Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-21
HOUSE HAS A HOT DEBATE
General Deficiency Bill Discussion Bl,oits
Some Heated Arguments.
MHlLLlN CalTIClSEs JUSTICE SH,RAS
Cbnrnctrrizcs ms "sIush' the Dcci-
sion of the Majority of the Su-
prrme Court ON the
income Tax Cnsc.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2O.-The house
spent the day in discussion Of the general
deficiency bill, which was not finished.
There was a warm debate over an amend
ment by MIR. Hopkins. republican of Illinois.
to take out the item of $12, 200 to pay mem
bers Of the Fifty-third congress for amounts
withheld from their salaries for absences
in accordance with a rule adopted by that
congress. Mr.. Hopkins said that Speaker
Crisp had enforced that rule to hold a
quorum, and democrats should not apply to
a republican house for reimbursement. Mr..
Hopkins carried his point, 113 to 90.
Just before adjournment, Mr.. McMillin,
democrat of Tennessee, renewed a recent
attack by him upon Justice Shiras OF the
supreme court of the United States for his
part in the income tax decision, and incl
dentally said that he was glad that it had
at last got through the thick hide" OF
the justice that he had deprived the Amer
lean people of the right to tax wealth. He
spoke OF the majority opinion OF the court
as 'slush."
The item for paying to the Southern Pa
cifc Railroad company a judgment of the
court of claims. amounting to S1,3lO,OOO be-
ing reached, MIR. Sayers gave notice OF an
amendment TO strike all the claims OF the
bond-aided Pacific railroads and their
branches from the bill.
Thereupon Mr.. Bartlett, democrat OF New
York, announced that he would defend the
supreme court and Justice Shiras against
attacks recently made by Messrs. De Ar
mond and McMillin. incidentally. he served
notice on the democracy of the south
and west that they could never expect to
win so long as they insisted on advocating
an income tax that fell upon the east and
north, and in attacking the federal judi
ciary.
MIR. McMlllin made a reply to Mr.. Bart
lett, which created something OF a sensa-
ton. Referring to his previous remarks on
Justice Shiras, he said: 81 intended it as
an attack. and If it was not sufficient
stand ready to renew it at any time
Continuing, he said: II hold that there Is
nothing in the American government so sa-
cred that l, as a representative OF the
American people. am not at liberty TO at
Turning to Mr.. Bartlett, he said: 1T Ill
becomes the gentleman from New York,
who has taken his bag and baggage out OF
the democratic party, to dictate to- me what
policies I should pursue. l am on the old
camping ground, fighting the old battle
Democratic applause.)
He referred to Justice Shiras as a dis
tinguished individual" and said: mo man
ever attacked the federal judiciary more
strongly than did Thomas Jefferson, and the
American people made him president. When
a president sends q veto message to congress,
he necessarily criticiZes a coordinate branch
Of the government. What | said of Justice
ShlTaS was Unat he was the lila WIZ ole
down the federal constitution, and who took
away from the American people the right
of 100 years to tax the wealth of this coun-
try, and l repeat 1t today, and | am glad
that I have got through his thick hide at
last"
He understood that Mr.. Dalzell. republican
OF Pennsylvania, intended at a future
time to make a defense of Justice Shiras,
and at that time, Mr.. Mcmillan said, he
would present some facts regarding the cir
cumstances under which Justice Shiras had
changed his mind. For the present, he
would content himself with having read the
dissenting opinion of Justice Harlan in the
income tax case. This was being read, when
Mr.. Bartlett interrupted to ask whether Mr..
Mcmillan would also have the majority
opinion of the court read.
ooh, l don't want such slush read in my
time" Mr.. McMillin exclaimed.
Mr.. DalZell gave notice that at some flu
ture time he would speak on the part taken
by Justice Shiras in the income tax case.
Then. at 4:45 p. M, the house adjourned.