democratic
governmet and a reduction in the
number of useless offices, the salaries of
which drain the substance of the
people.
FEDERAL INTERFERENCE.
We denounce arbitrary inference by
Federal authorities in local affairs as
a violation of the Constitution of the
United States and crime against free
institution, and we especially object
to government by injuncting as a new
and highly dangerous form of oppres-
sion, by which Federal Judges, in con-
tempt of the laws of the States and
rights of citizens, become at once
legislators. Judges, and executioners,
and we approve the bill passed at the
last session of the United States Senate,
and now pending in the House, rela-
tive TO c0ntempts in Federal courts,
and providing for trials by jury in
certain cases of contempt.
PACIFIC FUNDING BILL.
No discrimination should be INDUCED
by the government of the United
States in favor of any of its debtors.
We approve of the refusal of the Fifty
third Congress TO pass the Pacific Rail-
road funding bill, and denounced the
effort of the present Republican Con-
gress 10 enact a similar measure.
PENSIONS.
Recognizing the just claims of de-
serving Union soldiers, We heartily in
dorse the rule of the present Com
missioner of Pensions that no names
shall be arbitrarily dropped from the
pension roll, and the fact of enlist
ment and service should he deemed |
conclusive evidence against disease and |
disability before enlistment.
CUBA.
We extend our sympathy to the pee
pie of Cuba in their heroic struggle for |
liberty and independence.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
We are opposed to life tenure in the
pnblic service. We favor aprcint-
ments based upon merits, fixed terms
of office, and such an administration of |
the civil service laws as will afford
equal opportunities to all citizers of |
ascertained fitness.
NO THIRD TERM.
We declare it TO be the unwritten
law of this republic, established by
custom and usage of one hundred years,
and sanctioned by the examples of the
greatest and wisest of those who foun-
ded and have maintained our govern
ment, that no man should be eligible
for third term of the Presidential
office.
CGRPORATED WEALTH.
The absorption of wealth by the few,
the consolidation of our leading rail-
road systems, and formation of trusts
and pools require stricter control by
the Federal Government of those
arteries Of commerce. We demand
the enlargement of the powers of the.
Interstate Commerce Commission, and /
such restrictions and guarantees in the
control of railroads as will protect the
people from robbery and oppression.
ADMISSION OF TERRITORIES.
We favor the admission of the Ter
ritoiiesof New Mexico and Arizona
into the Union as States. and we-favor
the early admission of all the Terri
tories having the necessary population
and resources to entitle them to State
hood, and while they remain Terri 1
tories we hold that the officials APP