The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-17
War Bill N DEBATE
Senate Begins a Siege of In
definite Length.
M'KINLEYS FIRST VETO.
Free Homes" Has a Short
Inning In the House.

washington, May I6.-The debate upon
the war revenue measure was begun in
tie senate today. The opening statement
for the committee on finance was made
by Mr. Allison Of Iowa, the ranking mem
Der in the absence Of Mr.. Morrill, OF Yer
mont. who estimated that the bill. as it
came from the house of representatives,
would raise about 500, 900 900 year. AS
reported from the senate committee. Mr..
Allison estimated that 1t would raise
S151, 49,, 066. At the conclusion of Mr.. ALI
sons statement the bill was made the
unfinished business and it will be pressed
to passage as soon a possible.
PRELIMINARY BUSINESS.
Mr.. Morgan (Ala) introduced a resolu-
tom calling upon the secretary of the in
terror for information in his possession
concerning the progress Of work on the
Nicaragua canal and concerning the
financial affairs Of the Maritime Canal
company The resolution was agreed to.
The senate by 35 to II voted down an
amendment by Mr.. Pettigrew TO a local
railroad bill providing that the govern
ment might purchase the road at its cash
value any time after ten years.
REVENUE BILL CALLED UP.
Mr. Allison Qowa) then called up the
war revenue bill and made a statement OF
its features TO the senate.
Mr. Allison said that as the bill came
from the house of representatives, IT was
an internal revenue measure, and as re-
ported to the senate it was still an inter
nal revenue bill. Comparatively, said he,
there are no provisions in it for increase
of customs duties.
He said that the finance committee had
carefully examined all the schedules Of
the house bill and had been led 70 believe
that schedules A STAMP tax) and B (pro-
prietary articles were too general in
there scope. Consequently they had been
amended. In the beer and tobacco taxes,
on schedules A and B and on the tonnage
tax matter. the committee was substan-
TALLY a unit. Mr.. Allison said further
that in the committee there were no DIFF
ferences Of opinion as to the necessity OF
the bill. II was purely a war revenue
measure. With a view TO ascertaining
how much money would be required to
run the war during the next fiscal year,
although he expressed the hope that it
would last only few weeks or a few
months at most Mr.. Allison said that the
committee had obtained the best possible
estimates from the secretary Of war and
the secretary Of the navy. Secretary Al
ger estimated that his department would
need $15o 925, 527 To this sum must be
added at least SIS. OO0 600 to pay expenses
authorized by congress after the estimate
was made.
The estimate Of the secretary Of the
nevy for the expense Of HIS department
for the same period was s75, 556. go, but
in addition TO this sum the amount car
ried by the naval appropriation bill must |
be considered as a part of the expenses |
Of the navy. In addition to the $50. 900. 900 |
already appropriated as a war fund. |
which Mr.. Allison announced paranthet- |
ically, had been practically expended the !
forthcoming general deficiency bill would |
carry a deficiency appropriation for the |
current year OF about S35 0O0 600 and there |
is a naval deficiency OF about SO. $50, 900.
The senate finance committee therefore !
figured that it would require a total OF /
at least 1915 .0O0 to- pay the expenses Of |
the war from the present time until the /
first OF July, 1899, not taking into account |
any emergency expenses which might /
arise at any moment.
Mr.. Allison then carefully analysed the |
ordinary receipts and expenditures of the |
government. In the course Of this state /
ment he expressed the opinion that the /
estimate OF the secretary Of the treasury
that the present tariff bill would this |
year raise 500, 900 900 was too high In
present circumstances and conditions he
doubted whether the bin would produce
more tina n$1So. 100000.
The important question, he said. was
how much money should be provided by
taxation and how much by loan. In com
mittee. he had been willing to increase
the revenue feature so as to insure S125.-
10000 On this point the COMMITTEES on
finance had been divided some members