Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-18
LEGISLATURE
HEARS HOKE
6 N | I 4
Senator Tells Georgia Assembly
of the Work of Congress-De-
tends Tariff Cuts.

United States Senator Hoke Smith
addressed the two bodies of the Geor-
gia Legislature in joint session at
noon Friday in the house.
Conspicuous throughout his address
was the strong defense of the national
administration, the keynote of which
was prophetic of a period of un-
equaled prosperity throughout the
Wilson regime.
Senator Smith declared that the
Democrats to-day have enough votes
in the Senate to pass the tariff bill.
He said that notwithstanding the
cuts made by the national house, the
Senate had cut still deeper, and
made additions to the free list.
For the first time in fifty years. "
declared the Senator. Legislation in
tended to take the burden off the
masses Of the people has found no
resistance in the Democratic Senate.
1t must be conceded by all that the
Senate Democrats have made the
tariff bill more Democratic than it was
when it reached the Senate"
Mr.. Smith attacked the present
vogue of vast distribution of charity
by the wealthy men of the nation.
Prefers Taxation to Charity.
Il would rather see the National
Government raise the money by in
come taxes and spend it for such
causes than to leave the people in
debted to men for great charities" he
declared.
The Senator avocated States rights
in handling State problems While
japanese situation, he made its ap-
plicatiGn general by saying: From
the Californians' troubles the whole
country is realizing the difficulties
with which we have had to cotend
and they are helping us make con-
verts to the doctrine that we must be
lief to handle our troubles ourselves"
Senator Smith brought up for strong
arrangement the Sherwood bill for an
increase of United States pensions.
THE startling truth is demonstrate
ed that the eleven Southern States
have paid to Union pensioners of the
War Between the States che entire
value, in 1870, Of their agricultural
lands and all improvements thereon,
together with their agricultural i'm
plements and live stock" he said. Il
believe it to be the duty of your Sena-
tors to resist in every proper way
an increase in the now already enor-
nous payments for pensions of the
Civil War"
The speaker also attacked the
workmen's compensation act, now
pending, declaring it to be a bill to
save the railroad corporations from
their just liabilities to injured en-
ployees.
Urges U. S. Road Building.
In advocating the xcise tax bill
Senator Smith declared strongly for
constitutional authority to pass an in
come tax which would proportion
equally among the entire citizenship
the expense of Government.
10 The Senator advocated national ala
to road building throughout the coun-
try He said the road building ques-
ton was at present before the Post
office and Postroads Committee Of
the Senate, and that his every effort,
personally, would be to bring It
through successfully.
Senator Smith went into the plan
of tariff reduction fully. He said. in
part:
The Democratic party has under
taken to reform the tariff downward
for the purpose of stopping, as far as
possible this system of legalized ROB-
berry. The plan of the Democratic
tariff bill involves several different
propositions.
Taxes on Luxuries.
First. The raising of revenues.
Second. The production of Iegiti-
mate competition. to the end that far
prices shall be charged consumers.
Third. No taxes, or the lowest pos
sible taxes, upon the necessaries q
Continued on Page 2, Column 5.