The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1913-09-25

DemOcratlc senators OF progressive
ideas prevented by their party caucus
from proposing amendments to the
tariff bill or supporting those offered
by republicans, have grown exceeding
ly restive under the caucus yoke of
late during the debate ON amendment
to the income tax section OF the bill
with which they have been in sym
pathy, offered by Senator Borah and
other republican senators who have
made a particular study of the In
come tax question and intended to
Shift a greater and more equitable
portion OF the burden of taxation upon
the shoulders of those most able to
bear it. Senator Hitchcock, democrat
of Nebraska reached a point where
he could stand the strain no longer
and offered an amendment on his own
account, taking occasion at the same
time to offer some observations ON
the caucus methods of his party,
which are an Illuminating commen-
tary ON the promises and perform
ance of a party which went up and
down the country in the last cam
paign with the slogan "'let the people
rule" Senator Hitchcock said:
Mr. President, this is the first
amendment to the tariff bill which
has been proposed from the Demo
cratic side, and in view of that fact
IN fbot I chOnlH
make an explanation of the causes
which have led me to differ from the
conclusions Of the democratic caucus
and which still inspire me to urge
this amendment upon the attention of
the senate.
. "Mr. President l am not quite as
extreme as some who decry the eau
Gus. In spite of all the evils which
have grown out of caucus legislation
and caucus domination, believe there
are occasions when the caucus may
be necessary to harmoniZe party ac-
tion upon a party bill. If any bill
is entitled to be termed a party bill
it Is tariff bill, because tariff has
become the great issue between the
two leading parties of the country
representing two distinct schools of
political thought
Thus, when the pending bill came
to the Senate with it's three of four
thousand separate items, felt that |
could properly go into that caucus
: and surrender a measure of my own
independence for the sake of secur-
ing a harmonious party result.
But the pending bill. Mr.. Presi-
: dent, is something more than tariff
bill. 1t presents other means of rails
ing revenue. 1t levies other taxes
than tariff taxes and contains a mum
Der of provisions for the regulation OF
business
ITO my mind it was. to say the
least, a mistake to endeayor in a
democratic caucus to bind the individ
ual to the details, for instance, oi
the pending section providing an in
come tax The income tax is a com
paratively new idea in revenue legis
It laton in this country. 1t involves
?, great questions. 1t has its advocates
on the other side of the chamber "a
= we'll as on this side of the chamber
The collection OF an income tax has
become a matter of distinct constitu
tional right by congress, as republi
cans as we'll as democrats voted 70
y and assisted in securing the amend
e ment to the constitution to that ef
r feet.
h when the income-ta tax question
h comes into this chamber involvini
If as it does not only the degree t
e which taxation shall be levied upoI
Is the incomes of the country, but il
yolving also great social change
which may follow, it seeems to IN
that the individual democrat like tn
individual republican, ought to be pc
mitted by his party to stand here an
of vote for his convictions.
" after all, Senators here were e
d ected to the senate not to a caucus
r and it is in the interest of the publ
ST welfare that great questions OF TN
- sort be debated in public and decide
)" in public, particularly when we ar
Of engaged in formative, fundaments
|" legislation of this sort.
d, 80, Mr.. President, 1t seemed to II
o, a mistake when my parry undertook
Of decide the details of the income-ta
n bill in the caucus, still, / did nc
IL leave the caucus ON that account.
left the caucus when l asked th
privilege of being permitted In tn