The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-26
AS an Argument Against Any
Increase of Taxation.
REPLIES TO ALDRICH
boarding of Money by the Gov
eminent He Says
Is a Crime Against the People
of This Country.

tendance of senators and the tariff lead
ers of the house.
Minor business claimed attention up to
2 p. m, when Senator Aldrich of Rhode
Island, in charge of the tariff bill, had
the measure laid before the senate and
took the floor for the opening speech.
At that time every available seat in the
galleries was occupied. The Republican
side of the floor showed an almost solid
representation, there being three or four
vacant seats. The Democrats also pre-
scented full ranks and the scattered seats
of the Populists were occupied with but
one exception. Mr.. Dingley, chairman OF
the ways and means committee and au-
thor of the house bill, took a seat i'm
mediately beside Mr.. Aldrich and listened
attentively. Other Republican members
of the ways and means committee and
Representative Simpson, of the Populist
contingent occupied the rear lounges.
Speaker Reed was not present.
Mr.. Aldrich spoke for almost an hour
and a quarter. His speech was the Off
cfal utterance of the finance committee
and, in a sense, of the Republican side
of the chamber. Without making in
vidious distinctions between the two bills.
Mr.. Aldrich clearly stated as the BELIEF
of the finance committee that the house
bill would not yield revenue adequate for
the needs of the government.
Mr.. Vest followed with a statement in
opposition to the bill
I'VE know" he said, 1.-The desperate
condition of the country, the ruined
homes, the blasted hearts. if prosperity
can come from any source, even from
our adversaries. we will bless the move-
ment 1 do not believe the imposition of
higher tariff duties will dispel the clouds
hanging above US, bringing back the sun
coir md inn IA 1xTbo
try"
1T had been said,' proceeded Mr.. Vest,
that adversely came with the advent OF
the Democratic party, and prosperity
with the Republican party. But that
adversely did not come with the advent
of the Democratic party Mr.. Vest said
he would summon a witness no less
an authority than Mr.. VIM. Mckinley.
The senator read from report made by
Mr.. Mckinley on April 1, 1890. setting
forth the distress which the farmers OF
the country were suffering. How was it
expected, the senator asked, that by in
creasing the burden of tariff taxes the
farmers would be helped to buy more
goods. All agreed that there must be
sufficient revenue to meet the require
ments of the government, that govern
ment credit shall be sustained and her
flag honored. But every dollar collected
by the government beyond it's needs is a
crime.
Why was it, Mr. Vest asked, that the
Republican party was about to abandon
it's record and urge tariff, not for pro-
lection but for the amount of revenue it
will produce. Why does it abandon it's
record and propose tax on tea? The
senator said there was at this time
available balance in the treasury of $685.
$50, $50 Deducting the gold reserve of
he hal
This vast amount of idle money was now
accumulated in the treasury. and yet the
senate was told that it must impose on
our suffering people additional taxes.
When President Harrison turned over the
government to President Cleveland the
treasury balance stood at $24,12 OS7- To-
day there was $105. coo more than when
Mr.. Harrison turned over the govern
ment affairs to Mr.. Cleveland. How could
the obvious fact be avoided?
Governor DingIey admitted it, Mr.. Vest
said, and tried to explain.
"'Dingley saiys we ought to increase the
gold reserve to $3.50, 100000, even if there
was So, o0O,O coo deficit this year.
Every dollar boarded by the govern
rnent is a crime against the people; why
then should we burden them with more
taxation?'
Mr. Vest asked what the estimate of
rich replied that the statistisian stated
that in his opinion neither the house
nor the senate bill would furnish suffi-
cient means to meet the expenses of the
government. Mr. Vest, proceeding, de-
clared that the proposition to raise $751;
900, 900 of revenue by tax on tea and in
creasing internal revenue was naked
and bold abandonment of the protective
policy of the Republican party. Where
n
facturers in these taxes, he asked. The
senator said the greatest suffering in the
country was felt in the agricultural
states. With abundant harvests they
were without money and were appealing
to congress for relief.
Mr. Chandler interrupted with an in
quiry to where the vast accumulation
luded to came from.
Does the senator mean that the VIII
son bill put it there and if not, how did
it get there?" asked Mr.. Chandler.
1--WE all know answered Mr.. Vest,
that it came from the sale of bonds
which I did not approve, but it makes no
difference where it came from. There it
is in the treasury and what right have
you to increase the taxes on the people
when enough is in the treasury already?"
The senator declared that the urgent
need was not for greater taxes, but for
more business and better prices.
He mentioned as source of evil that
our workers were paid on a gold basis
and came into competition with those
paid on a silver basis.
1.-THE senator from Nevada (Stewart)
usually makes that argument" inter-
posed Mr.. Gallinger of New Hampshire.
HE has based it usually Japans use
of silver, and now Japan has repudiated
silver
You mean Japan was bought OUT