Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-06-07
Democrats Agree 10 Fight Var Tax.

Democratic members of the House
held caucus in the hall Of the House
tonight to consider the trust ques-
ton, which is to be brought before
the House during the next three
days and other subjects of leg
islation and party interest. The eau
Gus was attended by about eighty
Democrats. Mr.. McRae, of Arkan-
sas, acted as chairman, and Mr.. Cum
mings of Now York, secretary. At
the outset MIR. Richardson, of Tennes-
see, offered the following resolution
expressive of the party's attitude:
"Whereas, There is known to be
large and growing surplus in the
treasury over and above the neces-
stiles of the government arising from
the taxes levied and collected under
the war tax act of 1898, therefore,
"Resolved, That we favor the re-
duction of the taxes provided for in
said bill and we do not think the
present session Of Congress should
adjourn until said taxes shall have
been repealed as to certain articles
and reduced as to others, until there
is total reduction in the aggregate
of at least SO per ccntum.
ave pledge ourselves at all times
to support any measure or measures
providing for such reduction"
MIR. Levy, of New York, offered a
substitute, protesting against Con.
gressional adjournment until action
has been taken to reduce or repeal
the war revenue taxes.
Mr.. Richardson supported his reso.
luton in brief speech. Mr.. Levy's
substitute was thcreupon defeated
and the Richardson resolution
adopted without division.
Tho trust question was then taken
up, Mr.. Ball, of Texas, presenting
resolutions favoring an adverse vote
on the antitrust constitutions
amendment, and n favorable vote or
the Democratic antitrust substitute
bill. The resolution further pro.
vided that in the event Of the defeat
OF the substitute, support would be
given to the antitrust bill as re-
ported.
The resolutions brought out ex.
tended debate and considerable diff,
ference Of opinion as to the manner
of dealing with the trust issue. In
the course of the discussion Mr.. Sal,
mon, of New Jersey, intimated tha,
without reference to the action OF
the caucus he would favor the con-
stitutional amendment The Demo.
cratic members Of the Judiciary
Committee, Messrs. Terry, Dear
mond, Ianham and others favored
action along the lines of the Ball
resolution.
The Ball resolution was finally
adopted, with minor amendments
AS to the substitute antitrust BILL
the resolution states:
eve believe that the adoption
of these drastic provisions will dem
onstratc the power of Congress to
destroy combinations, monopolies
and the construction of capital IA
miliarly called trusts"
Should the substitute fail of adop-
ton, the resolution then provides for
supporting the anti trust bill reported
by the majority. AS TO this measure
the resolution says
"While not satisfactory to the
Democratic minority, and not likely
to remedy the trust evil, this bill
does make an effort toward haras-
sing and outlawing these enemies of
the public and Democrats are
not willing to vote down any
measure tending to that end"
The resolution further urges
Democrats to vote against the consti-
tutional amendment unless it be so
amended as to leave the States
unhampcred in enacted anti
trust laws.