The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-17

Revenue Bill to Provide Means
for the Prosecution of War-In
Time of Peace There Would Be
/ No Necessity for SucE y Measure
Treasury to Have Full Power.
+ WASHINGTON, May 16.-The debate
upon the war measure was begun in
the senate today.
The opening statement for the COM
mittee on finance was made by Mr..
Allison Co.,, the ranking member in
the absence of Mr.. Morrill,. Of Vermont.
1t was estimated that the bill. as it
came from the house Of representatives,
would raise about $10O, 100000 a year.
AS reported from the senate commit
raise $751;, 4s7. 966.
Mr.. Allison said that as the bill came
from the house of representatives, 1t
was an internal revenue measure. and,
as reported to the senate, it was still
an internal revenue bill. Comparative
ly, said he, there are no provisions in
it for increase Of customs duties.
Mr. Allison said that in the commit
tee there were no differences of opinion
as to the necessity for the bill. 1t was
purely a. war revenue measure. If there
were no war, there would be no neces-
sity for the bill With view to as
certain how much money would be-
required to run the war during the next
fiscal year-a1though he expressed the
hope that it would last only few
weeks, or a few months at most-Mr.
Allison said that the committee had
obtained the best possible estimates
of the secretary of war and the secre-
tary Of the navy. The estimate Of the
former had been based upon the mus
tering in of 125, 900 volunteers, and did
not include provisions for the $4,000
additional men authorized by congress
to be enlisted since the estimate was
made.
WAR DEPARTMENT NEEDS.
Secretary Alger estimated that his
department would need $15O, S25,527. TO
this sum must be added at least $15.-
100000 to pay expenses authorized by
congress after the estimate was made.
The estimate Of the secretary of the
navy Of the expenses of his depart
ment for the same period was $685.
ESQ; but, in addition to this sum, the
amount carried by the naval appropr1-,
alton bill must be considered as a part
Of the expenses Of the navy. In adj
dition to the $50,O0O,000 already APP
proved as war fund, which, Mr.. ALI
son announced, parenthetically, had
been practically expended, the forth
coming general deficiency bill would
carry deficiency appropriation for the
current year of about $35. 100000, and
there is q naval deficiency Of about
$22,275.O 900.
The senate finance committee, there
fore, figured that-it would require
total of at least 1919, 900 to pay the
expenses of the war from the present
time until the LIST Of July, 1899. not
taking into account any emergency ex-
penses that might arise at any mo-
ment The total amount. Mr.. Allison
thought, would be rather above than
below the sum he had indicated.
TREASURY ESTIMATE HIGH.
Mr. Allison then carefully analysed
the ordinary receipts and expenditures
of the government. In the course Of
his statement he expressed the opinion
that the estimate Of the secretary Of
the treasury that the present tariff bill
would this year raise $20O,O00,O00 was
too high. In present circumstances and
conditions he doubted that the bill
would produce more than $1S0,000 900.
Mr.. Allison thought the war would
have the inevitable effect of diminish
ing the revenue by disturbing our for
eign commerce, but he said that no
one could estimate the extent of this
disturbance. The important question,
he said, was how much money should
be provided by-taxation and how much
by loan. In committee he had been
willing to increase the revenue SO as
to secure s125, 100000. On this point the
committee on finance had been divided,
some members desiring to raise as