Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-08
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question, resumed consideration of Mr..
Shernan's resolution concerning the
gold reserve, and MIR. Vest Dem, MOI
took the floor. Mr.. Vests speech
proved to be an arraignment of the
supreme court for Its decision In the
income tax cases.
The senator spoke with his usual on-
phAsis " language and gesture, but
with more apparent elaboration than
usual. and was listened to with close
attention by senators and the large
audience In the galleries He was app
plauded once. but the demonstration Of
approval was cut short by the chnir,
ana was not repeated. lIG began by
saying that the Democratic party did
not seek to evudc responsibility
for the loglslation Of the last
congress. Notwithstanding It had only
an ostensible majority In the Henate.
and he then passed rapidly to his sub
ject by declaring that the Wilson iaw
would have afforded ample revenue for
the support OF the government but for
the supreme courts decision declaring
the Income tax Unconstitutional.
'"rhat tho court should have rem
deted such n decision he said. was
a matter of surprise to every lntelli-
gent lawyer in the country, and par
ticilcrly 10 those OF us In congress
who We're engaged in formulating the
leFielation.
In my judgment" he continued,
mo judgment has ever In the history
OF the court been rendered which haa
done so much to destroy the influence
of that high trihunaliand excite dis
trust on the part OF tho people of this
country"
Mr. Vest declared that he would not
trust himself In the senate to say what
he would be tempted 10 say OF this
opinion. but would leave It to the
ff1nfnlNlFa NJ tho IN s4flr tlyp
II as II deserved.
With this introduction. he had ex-
tracts read from the dissenting opln-
ions Of Justice Harlan and Brown,
saying that II he had written these
extracts he would have been charged
with party malice and misrepresentn-
ton, but coming ms they do from so
high authority. they certainly constl-
tute most powerful arraignment of
this court OF last resort.
MI Vest was most severe in his al
rect Characterization OF the conduct of
the Justice who changed his opinion
after the flrst decision and before the
second was rendered. He would not.
he said. attempt TO enter into that
Justices motives but that Justice, and
he CVcsD did not know who he was,
hal been mainly responsible in fnsten-
ing the cord of despotiem of wealth
upon the country by his change OF
mind.
Mr.. Vest said he regretted that the
court had not only permitted, but en-
courarei Indulgence by cpunsels or
sourrilo IL references 10 the motives OF
those vino had participated In framing +,
the income tax legislation for grant |
Ing exemptions 10 certain Interests and |
proceeded to explain their reasons for |
those exemptions
Rosuming the thread OF his dis |
course. Mr.. Vest said he did not he
lleve that the terrible effect OF this |
decision had yet been apprehended by |
tile people Of the country.
at marks n new era" he said, land |
greatly mistake II the time doeD not |
come when neither soft words nor |
honeved phrases will prove sufficient !
apology"
1t was beyond reason that e Wander !
bilt with his hundred milllong would |
have to pny no more ,han the poorest |,
OF men and that the army aud navy |
should he used to support him In his
rights. II the decision was to stand.
He predicted that tho time would
como when the Justice OF Justice
Browns opinion would he universally |
recognized that the judgment Of the
court had fixed for all time the free
dom from federal tax tho ''sordid
wealth OF the land"
Though he differed with the head
OF his party In many things. he de-
clnred that no administration IN The
history Of the country had been
more successful than the Cleveland
from 1855 to 1889.
what Democratic law was in force
during those four years?" asked Mr..
Hoar
"The Democratic party" replied Mr..
Vest. ''waa at the head OF AFFAIRS
II 1uccess were to be measured ny |
the amount Of gold exported, he de-
sired to call tho attention Of the other
side to The fact that during Clevc-
lands first administration but about
50 100000 OF rolG had been exported,
against $4,000. 900 for Mr. Harrison's
administration. SO far 1851 900 900 had
beer exported under the present I'D
mInI8iration. lie Went extensively lilo
the figures Of revenue, expenditures.
etc. to show that the present ccrdi-
tion OF the treasury was largely q |
hostage from the preceding admins
trntion. He charged the Harri so1 nd
with defaulting IN the
payrslnt Of obligations OF the ,yuvern-
ment and the misappropriatl,n OF trust
funds amounting to $4,000. )O0. When
the Republicans returned to power In
all branches Of the government In
1859 he declared ironically that they
thought they owned the country.
They were content and rested their
fate on three measures, the force bill,
which failed. the Mckinley ind tho
Sherman laws. They went to the pco-