The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-20

not bear upon small depositors heavily
and upon savings bank depositors who
drew money on their books it bore not al
all
MI Clay Of Georgia moved to strike on!
the requirement of a tax OF two cents
upon each promisSory note OF 500 or less
1t was rejected.
Mr.. Bacon moved to modify the provis-
| ion for tax on inland bills Of exchange
as to relieve bills of less than 500 In
value from the requirement and to fix
the rate of two cents, where the value is
! between 500 and $500.
! Mr.. Wolcott objected to the charge. say
ing there was no real foundation for the
/ objection TO the proposed tax except upon
the stamp.
Mr.. German suggested that II the bin
was to pass as reported, it would carry
too much revenue and that taxes such
as these now under consideration could
be eliminated. He urged that the Demo-
cratic amendments be taken up now.
Mr.. Allison suggested that IL the Dem
ocratic amendments were to be included
in the bin as 1t should become law
twould carry more revenue than was
needed, but there was no way yet of
knowing how this would be, but If they
were included in the final action of the
senate it would be easy enough to return
to other items.
Mr.. Aldrich opposed any change in the
order of proceedings with the bill.
MR.. TELLER'S OTHER WAR.
Mr.. Teller said the difficulty was that
thes committee was divided as to the sum
that should be raised as revenue under
the bill. He did not believe the bill would
produce as much as Mr.. Allison had est-
mated but as for himself, he wanted a
$500 100000 tax. Continuing. he said he
thought the country should not only pro-
vide revenue for the present war but
also for the next. Mr.. Teller said the
indications were that the war with Spain
would not long continue, but to him the
signs were equally strong that within
few years we would be involved in an
other war in which might and probably
would be of far more serious consequence
than the contest with "rhe by coun-
II WillCi VIC al llON NOlAtCAAhAAAS-
Upon a roll call, the Bacon amend
ment was lost by a vote of 10 TO Al.
Mr. Mallory Of Florida believed that
the tax on telephone messages would be
difficult TO collect.
Mr. Allison explained that the require
ment Of a receipt for a message did not
apply to residence telephones, but to pay
stations of which there were thousands
in all large cities. On all other telephone
transactions the books of the company's
would exhibit the facts and secure pay
ment Of the tax to the government.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Wolcott the
entire amendment relating to express,
freight and telephone taxes was laid over
for future consideration.
The committee amendment relating to
the taxes upon life insurance policies was
passed over at the suggestion of Mr..
White CCal) The other committee
amendments relating to marine, inland,
fire, causalty. fidelity and guarantee in
surance were agreed TO.
RETROACTIVE FEATURES.
Referring TO the tax on druggists sup
plies now on hand, Mr.. Allison said that
all senator's had received letters urging
that the stamp tax be not levied upon
stocks on hand. Mr.. Allison said many
druggists were willing to place the stamps
upon articles when they were sold, al
though they objected to being forced to
go through their stocks and stamp ar
ticles. He believed. too, that the stamp
ought to be placed on articles when sold
at wholesale.
Mr.. Bacon thought the retroa ctive fea-
ture in every part of tht bill unjust and
ought to be eliminated. Mr.. Aldrich point
ed out that II the articles in the hands
OF retailers were not taxed ii was 4bso-
lutely certain that none OF the articles
would be in the hands of manufactures
on the day the bill became law.
In answer TO a question of Mr.. Bscon,
Mr.. Aldrich said he had seen in a trade
paper the statement that the amount Of
stamp tax on stocks now IN hands would
amount to sl5,000,000.
amendments, relating 10 excise taxes on
persons firms. companies and corpora
uons, the bill was laid aside until to-
morrow.
On motion OF Mr.. Allison at % D. m. |
the senate went into executive session, |
and at SIS adjourned.