Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-09-04
HITCHCOCK KICKS
OVER TRACES AND
GOES ON WARPATH

washington, Aug. determination
OF the democratic Senate caucus as a
political machine by Senator Hitch
COCK, one of the democrats who refused
TO De bound by the aucus on all fea-
lures OF the tariff bill, marked today's
%reopening Of the fight over the income
tax.
Why should senators expect to be
bound by the hasty decisions Of a
secret caucus on details of the income
tax, demanded Hitchcock. Why
snoulo they be expected to vote down
every amendment, however good,
SIMPLY because it comes from the other
! q of the chamber? Why should the
income tax section not be amended
here on the floor of the Senate, if de-
pate conVlnces senators tina it should
The insurgent democrats who yes
terday demanded that the bill, be
to increase the income tax on
large apparently had gained
strength, and insisted they would
force the party conference late today
or tomorrow to make substantial in
creases.
Senate leaders were prepared to
grant concessions, but the Insurgents
were not satisfied that their proposals
would fully meet their views.
Hltchcock's attack was delivered in
connection with his amednment for a
heavy penalty AK on trusts or lnonop-
olles controlling more than on~e-fonrth
OF the country's production or rade in
any given line. Five per cent would
pc added to incomes of corporations
DONG from one-fourth to one-third of
all business in any given line, 10 per
cent for those doing from one-third
to one-half, and 20 per cent for those
0 one-half. 1t would apply to no
corporation capitalized at less than
$4,000 0G0 or doing a business of less
than 100000 900 annually.
Senator Hitchcock declared his
amendment had been offered in the
caucus and beaten 23 to. 2S, but he all
there.
1T was not even a fair test Of eau
Gus strength he said, for there was
. caucus within a caucus. The nine
democratic members of the finance
m voted as a unit, without re-
gard to their individual convictions.
1t was a wheel within a wheel, a ma
chine within a machine.
caucus rule makes public debate in
the Senate farcical. Senator's will not
even remain in their seats to hear
them; caucus rule kills the very spirit
OF legislation. This income tax section
instead of being a thing of life and in
terest, lies in this chamber a veritable
corpse.
Amendments nave been offered from
the republican side by senators who
have made a study of the income tax.
cratic doctrine; they would not endan-
ger the bill. Why, then, must demo-
Gratis be required by caucus rule to vote
against them?
With other democratic senator's,
have felt bound up to this time with
however, We have reached a point
Wlere L reel Tree to take another
course"
Senator Hitchcock added, in sup
port of his amendment, that the anti
trust laws a proved failures, so fan
as checking monopolies and trusts Were
concerned. He declared his amend
ment, he believed, would prove an eff
fectual check on the illegitimate con-
troll of the market by great trusts.
The amendment was discussed
briefly by republicans Endorsed by
Senator Bristow. who said he did not
believe corporations would be able to
pass on h tax" to the
Senator Williams, in charge of the
income tax section of the tariff bill
said the democratic party in the full,
ness of its wisdom would deal compre-
hensively with the trust and currency
questions. but it did not propose tG
load down q tariff bill With the alleged
reforms Of senator's along these lines
Party d~issension veered to the repub-
lican side when Senator Cun1mins pre-
dicted that the Hitchcock, amendment
would probably be assailed as another
attack on the rich, as Senator Lodge
assaulted income tax amendment.
yesterday. He deniedAthere was a cam.
paign on foot against wealth, but de
clared there was a campaign agains
''unscrupulous watering of stock sucf
as he declared occurred in the stee
corporation and the Chicago & Altoi
lea