The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-11
BY A BIG MAJORITY.
Conference Report on Revenue Bill
Adopted in senate, Al to %.


WASHINGTON, June 1O.-Shortly after
O'Clock this afternoon the conference report
on the war revenue bill was agreed to by
the Senate after a discussion lasting four
hours. The debate upon the measure was
without special Incidents and was entirely
devoid of acrimonious features II was
foregone conclusion that the report would
be agreed to and the only question of in
terest involved was how soon a vote could
he reached. The debate indicated general
~ that the bill as agreed upon by the con-
ferees was reasonably satisfactory to every
body, except as to the bond provision The
vote cast against the adoption of the report
reflected the opinions of those senators who
are opposed TO any increase in the interest
bearing debt of the country. The report
was agreed to by the decisive vote of 43 to
Y. Every Republican voted for the measure
and their votes were supplemented by those
of eight Democrats. one silver Republican
and one independent. The Democrats who
voted for the adoption of the report were
Messrs. Caffery, German. Lindsay Nc
Emery, Mitchell, Morgan, Murphy and Tur-
pie; the silver Republican was Mr.. Mantle;
and the Independent was Mr.. Kyle. The
vote against the report was cast by sixteen
Democrats, three silver Republicans and
three Populists. AS soon as the engrOssed
bill can be signed by the presiding officers
of the two branches of Congress it will be
sent to the President.
Just at the close of the session this even
ing a bitter personal discussion was pre-
cipitated by Mr.. Butler pop, N. CO, who
attacked Mr.. Kyle for having voted for the
issuance of bonds. Mr. Butler, speaking as
the chairman of the Populist national COM
mittee. officially declared that Mr.. Kyle did
not represent the Populist party. Mr.. Kyle
replied warmly. saying that he was respon-
sible for his political actions not to Mr.. But
Ter, but to his conscience and TO his con-
stituents. Subsequently he, denounced as
intentional and malicious falSehoods' some
statements made about him by Mr. Petit
grew.
A bill to provide an American register for
the steamer Arcadia, of the New York and
Porto Rico Steamship Company. was passed
at the opening of the session. The bill pro-
vides that the vessel shall not engage in
between New York and Porto Rico.
Mr. Jones. of Arkansas, offered a resolu-
tion directing the secretary OF the interior
lions had been given to Charles E M.
Schlierholz special agent of the. general
land Office at Batesville, Ark. Mr.. Jones
complained that, agent of the govern
ment, SchierholZ was in the habit OF seiz-
ing timber RATS fioated down the White
river to Batesville and compelling the raft
owners to prove that the timber was not
cut from government land. He said that
a disgrace and outrage and ''he ought TO
be kicked out of his position The resolu-
tion was adopted.
Mr.. Aldrich presented the report of the
conference committee on the war revenue
measure and when it was read, said that,
supposing senator's were familiar with the
details of the report, he would make no Tor
NAL statement
CRITICISED BY JONES.
Mr. Jones, of Arkansas. said, as one of
the conferees, he had not signed the report,
ard would vote against it. Many things in
the report were satisfactory to him, partic
ularly the retention of the IL per cent. beer
rebate, the inheritance, the sleeping car, the
tea taxes and other taxes put in the bill.
He did not think the reduction in the
amount of silver to be coined each month
was necessary. but he was gratifed that
the provision for the coinage of all the sill
Yer bullion in the treasury had been re-
tained in the measure. The proposed addi
ton to the bonded debt of the country was,
in Mr.. Jones's opinion, seriously objection
able so much so, in fact, that he would OPP
pose the adoption of the report. He read
a newspaper. clipping announcing that ar
rangements had been perfected al the
Treasury Department for the immediate
issue of 500 000.OC0 of bonds. He had no
doubt the statement was accurate.
Mr. Aldrich called Mr.. Jones's attention
TO the provisions of the bill, which were that
the bonds should be issued only as a means
of raising money with which to prosecute
Mr.. Jones replied that he did not doubt.
however, the statement in the newspaper
He had one other very serious objection,
he said, to the adoption of the report. II
retained the stamp tax deeds, checks,
etc, of the people, and had released the
railroads from the requirement to pay
similar tax on bills of lading. This, he be-
lieved, was harsh upon the people and en-
tirely unnecessary.
Mr.. Wocott, in brief speech, paid a high
Senate COnfPrPeE.
had been long time since bill of so great
Importance as this one was had created so
little friction. The report of the confereeS,
he thought was eminently fair and just
and reflected great credit upon the con-
1erees of both the Senate and the House.
1T may be true" said Mr.. Wolcott, las the
senator from Arkansas (Mr. jones' says,
that the secretary of the treasury mad
vertently may have done just what the sem
ator says he has The secretary of the treas
ury has done many foolish things. But the
bill so hedges about the secretary with con-
dtions that he will be forced to follow the
law" Mr.. Wolcott said he was satisfied that
the people of the country would take all the
bonds offered by the government. He did not
share in the fear of Mr.. Jones that the sec
rotary would place the bonds in the hands
of the big banks and financiall corporate
The bond section of the bill provided that
the lowest and individual bidders for bonds
should first have their bids accepted by the
secretary. He was certain the secretary
would give the people ample time and OPP
portunity to bid for the bonds and he be-
lleved subscriptions for them would come
from the people of every hamlet of the
United States. The people of the country,
said he, will take up these bonds as a man
ifestation of their patriotism and their pride
in the country He particularly glad
that the provision for the coinage of silver
bullion had been retained. Many OF us
would have been glad If the BILL as finally
agreed on said Mr.. Wolcott. provided
but the principle incorporated by the Senate
has been retained and l believe it is gener-
ally satisfactory.
Mr.. Bacon announced his opposition to the
conference report, saying the bill was even
more Objectionable to him now than when
originally before the Senate.
CANNOT BE SOLD BELOW PAR
Mr.. Teller called attention to the change
made hY the conference in regard to the
sale of bonds authorized at not less than
par.
Mr.. Aldrich replied that the change was
made to remove an apparent inconsistency
and that under the language adopted there
was no possibility of a sale of any of the
bonds for less than par Mr.. Allison also
gave the same opinion as TO the provision.
Mr.. Teller also asked why the certificates
of Indebtedness were not made a popular
loan, to which Mr.. Aldrich replied that the
change was made because of the fact that
they were intended to meet emergency de-
mands, which rendered it impracticable TO
make provision for a popular subscription.
Mr.. Teller said that While he was not
prepared to congratulate the country on the
agreement on bonds, he had been agreeably
surprised that the sum had not been made
with the evident effort to take advantage
of an inconseuuential war TO create a huge