The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-17

Revenue provided by Senate bill. $151 494 O66
At the opening of the Senate to-day Mr.
Morgan. introduced resolution calling up-
on the secretary of the interior for infor-
nation 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 IS to II, voted down an
amendment by Mr. Petigrew to a local rail-
road bill providing that the government
might purchase a railroad at its cash value
at any time after ten years.
MY. Allison then called the war revenue
bill, and made statement of it's features
to the Senate. Mr. Allison said that as the
bill came from the House of Representa-
tives it was an internal. revenue measure
and as reported to the Senate it was still
an internal revenue bill. Comparatively.
said he, there are nc, provisions in it for in
crease of customs duties.
Mr.. Allison then. analysed the bill as IL
came from the House presenting the va
reasons why they were incorporated by the
House. He said that the finance committee
had carefully examined all of the schedules
or the bill and had been led to believe that
Schedules A STAMP taxes) and Cproprie-
tary articles1. wero too general in their
scope. Consequently they had been amend.
ed. On practically all of the provisions OF
the bill the committee had not seriously
divided. On the beer and tobacco taxes. on
Schedules A and b, and on the tonnage tax
matter, the committee was substantially
unit.
Mr.. Allison said. further, that in the conn
mittee there were no differences Of opinion
rs to the necessity Of the BILL 1t was pure
ly a war revenue measure. If there were
no war there would be no necessity for the
BILL With a view to ascertain 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 few months at most, Mr..
Allison said that the committee had OBJ
tanned the best possible estimates Of the
secretary of war and the secretary of the
navy. The estimate of the former had been
based upon the mastering in of rs, 900 volun-
teers and did not include provisions for the
900 additional men authorized by Cons
gress TO be enlisted since the estimate was
made. Secretary Alger estimated that his
department would need $3.50, ,52. To this
sum must be added at least $l5OOO,O00 to pay
expenses authorized by Congress after tha
estimate was made.
AT LEAST 1919 1872 900 NEEDED.
The estimate of the secretary of the navy
of the expenses of his department for the
same period was SIS, 556, 25O, but in addition
to this sum the amount carried by the naval
appropriation bill must be considered as
part of the expense of the navy. In addi-
ton to the $4,000. 600 already appropriated
as war fund, which, Mr.. Allison an-
nounced, parenthetically, had been practi-
cally expended. the forthcoming general de-
ficiency bill would carry deficiency appro-
priation for the current year of about $685.
600 co., and there is a naval deficiency of
about $22 900. The Senate finance COM
mittee, therefore, fiured that il would re-
quire a total of at least 1919, 1872, 900 to pay
the expenses of the war from the present
time until the LIST of July, 1899. mot taking
into account any emergency expenses that
might arise at any moment. The total
amount, Mr.. Allison thought, would be
rather above than below the sum he had in
Mr.. Allison then carefully analysed the
ordinary receipts and expenditures Of the
government. In the course of this state
mant RXnreGCed nnfnfnn haf hn cat
mate of the secretary of the treasury that
the present tariff bill would this year raise
900 was too high. In present circum-
stances and conditions he doubted whether
the bill would produce more than $1S0, 900. 900.
Mr.. Allison thought that the war would
have the inevitable effect of diminishing
the revenue by disturbing our foreign conn
merce. but he said that no one could estl-
mate the extent of this disturbance. The
important question, he said. was how much
money should be provided by taxation and
how much by loan. In committee he had
been willing to increase the revenue fea-
ture so as to insure S25,OOO,WO. On this
point the committee on finance had been d.
Vided some members desiring TO raise as
much or more than $3.50 100000 and he
thought that the bill would produce this
amount irrespective OF the democratic alto
bill as agreed to by all the members would
produce even to exceed $50. 200. while he
thought the House bill would not produce to
exceed $105 900 600.
Mr. Allison here gave a detailed estimate
OF the items of increase as follows: On fer
mented liquors, SIS. 600 600: on tobacco and
snuff. S25 600 600; on bankers, $2500O00; brok-
ers, $1,500,000 theaters. crcuses. etc, 81 500
600: bank checks, etc. s. 100000 bills of lad
ing express and freight, S10O00.O00: life In
surance, 81 277 900: mortgages. $1,000 600: re-
ceipts. etc, in Schedule b. $2S,OOOOOO Legal
cies, 10000
WILL YIELD $151, 100000.
Mr.. Allison stated that the estimate OF
totals under the bin as reported. independent
of the Democratic amendments. were based
upon estimates on the same articles from
the Office of the commissioner of internal
revenue for the fiscal year ending In 1899.
and that the exact figures were $151000.0o0
Mr.. Allison said he WAS satisfied the esti-