The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1898-03-31
FIGHTING
PopULISTS.
The Peoples Party Congressman
are Battling Nobly for the
Masses.
THE POSTAL ROBBERY.

Twenty Years, SEQ. 600 900 Resolution
To Amend Constitution TO Permit far an
Income Tax Other Int~re-iing Matter.
Special to THK CAUcAsIAN.I
WAsHiNGroS, d. C., March Is. ls9s.-
California has in its Congressional del
eGatiOn two stauGch, true and active
Populists who are making good rec
ord ia the House. Hon. {. A. Barlow,
Of that State, has :ptroduced q joint
resolution to amenc the Constitution
Of the United States in order TO per-
init the levying OF an income tax.
The amendmet 10 as follows:
Add at the close Of the first clause Of
section 8, article /, after the words
States" the following:
but nothing in this clause, or in
this Constitution, shall be so construed
or interpreted as 10 destroy or bridge
in any way the right of Congress,
whenever in its discretion it may be
deemed necessary for the public good,
to levy tax on incomes in excess of
$4,000 per annum, and Congress is ex-
pressly empowered to levy such a tax,
fixing either q common rate for all or
graded scale, according to the amount
of income, as in its discretion may
seem best for the welfare Of the nation" :"
Hon. G. II. Castle, Pop. Cal.,) is q
good, safe debater, we'll informed, ac-
curate and aggressive as shown by his
speech on the post Office appropriation
bill. Mr.. Castle took strong ground
against the payment by the govern
ment Of the present excessive and ex-
orbitant rates to the railroads for con-
veying the mails. He showed by fig
ures, that could not be disputed, that
the present rates are entirely too high,
and should be greatly reduced.
Hon. J. f. Kelly, (Pop. s. d. in his
speech on the POstOffice appropriation
bill, submitted some facts to the House,
showing that the government is rob-
bed by the enormously high rate paid
to railroads for transporting the mails
The following extract from Mr.. kel-
ly's speech contains some valuable in
formation that the people should know :
"Now, in all reason, if railway COM
panies can haul first-class freight,
such as is usually contained in ex-
press packages, at less than One-balf
cent per pound for individuals or for
other corporations, why should the
government pay cents per pound for
similar service? The true answer
is given by Governor Larabee. The
corporations have exercised their pow
ers over the House, or at least over the
prevailing party in the House, and the
gigantic steal is accordingly cOntin-
ued. But even with this disgraceful
deal the transaction is not closed. Not
only does the government pay the
enormous sum of over $4,000 900 for
the transportation of the mails, but
in addition to this a rental is given
for the use of mail cars of $4,OOO,OOO
annually. There are but GA mail cars
in the service, counting old cars, re-
serves, and all; allowing that rental
should be paid for all of them, 81. =
100000 gives an annual rental for each
car of over 5000, while the total
value of such cars, according to the
highest estimates, is but 1000 each.
"Admitting that it costs $400 annu.
ally to heat and clean such cars, and l
do not think it could possibly cost over
half that sum, we still have q net an
nual rental of $5,7l0 for each car, while
the government could build its own
cars at any time for $4,000 each. From
this it is readily seen that had the
government built its own cars it would
have saved a vast amount of money
during the past twenty years. l am
reliably Informed that the average life
of postal cars is twenty years. So had
the government built its own cars
twenty years ago, it would have saved
at this time 100000 on each car, allow.
ing 81, 1000 for building and repairs Of
each car, or q total on all postal cars
allowing 600 as the average in use
of $6O,OO0,OOO. Ia it any wonder thai
the GOulds and Vanderbilts are rich?'
Hon. E. r. Ridgely (Pop. Kan.
made very interesting speech, full
of facts and sound argument agains
the high rate paid for carrying th'
mails. He c0ntended that, rs the pe0
pie are now compelled, under the ex
isting gold standard, to work for 40 o.
so per cent less than twenty years ago
they should not be compelled to pay
the same rate to the railroads that was
paid twenty years ago. In view o
the fact that prices generally ar
about one-half for farm products
Mr.. Ridgeiy rightly contended tina
conditions should be equalized by re
| quiring the railroads to receive les
price than was paid twenty years age
Hon. w. D. Vincent, (Pop. Kan.) i
his able speech against the Bankruptc
Bill, that recently passed the HOus'
and is now pending in the South, CAV
a correct presentation of the result
that will follow the enc c ment Of tina
measure into law with the invOluntar
feature as it passed the House. II
maintained, with force and effective
ness, that the involuntary feature {
the measure would only strength.
the money power and build up trus,
and syndicates.
A brief extract from Mr.. Vincent
speech shows that he has q correct al
, prehension of the iniquity of the me-
sure, in fostering trusts. He says:
Anew trusts are being organize
, every day and 1t is only question
time, if things 60 on as they have bee
going, when every business and ii
, dustry in this country will be control
, ed by one vast trust. No effort is b
ing made by those who are sent he
to represent the people to thrott
these great combinations. We sit he
meekly as if it were no concern of Ou
or of our constituents. Gradually ii
few are absorbing all the wealth, Al
, by our actions we practically say tn
, . man is entitled to all he can get po
lsessiOn of without getting into Il
penitentiary."
Congressman Shuford (POp. n.
speaking to your correspondent CO
cerning the present conditions brOug
about by the power of corporations E
q erted to secure legislation in their I
vor says:
D every recent events here have tho
, oughly demonstrated the wisdom
what I have always believed and q
q vOcated, that the only hope
i securing relief for the oppressed mi
h lions in our country is to effect CO
poration of those citizens who agr
on the paramount questions of the ds
II such action fails it will be br0ug
|. about by corporation organs and Z
torneys seeking to create discord q
division among those who have . Col
= mon interest. This dangerous and pt
, nicious influence, both in and arou
y our legislative halls, is the power tt
3 gives legislative privileges to the d.