Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-05-26
WORK OF CONGRESS


considering the war revenue measure.
Mr.. -Iones of Arkansas presented in a
general statement the Views of the
Democratic members of the finance
committee. He maintained that the
taxes imposed by the pending bill
ought to nc levied upon property and
not upon consumption: that the policy
or h Republican party always had
been to impose x upon consump-
ton, while that of the Democratic
party was to impose ii upon property.
He believed taxation that would raise
S1o0,000.000 would be amply sufficient
to be carried by this bill, and that II
the ~eXigcncies of the wal should dem
onstrate that more money was needed
congress could provide Ii later. He
opposed the proposition to issue bonds
and certificates of indebtedness far in
excess of the requirements of the war
and held that the expenses should be
paid by the government as the war
progresses.
In the House.
The house held a brief session. Two
important bills affecting labor were
passed, one limiting the labor of per-
sons employed upon government
works and in government service to
eight hours daily. and the other pro-
yiding for the equipment of a nom
partisan labor commission to consider
legislative problems affecting labor.
Washington, May 10. The feature
of the session of the senate was the
speech of Mr.. Turpie of Indiana on
the war revenue measure. He stoutly
contended that n bond issue was IN
necessary; that all the funds used for
the prosecution of the war could be
raised through the proposed inner
itance tax, by the tax of the corpora
tons, by the coinage of the silver
seigniorage and by the issue of legal
tender notes. These -four means or
obtaining money would yield to the
government during the next year, he
maintained, fully $300,000.OO0, an
amount in excess of the estimated sum
necessary for the conduct of the war.
The speech was Enthusiastically
beautiful in diction and clear and
forceful in reasoning. Considerable
progress was made in the reading Of
the bill, which included the considera-
ton of the amendments proposed by
the committee. Through the influence
of Mr.. German of Maryland the inn
prisonment penalty was stricken out
of some of the sections relating to vio-
lations of the stamp act. The bill, as
1t passed the house, provided a penalty
of 500 for failure to affix the stamp to
any drug or medicine or perfumery.
The senate committee has changed the
fine to $500. The provision was
amended to-day by striking out the
maximum fine, leaving ii to the dis
erection of the courts to make ii less
than 500. The provision was also
changed so as to provide that the Of
Tense should be made to appear inten-
tional. In section Is Of the bill the
stamp taxes provided for were made
effective on the first day Of June"
After an extended debate, part OF
which occupied a secret legislative
session, the conference report OF the
| bill suspending certain parts of the ex-
listing law relating to the purchase OF
supplies by the war department, was
adopted. The bill permitting officers
of the regular army to accept stan APP
pointmerts in the volunteer army
without losing their rank or place In
the regular service was passed.
In tI.c HOusc.
The house adjourned after a session
lasting only an hour and a half. An
especial effort was made to pass a
bill prohibiting the publication of in
formation concerning the strength of
the country's Notifications. Without a
~-z.I - - a. Nlln InEnnen Dnntrhlinn n
bill was passed.
Washington, May 20.-While several
important paragraphs in the war reve-
nue. measure were passed over Tor
future consideration, excellent pro-
gress was made by the senate In the
| consideration of the bill. Two-thirds
| Of the measure has been read, the
| committee amendments generally hav-
ing been agreed TO. Mr.. McLaurin OF
South Carolina opened the discussion
of the bill with a carefully prepared
speech touching all of its features. He
| expressed the hope has the bill would
| pass as reported by the majority OF
the committee on finance, with the
ception of the stamp tax, which he
thought quite unnecessary. The prop
osition to place a stamp tax on pro-
prietory articles and perfumes now in
stock aroused a lively discussion. Ii
was regarded as retroactive legislation
and, as such, was opposed by many
| senator's. The paragraph has not been
disposed of.
In the House.
The adjournment OF the hous until
Monday postpones until next week any
| possible consideration of the Hawaiian
resolutions. After passing the labor
| arbitration bill as amended by the sen.
ate, and experiencing a brief political
tilt, precipitated by a personal political
explanation from 8r. Tongue OF Ore
gon. the house adjourned.
Washington. May 21.-Soon after the
| senate convened Mr.. Hale Aiaine),
chairman OF the committee on naval
affairs, favorably reported from the
| committee the house joint resolution
providing for the organization and en-
rollment of ap auxiliary naval force
which shall form an inner line of de-
Tense. An amendment by the senate
| committee provides hat the force shall
| not exceed 1900 men. The resolution
was passed.
A joint resolution was also passed