The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-29
First Test Vote on the Measure, and
1t Was Decidedly Against the
Democratic Proposition.
LAID ON THE TABLE. Al TO 81
NO ACTION YET TAKEN ON SENATOR
GORMAN'S SUBSTITUTE.
Speeches by Daniel and WOlcOtt, the
Latter I'm Support of the Repub-
lican Minority Measure.

w May Zo.-AIIeT d discus
sion which lasted almost two weeks the
Senate this afternoon reached the first de-
cisive vote on any feature of the pending
war-revenue measure. The bill had been
under consideration four hours and a half
to-day, when Mr.. Aldrich, one of the Re-
publican members of the finance committee,
entered a motion to lay the corporaton-tax
amendment proposed by the Democratic ma
Jority of the committee on the table. 1t
was realized that this was the first test of
strength of the opposing elements in the
Senate, and the roll call was followed with
deep interest. The result was decisive. The
amendment was laid on the tablet to q.
Mr.. German then proposed his substitute
providing for q tax on corporations, but
vote on it was not reached Early in the
session the Senate discussed in a desutory
way the corporation-tax proposition with
view to getting a vote on it. Subsequently
Mr.. Daniel delivered an extended speech, in
which he took strong issue with those who
mad commended that a tax on corporations
was unconstitutional. Mr.. Wolcott followed
IN notable speech supporting the propo-
sluons of the Republican minority of the
hnance committee. By vote of SO to 81
the Senate decided to adjourn until next
Tuesday.
L.
an argument in favor of his amendment.
Mr. Lindsay suggested that, as PROPOSE
ton of law. it might be we'll for Mr. Cor
man entirely to exempt from taxation $3.50 900
OF the receipts of every corporation. If the
receipts did not reach $3.50, 0OO they would not
be taxed. Mr.. German had no particular
objection to the suggestion offered by Mr.
Lindsay In reply 10 the suggestion that
the rate OF tax proposed should be reduced
MI. Gorman declared that the corporations
ana tnelr friends were making a great mis-
TAKE In his Judgment in endeavoring to
escape from the proposed tax and to evade
lneIr just and equitable share of the bur-
dens of the war;
MIR. DANIELS SPEECH.
MI Daniel said that while he had no desire
unouly 10 delay the passage of the pending
DILL ne thought full discussion of it's i'm
portant provisions ought to be had He
laVoreo tax upon the gross receipts of
corporations and expressed his regret that
oDlectlons to 1t on the ground of it's sus-
pected unconstitutionaIity had been made
Ihese objections he desired to answer by
citation of authorities. He made an elabo-
rate presentation of his views upon the re-
spectiye State and federal powers of taxa
ton, as put in question by the pending bill,
cohleholng mat the taxation upon corpora
ions was warranted fully by the law as ex-
lstlng and interpreted by the courts
In the course of Mr.. Daniels speech the
wee PRESIDENT laid before the Senate
communications from the Ohio Legislature
announcing the report of the Ohio Senate
committee OF the investigation of charges
OF bribery against the junior Ohio senator
Mr.. Hanna. The communication was re-
1SiTeu 10 the committee on privileges and
elections.
Mr.. Wolcott, member of the finance COM
mlttee, followed in advocacy of the position
taken by the Republican minority of the
committee. He said it was a source of great
s era h to him that no political turn
the DEBATE thus far Until the Hawaiian
annexation amendment had been offered to
the bill not one feature had been suggested
tnat was not perfectly relevant to il He
reJolced that the amendment had not been
oIIered by Western senator, who certainly
would have been charged in doing so with
an effort to obstruct the pending measure
Whatever might be the individual opinions
Oh senator's upon the Hawaiian question, it
was to him perfectly clear that it ought not
to have been tackled as rider to the rev.
enue bill.
Mr.. Walcott, referring to the desirability
OF placing the government in excellent
financial condition at this time, said he was
satisfied that, with the exception of Great
a war with the United States which would
Se SO expensive as would the war with
Spain No other foreign country except
Great Britain had colonies which in time of
var IL would be necessary for the United
States to occupy. No man could saw that
a sre war co wG%d ne ne to speedy
result in complications of the most serious
nature. 1t would require but d spark to
set the whole of Europe aflame, and that
spark might be struck from the clashine
swords of the United States and Spain at
any moment. He did not believe that any
country in Europe would intervene between
the cOntending nations. except on grounds
OF pure humanity, for not one cared to as
sumo the risk of a war confederation that
might sweep the civilized world.
ATTITUDE OF FRANCE.
Referring to the suggested enmity of
France to the United States, Mr. Wolcott
declared the press of the country did not
reliably announce the position of France
He was personally familiar with the situa-
ton in France, and was satisfied that ex-
cept in the newspapers and among a few of
their followers French sentiment towards
the United States was most friendly. He
paid high tribute to the premier of
France. He said he was one of the stanch-
est friends America had in Europe and was
in perfect consonance with our ideas and
policies. No complications, he was certain.
would arise from that quarter. From what
ever source complications might spring,
however, the United States must be in DO
sition to meet them with compoSure dignity
and honor The attitude of Great Britain
during thef present war had been, he said
of tncalculable benefit to this country
Mr.. Wolcott then entered upon a dis
cussion Of the pending bill, strongly ad-
vocating the issue of bonds, as proposed
by the Republican minority of the finance
committee and the proposed stamp tax
Discussing the tax upon corporations as
proposed by the majority of the finance
committee, he said taxes should be levied
with a view to the ability to pay. Proceed
Ing he said all railroad mileage was paying
now 3.4S per cent. upon gross receipts; 164
per cent upon net receipts AS per cent
upon net receipts after fixed charges had
been paid. He said 1916 per cent. of all the
railroads in the country were now in the
hands of receivers. He criticised the tax
upon bank investments as likely to result in
double, triple and probably quintuple taxa
ton by reason of the law requiring banks
to keep per cent. of their deposits in de-
positories designated by the government
He said he favored in this respect a bill as
reported by the Republican members of the
committee.
Addressing himself to the coinage of the
seigniorage. Mr.. Wolcott advocated the pro-
vision as a general proposition. but offered
an amendment directing the coinage to pro-
coed at the rate of not less than 81. 900. 600
per month, and authorizing the secretary of
the silver is coined. He attacked the propo-
sition to issue $50, 000, 600 in greenbacks, and
said Mr.. President / am shocked and
surprised now at men who, know, are not
of that populistic element that simply
wants the coinage of silver, tin or anything
else for the sake of having more money;
men of the rock-ribbed Democratic party,
a party that has been always hard-money
party and continually declared itself de-