The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-20
SENATE GETTING ALONG.
Cool Progress Made On Revenue Bill
Thursday.
Two THIRDS OF THE MEASURE
HAS NOW BEEN READ.

Discussion of the Bill Was Opened by MIR,
McLaurfn-stamp Tax on Proprietary
Articles in stock Aroused Lively Dis
cussion.
Washington, May 19.--While several
important paragraphs in the war revenue
measure were passed over today for future
consideration, excellent progress was
made by the Senate in the consideration
of the bill Two thirds of the measure
have been read, the committee amend
ments generally having been agreed too.
Mr. McLaurin Democrat South Caro-
lima. opened the discussion Of the bill to-
day with carefully prepared speech
touching all of its features. He expressed
the hope that the bill would pass as re.
ported by the majority OF the committee
On finance. with the exception of the
stamp tax, which he thought quite neoes-
parry. The proposition to place a stamp
hax upon proprietary articles and per-
bumeries now in stock. aroused lively
discussion. 1t was regarded as retroac-
Dive legislation and as such was opposed
by many senators. The paragraphs
fsot been disposed of finally.
The death Of Mr.. Gladstone was made
vahe thshe Of the chaplain's invocation at
f5hhsppeding of the Senate today; "Oh,
lEtefnal God.'' the chaplain prayed,
with the whole English speaking race,
we stand as mourners beside the bier Of
the most eminent Of our generation.
xxyac rfoadn fo tho infiuouoo ~
Gladstone upon the life of the world
ADD praises were given Tor the example
of his noble life.
A resolution was presented by Mr..
Mills of Texas, and passed, calling upon
the se6retary@of wsr for plans and spe6ifl-
hsl making 1t 20 feet deep and $50 feet
HS the conclusion of the morning bust
mss. consideration of thu revenue bill
was resumed, Mr.. McLaurin of South
Caroline, delivering a set speech upon
the features Of the pending bill. Speak
ing of the bringing On of the war in
which we are now engaged, he said Spain
had supposed that commercial greed had
stified patriotism. This, to her sorrow,
she had learned at Manila,is not the fact.
She had realized there that Dewey was
3 worthy successor, to Decatur and
Perry.
Lei
for any measure that would tend to bring
The war to successful conclusion.
Concerning the proposed issue of bonds,
he said: "There is an army In this
country just as anxious to raid the Unit
I'D States treasury as our volunteers to
raid Cuba. These Jobbers and spectators
form a greater menace to us than the
war with Spain.
Mr.. McLaurin hoped that with the pos
sible exception of the stamp tax, which
he deemed unnecessary, the bill would
pass as reported.
Al the conclusion Of Mr.. McLaurin's
speech the clerk proceeded with the read
ing of the bill.
When the paragraph providing for
stamp taxes upon all transfers of stock
was reached, the paragraph was amended
10 as to clearly cover all agreements to
sell stock, whether the stock actually
was transferred or not.
Mr.. Clay of Georgia, moved to strike
but the requirement of tax of two
cents upon each promissory note of $10O
Or less. 1t was rejected.
Mr.. Bacon moved to modify the proyis-
lon for tax on inland bill of exchange
rs to relieve bills of less than 500 in
value from the requirement and to fix
the rate at 2 cents where the value is be-
tween 500 and $500.
MIR. WOlcott objected to the change, say
ing that there was no real foundation for
the objection to the proposed tax except
upon the stamp.
Mr.. Gorman suggested that If the bill
was to pass as reported 1t would carry
too much revenue and that taxes suoh as
these now under consideration could be
eliminated. He urged that the Demo-
cratic amendments be taken up now.
Mr.. Allison suggested that If the Demo-
cratic amendments were to be included in
the bsn as 70 should become a law, it
would carry more revenue than was
needed. but there was no way yet of
knowing how This would be, but if they
were 'inclndei In the final act of the Sem
ate 1t would be easy enough to return to
the othefjtem
Mr.. Aldrioh opposed any change in the
order OF proceeding 'with the bill
ME- Teller said the difficulty was that
the 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 esti-
mated, but as for himself he wanted a
$500, 0oo, 900 tax. He thought the coun-
try shol2ld not only provide revenue for
the present war, but also for the next
Mr.. Teller said the indications were that
the war with Spain would not long con-
tinue, but to him the signs were equally
strong that within few years we Wolid
be involved in another war which might
and probably would be OF far more seri-
Gus consequence than the contest with