The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-28

felt that the decision of the court was
wrong and for one he would have another
case passed upon the court in the belief
that the court might reverse it's decision.
He made this statement he said without
in any way rejecting upon the court.
Inc court, upon the occasion of its decis-
ion in 1894 had hung in the balance. One
OF the Justices had changed his opinion
within a month, The decision had been
rendered by court divided five to four.
Ihat demonstrated the facts.tha it wasstill
an open question. MI. Bailey then en-
tered upon an extended argument upon
the constitutionality of the income tax
com pattlng the theory that it was di-
rect tax Inhibited by the constitution.
Mr. Bailey said the income tax provis-,
ION which the minority had drawn, and
winch would be offered by Mr.. Mcmillan
nad been drawn to meet that portion OF
the courts decision which WAS unanl.
nous and in which he noncnrrcd by eE'
emptlng federal, state county and munl'
clpal bonds. Mr.. Bailey declared that the
income tax was the most just tax ever
conceived. 1t was the only TAX that rose
| with mans ability to pay and fell
with his inability to pay. 1t was the only
tax that increased in times OF prosperity
and decreased in adversely. 1t took from
the citizen only when the citizen Was
able to pay.
AS for the argument that the tax would
be evaded because men would perjure
themselves, it carried no weight with
MIN. That was simply a plea to save
rich perjurers from hell where they ought
to be. '.If I were rich and prosperous, !"
concluded Mr. Bailey, ''I would contri-
butte of my abundance to my country in
this time of stress, because would not
want it said in the history of these times
that the poor gave more of their blood
than the rich were willing to give Of their
treasure" (Applause).
Mr.. Dol1iver, Republican of Iowa, a
member OF the ways and means commit
tee was then recognized. He was listened
to with close attention and was frequent
ly interrupt ed by applause.
| When the United States decided upon
q policy involving the Immediately pros
poet of war, it becamess the duty ct Con-
gress to set about at once to provide the
money. needed to carry on the military
and naval operations.
There are two ways in which govern
ment can support large expense OF this
character, either by collecting 1t IN cash
or by borrowing it on credit. The COM
mittee on ways and means has fully con-
sidered both methods and we have made
| up our minds that the government ought
to leave as little of the burden OF our In
PREVENTION in Cuba to the future as posi-
BILE.
Here for the first time in the history of
the world nation has of its own volition
thrown away any prospect of aggrandize-
mept. and has based it's action upon dis
interested grounds, SO that what we are
about to do, however much it may min
lister to the preeent satisfaction and moral
comfort OF the community, concerns pos
terity vastly less than it does us.
Tt is we who sympathiZe, it Is we who
have been moved by the inspiration of
compassion and charity and therefore
we have felt that we ought to pay as we
20. SO far as is consistent with the i'm
nosition of a reasonable burden of war
taxes. If there ever was a caseiin the
history of the world where a situation
amounting to a declaration OF war was
the direct result of the wish and purpose
of the people. themselves, it is in this
case. The people of the United States
have been governed by motives higher
than party politics and more generous
than their own material interests This
country knew something in advance of
the expenses of war, and all those things
the American people have pondered in
their hearts. while that mighty tide of
public opinion was rising, the nation
was lifted on pillows of enthusiasm which
no partisan leadership could either sup
press or control. 1t cannot be said that
the President of the United States has
plunged his country into war. History
will acquit the President Of such an act
of hostility to the public welfare. Instead
Of inf1aming the public opinion OF the
country, he has tried to moderate and
direct it. Instead of throwing away the
prospect of peaceful settlement he has
allied himself with every honorable in
f1uence In favor of such a solution of the
perilous question involved. He has been
maliqned by his enemies, and misunder-
| hx, f1i6 Ia ha h06
the wisdom to inquire, the prudence to
prepare, and the craftsmanship to look
before and after.
| I cannot forbear expressing my own
satisfaction that he was great enough in
heart and brain and conscience in the
presence of public danger to think OF
his country as we'll as OF his party, and
to become in a real sense the servant OF
the American people. In that view OF
our present surroundings there is salts
faction also in the fact that our case ID
finally stated by Congress, is good both
in law and in equity.
do not predict the size and the cost
of the undertaking In which we are en-
barked. but my conviction is that we will
gain all th at we lose and infinitely more.
| TWO things we have already gained.
| One. outspoken sympathy of this great
| English speaking race of which we are
a part, and another is a larger sense of the
| unity Ut the American poople, q unlGy
that has already killed the spirit OF Sec
| tionalism, taken the poison out of par
| tisan strife and brought in the better
era of American patriotism.
We have not acted upon sudden provo
cation. Again and again the nation has
ignored it's interests, conquered its SYM
pathies and restrained it's wrath, that no
lust imputation might be made against
us in the supreme court OF the world S
| opinion.
In the crisis of the past three years it
| is true, we have not been careless and
unimpassioned spectators. We could not
| be without despising every tradition OF
the national history. Yet even under the
pressure of popular feeling, we have
scrupulously kept within the law of na-
tions. not even sending message of hope
and courage to the struggling army OF
liberation in Cuba.
We have citizens there whose property
has been totally destroyed. their business
broken ND and they themselves cast
without trial into the military prison OF
| Havana or left to starve. sax.s
We did not complain. 1t was a part OF
the national policy of peace that up to
l he of I h