The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-18
EXPENSE OF THE WAR.
Jones of Arkansas Doesn't Like the
Pending Bill mt All.

Washington. May 1Z.-ConsiderabIe
progress was made in the senate to-
day In considering the war revenue
measure. Mr.. Jones of Arkansas pre-
sented In q general statement the views
OF the democratic members Of the f.
nance committee. He maintained that
the taxes proposed by the pending bill
ought to be levied upon property and
not upon consumption; that the policy
OF the republican party had always
been to impose taxes Upon consump-
ton. while that of the democratic par
" wal TO impose Ii upon property. He
beIeved that taxation that would raise
$lo0,OOO.0 900 would be amply sufficient to
be carried by this bill. and that IL the
e~xigencies of the war should demon
strate that more money was needed
congress could provide Ii later. He
opposed the proposition to issue bonds
n certificates of Indebtedness far in
excess OF the requirements of the war
held that the expenses shout be
raised by the government as the war
progresses.
Mr.. Hale offered the following resolu-
tlon, which was agreed to:
That the temporary Appointments
made by the president on and after
April Il, 1888, and up to date of passage
or this joint resolution, of officers of
the line and staff of the navy are here
by ratified and confirmed to continue in
force during the ~exigency under which
their services are required in the ex-
lsting war. Officials so appointed shall
be assigned to duty with the rank and
pay OF grades established by existing
laws, and shall be paid from appropria-
ton for pay of the navy"
A bill was reported from the military
AFFAIRS committee by Carter and
passed.. providing that pay and allow
ance OF volunteers enlisted in the Unit
ed States army h begin on the day
or their enlistment at state camps, with
provision that volunteer troops sent TO
the philippine islands nay draw a
months "a In advance.
On motion OF Allison. consideration of
the war revenue measure was resumed.
Jones of Arkansas taking the floor. Mr..
Jones said the problem presented was
now much money was needed.
Mr.. Jones called attention to the
statement of Secretary of the Treas
ury Gage that the national expenses of
the war over n above current ex-
penses or government would be about
W., 600 600 a month, a total Of perhaps |
5000, 900, 900 "A year. Secretary Alger had !
Informed the finance committee that |
the extraordinary val expenses of his
department. would he about $780, 900. 900. |
He thought this amount sufficiently |
liberal. Secretary Long had presented
TO the committee a carefully prepared
statement showing that the war ex- !
penses Of his department would be
about s75. OOO. 900. Allowing SIS. 600. 900 !
Tor extra expenses. the full amount
needed by the estimates of abine off, |
GERS was. according to his figures, in
the neighborhood of $40. 900, 900. This |
amount was, of course in addition to
the ordinary expenses OF the govern !
ment. |
Mr.. Hale challenged this statement.
declaring that the $75.0 00. 900 referred to
in the statement of Secretary Long did |
not INCLUDE the amount carried by the |
naval appropriation bill for the pres
ent. but as 1t did not include. either. |
about $50, 600, 900 which would be includ-
ed in the general deficiency bill. he es-
timated that the expense of the war OF
the navy department would not be less
than $50, OO0, 900 from now till July /,
1899. Mr.. Allison called attention 10
the fact that he made that point clear
in his statement.
Mr.. Jones, continuing, maintained
that II was entirely unnecessary for
all the expenses of the existing war to
De provided Tor in the pending bill. Con-
gress would return here i'm December
next, and If the emergency required
It's presence. II could be called together
by the president. Mr.. Tones did not
approve of the bill as it came from the
house. His figures. the best obtain
1890 ~ fahNsf lIdI liz IN
penses of the war during the next year
woul not be more than SAC, 900, 900, yet
of the pending bill proposed
to place at the disposal of the govern
ment more than three times that sum
through taxation and the issue of
bonds. Mr.. Jones declared that every
feature of the bill was a tax on con-
sumption. The stamp tax was one of
the most onerous and vexatious forms
Of taxation ever devised. The tax on
and upon beer was a tax on
In response to an in
quiry from Mr.. Aldrich, Mr.. Jones said
he did not believe any man could de-
termine definitely on whom the beer tax
would fall.
I'VE on this side" said ne. believe,
however. that the taxes levied ought to
rest upon the property, while the bill
Increases the taxes on con-
In answer to an inquiry by Mr.. Aid
rich, Mr.. Jones said: Il am willing to
fix the amount that ought to be pro-
duced by the pending bill at $3.50, Co.,
200; but believe IL would be better and
for us to levy wen more taxes
rather than increase our interest-bear-
Ing obligations. II l had to take my
choice between IN issue of bonds and
an increase OF taxation. I would prefer
to Increase taxation"
Without reaching any agreement as
TO what portion of the bill should be
first, the senate proceeded
the reading OF the bill with the
understanding that any time senators
should have the privilege OF returning
passed items for their amendment or
alteration.
Mr.. Allison presented tables showing
he amounts of the ordinary appropria-
lions for the next fiscal year. They ag-
sregate Qess ISL, 200, 900 for the sinking
fund) $3.50. SAG. $50.
The total estimated revenues dnclud-
ng postal ~revenuesl. Mr.. Allison's ia
oles showed. were s4s2. s74.647. an ex-
,ess of s2.02i, 795 over the estimated or
finary appropriations. The appropria-
ions for the war, Mr.. Allison gave as
National defense, account of
March 9. 1895 Z 20 600 600