The times., 1898-04-29


His Knowledge of Law.
A stranger visiting the House OF Rep
resentatives yesterday would not have
supposed that this country was engaged
in war. With the exception Of references
in the speeches delivered on the war rev.
enue bin TO the existing conflict there was
no evidence of anything beyond an ener-
waiting peace.
The truth is that tie people are puz-
zled at the Quaker-like war that the Ad-
ninistration is conducting against Spain.
They begin to doubt the sincerity of the
whole proceeding. They are beginning TO
ask themselves if they have not been
made the victims Of an immense hoax
The delay. inactivity, hesitation and,
above all. the apparent avoidance Of con-
hict thar have thus far characterized the
conduct Of this war have somewhat par
alyzed the people They cannot under
stand just where they are al, or where
the authorities whose duty it is TO main
tain the honor and dignity of the coun-
try stand.
This state Of incerutude was illustrated
by the crowds that gathered AT the Capt.
toI yesterday. They were seeking infor-
nation that did not develop on the sur
face Of things. The occupants OF the
House galleries heard Republican lead
els clamoriug for an immense bond issue
10 defray the expenses of a war that had
not yet developed TO any large extent
istics of the preceding day, particularly on
the Republican side.
The Republicans continued 10 deprccate
partisauship. and yet TO indulge in parti-
san defamation and denunciauon. TIey
appealed to the opposition 10 join in
harmonious, unanimous response 10 the
appeal Of the Government for means 10
prosecute the war, but insisted tnat the
opposition should absolUJC.y fOrcgo their
opinions as 10 methods and accept the
Republican plan without question. Crly
on that basis eouil the Democrats get
credit for non-DarIsanship and pure pa
tTiOtism
Messrs DalzeIl Hopkins. Mccall anu
other Republicans exhausted the Voc3bu-
larry in taunting the Democrats with lack
of sense and absence Of patriotism. They
employed such offensive terms as ''imbe-
cile 'idiocy'' and ''Idaacy-r in spca king
Gratis 10 raise the money fer the prOsecu-
ton Of the var.
One member on The Republican side
distinguished himself by an earnest, hon
est and fair speech Gen. Henderson Of
Iowa rank partisan in al political var
fare, won the applause Of al disinterest-
ed Americans by the ar5or and honesty Of
his appeal for united patriotic action.
The important, interesting feature eC the
debate was The statistical speech Of Mr..
Dockery Of Missouri. Mr.. DockeIy is a
nEure nend- He oeNoUTs them with he
Ereediness Of an epIcure who first gets
dlamond-back terrapin. As Il men. Der of
lhe Appropriations CommI.t,a for years
Mr.. Dockery has completely Iaast cred all
the intricacies Of Treasury figures and no
man Is expert enough TO fool him in that
field. He took the speeches IF Messrs.
Dingley and DOlliver and from the stand
point Of facts and figures completely de-
molished them.
Mr.. Payne-s Speech.
The debate on the war revenue bill WIS
opened by Mr.. Payne, Of New York. a
member Of the Ways and Means Commit
tee who takes precedence over most 9TH
ers in the House as a sunseryien- paIti-
san He has one invarianle rule OF &c
Iion. lie goes 20 he Speaker tor his or
ders and obcys them implicitly
Mr.. Payne had eE-dentIy read ana stud
led the speech delivered by Chairman
Dingley yesterday. be paId Mr. Dinglcv
the high compliment OF trailing along af-
ter him and repeating every important ar
gument he had made.
Mr. Payne is d modern type Of the pom
derOus P0dsnop. After .aking his uear-
ings and imbibing his wisdom from The
infallible source that occupies the Speak
sr's chair he cannot tolerate even a Sug-
Eestion Of opposition or objection.
Mr.. Payne waXed eloquent without
H. A.
of capital, and tried TO show how the
war revenue bin will tax the poor less
than the rich. He dismissed the Demo-
cratic proposition to levy tax on bank
deposits by affirming that the majority
OF bank deposits are in savings bank
and thus TO tax them would be 10 levy
additional tax upon the poor. Mr. Payne
concluded by declaring that the bin under
discussion is purely tax upon produc-
lion and consumption, and levies not
lax upon personal property. the distinc-
lion between personal property and con-
sumption having been established in the
Supreme Court decision IN the Hilton
case.
Does the gentleman mean 10 say that
the Supreme Courts income tax decision
did not overruie the Hilton decision?"
asked Representative Bailey after Mr..
Payne had resumed his seat.
fion between personal property and con-
sumption remains as established by the
Hilton decision"
rs the gentleman from New York a
lawyer" inquired Mr. Bailey
A general laugh at the expense Of Mr..
Payne greeted this query. for the gentle
man from New York Is very proud Of
having been district attorney for a little
corner county Of his State and has grown
gray al the bar.
y really want 10 know; in fact 7 am
curious 70 know, persisted Mr.. Bailey
IN answer 10 Mr.. Payne's rather cmbar-
raised silence. He doesn't talk like a
lawyer"
Well anyway, ] wasn't brought up i'm
the Law school that Is responsible for the
gentleman from Texas, replied Mr.
Payne.
"No, but II were better for YOU If you
had, retorted Mr. Bailey, and with that
the coll0quy closed.
Representative Wheeler Of Alabama