Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-26
A CORPORATION TAX.
The Senate Considers That Clause
Of the War Revenue Measure.
4 BRIEF SESSION OF TIE HOUSE,


WARRINGTON, May S.-The feature
OF the war revenue measure placing
q tax Of one-quarter Of one per cent
upon the gross receipts Of corporations
was under consideration In the senate
throughout yesterdays ssssion. Incl.
dentally the proposed tax on bank de-
posts was adverted 10. The princi-
pal speeches were delivered by Sen.
ator Plat, Of Connecticut and
Senator Lindsay, Of Kentucky, both
Of whom vigorously attacked the
corporation tax. The weight OF
the formers argument was thrown
against the tax on the ground
that 1t was unconstitutional, because
the tax was not levied alike upon all
persons engaged In particular line OF
business He maintained that an oc-
cupation tax could be levied, provided
that the conditions were fair and
equitable, but that the business OF a
corporation could not be taxed simply
because 1t was conducted by corpora
ton, a partnership, firm or an in.
dividual.
Senator Lindsay vigorously antago-
nized the proposed issue OF legal ten
der notes, declaring that 1t accentu-
ated the existing menace to the gold
reserve Of the treasury, and was, be-
sides. the dearest money ever devised.
He held that such an issue would be a
blow TO the nations financial credit.
lie, too, presented an argument against
the proposed corporation tax, main
tanning that II enacted into law 1t
would breed q batch OF lawsuits in
stead Of providing what the govern.
ment needed-ready money with which
to conduct the war operations.
The session Of the house yesterday
was brief. Several bills were passed,
notably those for the organization OF
the naval hospital corps, to facilitate
military trials for small offenses, and
to authorize the appointment OF COM
mission 10 allot certain lands to and
secure the cession Of the Uintah In.
dams.
HAWAIIAN ANNEXATION RESOLUTIONS.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-Assurance
that a special rule for the considera-
ton OF the Hawaiian annexation res.
olutions would be reported to the
house late this week was given yester.
day. Representative Tawney and
other republican members were in
clined to secure, If possible, caucus
to consider Thursday night the ques-
ton of annexation with a view
to exerting pressure for the rule, and
q call was circulated in the house
yesterday, but the movement was
abandoned upon the general under
standing that the committee on rules
would respond soon to the manifest
desire of the majority members to
take up the Hawaiian resolutions.
Mr.. Hit, chairman Of the committee
on foreign affairs, and In charge OF
the resolutions, said last evening he
was confident consideration would be
had early next week and probably
three days would be given for debate.
NICARAGUA CANAL PROJECT.
WASHINGTON, May Ex-senator Nor
gan and the president held confer.
ence yesterday over the Nicaragua
canal. The senator assured the execu-
tive that he intended to bring up In
the senate at an early day the bill pro-
viding for the completion Of the
canal by American capital. He
also said he would press 1t to
a vote as soon as possible. The
president is heartily in favor Of the
project, and said so. The long trip
just completed by the battleship Ore
gon has demonstrated the necessity of
the canal and the president assured
the senator that he would support him
as far as he was able. President Nc
Kinley thinks this an opportune time
to press the measure and believes that
majority Of both houses can be Sc
cured for it.