Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-05-26

ChIIy Ou tuls War W buUCeb5lul ouu
We may and will differ honestly as to
the way and mode Of securing means
for such purposes. Hope our repub-
lican friends will not charge disloy-
atty because we exercises our iudg-
ment as we'll as our rights as repre-.
sentatives as TO the best and most
expedIent way to replenish the treas
uary for this emergency; and at the
same time make it 80 that it will not
be burden upon the people.
fud no fault with portions OF this
bill. notice, however, that certain
features Of it are subject to criticism.
Taxes are most burdensome upon the
individual of small business; that ls
to say, you have levied by the pro-
visions Of this bill a greater tax pro-
portionately against the individual of
moderate business than one of great
or business This is unjust. Men who
are engaged in business of great ca
pacity are more able TO respond to
such task
No country ever became great and
powerful when the burden of taxation
was most heavily up the poor of such
country. When 1 say "poor", / mean
the ordinary business men, Those
who toll and produce the wealth of
the country-energetic men and wo-
men. Yet such is what you propose
to do by this bill, l find no provision
to tax the speculatoE the great cor
porations, and syndicates Why not
have those men Of ease, who enjoy
great wealth, bear their proportion
Of this patriotic burden? Do not my
friends say that we on this side of the
chamber are moi loyal to our country
because we try to have the burdens
of this war borne by the rich as we'll
as the man Of small business?
am unalterably opposed to the
provisions of this bill which proposes
the issue of bonds. There is no real
demand for such bond issue now ex-
listing. There is now an available
balance IN the treasury Of the United
States, according to the latest reports,
of about $1OO,000,O0O after deducting
$1O0,0O0,0O0 gold reserve fund. You
propose to replenish the treasury by
the tax provision Of this bill $50, 000,-
600 at least the first year
Coin the seignlorage silver now idle
In the treasury, which will give to this
country about $50,0000O0 Issue
$780, 100000 full legsl-tender treasury
notes receivable by the government.
This kind of money has done valuable
service for our country IN the past, as
in the wars of 1872, 1916, and 1861
and saved the country by breaking
the panics Of 1887, 1857, and 1873.
Mr.. Chairman, it is estimated by
Mr. Dingley, the honorable chairman
having management Of thii bill, that
the war will cost this country $685.
100000 per month, or $500, 100000 q
year. Then submit, Mr.. Chairman,
that the available money in the treas
vry, viz, $109,000,0O0; coin seignior-
age (proposed), $5OOOO,O 900; legal.ten-
der treasury notes, $l5O,0OO0O0; pro-
posed result from this bill by tax,
$9O,OO0,000, will give us $500, 100000,
more than sufficient to conduct this
war for year from this date.
Now l am Of the opinion that we
that we should lay an income tax,
thereby giving the more fortunate an
opportunity to give Of their surplus
to bring this war to an honorable and
speedy end, l am not Of the opinion
that my friends Messrs, Din gley and
Deliver are, that with such law on
our statute books we would have a
lawsuit on our hands, and thereby
cripple our chances OF success in war.
I hope our rich are loyal and true
and would readily and cheerfully
bear a good part Of the burden Of
our war expenses, while those men
who have no income 90 to the front
and fight the battles Of the country.
Are the rich less loyal than the poor
classesY
The history Of this country proves
with an unbroken chain of facts that
the nonincome class Of our people
have always paid whatever tribute
was demanded Of them for the honor
of our country, even to their lives
Even should this fortunate class that
a.. .noo,,oo to.- mould aiaok obIant ~