The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-20
REVENUE BILL AMENDED
SEVERAL CHANGES MADE by THE
SENATE AFTER DEBATE.
Labor Arbitration Bill Passed by the
HOuse-Sharp Political Tilt mt the
Close of Proceedings.

WASHINGTON, May 1s.--while several
important paragraphs in the war revenue
measure were passed over to-day for future
consideration, excellent progress was made
by the Senate in consideration of the bin.
Two-thirds of the measure has been read,
the committee amendments generally hav-
ing been agreed to. Mr.. McLaurin (Den.s
S. c. opened. the discussion of the bill to-
day with carefully prepared speech touch
ing all of its features, He expressed the
hope that the bill would pass as reported by
the majority of the committee on finance.
with the exception of the stamp tax, which
he thought quite unnecessary. The PROPOSE
ton to place a stamp tax upon proprietary
articles and perfumeres now in stock
aroused a. lively discussion. 1t was regard
ed as retroactive legislation, and. such.
was opposed by many senators. The para
graph has not been disposed of finally.
The death of Mr.. Gladstone was made the
theme Of the chaplain's invocation at the
opening of the Senate.
A resolution presented by Mr. Mills (Tex.)
was passed. 1t calls upon the secretary OF
war for plans and specifications for the inn
provement of Arkansas Pass harbor, the re-
moval of the bar and the Improvement Of
the channel, making it twenty feet deep
| and $50 feet wide at the bottom.
AT the conclusion of the morning business
consideration of the war revenue bill was
| resumed. Mr.. McLaurin delivered a set
| speech upon the features of the measure.
| Speaking of the bringing on of the war in
| which we are now engaged, he said Spain
| had supposed that commercial greed had
stifed patriotism. This to her sorrow, she
| had learned at Manila was not the fact. She
| had realized there that Dewey was a worthy
| successor to Decatur and Perry.
He was ready, he said, to vote for any
| measure that would tend to bring the war
| to successful conclusion. People on the
| Island of Cuba are dying every hour. He.
however, opposed the issue of bonds. and
defended the bill as reported by the major
| ity OF the finance committee, and hoped
that, with the possible exception of the
| stamp tax, which he deemed unnecessary,
| the bill would pass as reported.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. McLaurin'S
speech the clerk proceeded with the reading
| of the bill. The paragraph providing for
stamp taxes upon all transfers of stock was
amended so as to clearly cover all agree
| ments to sell stock whether the stock ac-
| tually was transferred or not.
| Mr.. Clay Georgia. moved to strike out
| the requirement of a tax of 2 cents upon
| each promissory note of 500 or less. 1t was
| rejected
Mr. Bacon moved so as to modify the pro-
| vision for tax on inland bills of exchange
| as to relieve bills of less than 500 in value
| from the requirement ana TO nix TIE rate
at 2 cents where the value is between 500
| and 5000 After debate the amendment was
| lost by a vote of Al to 10.
While the paragraph requiring all bills or
| lading, manifests or receipts given by rail-
| road, steamboat or express companies to
bear stamps was under consideration, Mr..
Sewal IN j. inquired whether the COM
| nlittee proposed to tax both the bill of lad
| ing and the receipt for the property. Mr.
Allison replied that it did not and the
paragraph was so amended as to make the
| point clear.
Mr.. Mallory believed that the tax on tele-
phone messages would be difficult TO collect
| Mr.. Allison explained that the requirement
| of a receipt for messages did not apply 70
residence telephones, but to pay stations or
which there were thousands in all large
cities. On all other telephone transactions
| the books of the companies would exhibit
the facts and secure payment 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 lifo insurance policies was passed
over at the suggestion of Mr.. White. The
other committee amendments relating TO
marine, inland, fire, casualty, fidelity and
At the request of Mr.. Jones (Arkan sas)
the first four pages of Schedule b relating
to the tax upon proprietary articles per
flImery and other articles ordinarily sold in
drug stores. were passed over.
In response to an inquiry of Mr.. Cock
rell Mr.. Wolcott said that 1t was not the
purpose of the committee to impose a tax
upon such ordinary table waters as were
offered for sale, except where the water was
exploited as specific or remedy Tor certain
diseases
After the reading of the committee amend
firms. companies and corporations, the bill
was laid aside until tomorrow,
On motion of Mr. Allison, at 4:55 p. m.
the Senate went into executive session. At
ERE the Senate adjourned.