The times., 1898-05-17
RAISING War REVENUES
Senator Allisen's Explanation
Was Necessarily Incomplete.
ENORMOUS co T OF TIE WAR

Estimates So Far Made Show That
the Cost for This Fiscal Year VIII
Be About Four Hundred Millions
TabuInted Statement of the Rev
enues OF the New Bill.
The debate on the war revenue measure
began yesterday. When it will end no
man can say. Public men, anxious TO
have 1t out of the way, hope for a final
vote within week; they fear It may not
come short of a fortnight or three weeks.
The discussion yesterday was begun by
Mr.. Allison, acting chairman of the FL
nance Committee, but his explanation OF
the provisions of the bill was one of those
explanations that did not clearly elucidate
the proposition. His statements were en-
tirely general, for the subject matter was
of such uncertain volume that he could
not go into details. Internal taxes, such
are imposed by the pending bill, are
a new thing in this day and generation.
The conditions now, compared with those
prevailing when like taxes were imposed
during the Civil War; are so different that
no intelligent estimate can be made of the
possible receipts from the bill. The com
nittee puts this revenue IN general way
at $50 0eO.0O0 and experts say that If the
bill Is properly enforced or the revenues
assessed are fully collected the receipts
win run up to 100000 900.
Significant statment.
The one significant thing about Mr..
Ailisons speech yesterday was the init
nation that this war may not be a nine
days picnic. He expressed the hope that
it would soon be over, but showed the
wisdom of preparing for a long term of
hostilities. As a matter of fact, Senator
Allison. like many other public men, has
reached the conclusion that this war with
Spain is liable to extend over several
months and with this view of the case
pertaining. there is all the more reason
why there should be ample and abundant
revenue.
There is no provision in the pending bill
that the taxes imposed shall become in
operative at the expiration of the war or
at any other period II is well under
stood that many of the direct taxes i'm
posed under the guise of a war measure
1 will be retained after the war is over
and peace once more prevails.
The expenses Of the country have so
grown that It is no longer possible to meet
them through the agency of customs
! du,ies; tariffs will not suffice TO keep up
( the revenues. and during the considera-
/ ton of the pending bill in committee the
1 opinion was expressed by both Republi-
( cans and Democrats that the United
! States would be compelled to adopt many
4 Of the direct taxes imposed by European
I governments. Chief among this class l.
/ the inheritance tax which, it is pretty
/ certain. will never be taken off again.
The increased beer tax will remain. Both
/ political parties have long seen the neces-
! sity and appreciated the adyisibility Cf
! increasing this tax, but the fear OF the
/ political opposition OF the brewers and
/ saloon keepers has been sufficient to pre-
/ vent action. As 3 war measure ii was
1 easily accomplished and no one now be-
| leves that the tax, having been increased.
| will ever be reduced. Several of the excise
! taxes will remain as permanent taxes
Expenses of the War.
The expenses of the war promise TO be
appropriation has been exhausted and
several large deficiency bills have been
passed. The Secretary of War estimates
! that the expenses of the Army on account
OF the war up TO the close of the next
fiscal year. June 30. 1899. will be Sl65.009,oo0
/ This estimate is based lpon the call for
l25.090 volunteers and does not include any
! extra expense that would be incurred If a
/ second call were issued. The Navy De-
pertinent. in addition TO the amounts
| heretofore expended. estimate that for
/ that service 100000 will be needed.
This estimate was made before the pres
ent situation in the Philippines was
created and the cost of the expedition 70
those islands was not taken into account.
Mr.. Allison, therefore, has figures going
to show that the probable cost of the war
I'D 20 the end of the next fiscal year vii!
be 1919, 1872 900, and this does not include
any extraordinary reverses that may be
met with ar any time
To meet this enormous expenditure, in
! 4 measure at least, the bill consideration
ofwhich was begun yesterday was formed.
Three experts of the internal revenue Of
fee have been endeavoring to approXl-
| innate the revenue the bill may bring in.
Although there is a great deal of conject-
ure on the whole subject, the subjoined
| figures approximate what Is expected. The
figures given relating to beer and tobac-
co include the amounts raised under ex-
isting law so that with this understood
the receipts are expected to be as follows:
The Estimated Revenues.
Tax on fermented liquors SoS,Se5' l2t
Tobacco and snuff. 45.Slo,ool
Cigars and cigarettes. ............ lb,S5Z, io5
Manufacturers and dealers in
tobacco Sti,i1-
Tax ON bankers. 23s4, son
Brokers, pawnbrokers, etc. l50O' 4V
Brokers commercially -.........-.. 2l3,O9-
| Theaters, circuSeS, etc. 1,SZ0, Al
Bowling alleys and billiard ta-
| bleS .-.--.---.-.-------- Iee,So
Stamp Taxes.
Sales of stamps, bonds, mer-
| chandise. etc.................-...- SlO,UoU5
Bank checks. s.........-.........-.... o,UUOUt
etc ete.'.....e.......................... 1,50OoO
Bills of exchange (foreign), let
ters of credit, etc.............-.. 50Ooe
MIS- h1Is Of lad Iading ng............ 10000 Oc
life insurance nce 1,277 00
Wortqaees 2,Oi1, 80
All others in schedule B, includ-
ing taxes on receipts, eStimat-
ed ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 2S,OOocO
Proprietary preparations and
nerfumery ............. 10000. 90
Chewing gum Observation-Disclosures. Loco. 90
Legacies and SUGGESTIONS. ...... 9,275, AZ
Total .s2l4, ,V4o, 81
To this amount must be added the fol
lowing revenues under existing law tha
has not been changed:
Spirits Soz,0US.o4
Brewers Especial taxi. lot. .92
Retail dealers in malt liquors.. 191, OF
Wholesale dealers in malt liquors 1880