Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-28


The general debate upon the measure
framed by the Ways ana Means Commit
tee to meet the extraordinary expenses of
the war with Spain opened I'm the House
to-day. 1t will continue through the
week until Friday at o'clock, when the
vote will be taken.
There was an absence OF that partisan
rancor which has always heretofore cha
| racteriZed debates on revenue measures.
| Both sides speaking through their re-
! spective leaders Messrs. Dingley and
! Bailey, concurred i'm the necessity which
exists for the immediate raising of
hundreds Of millions to prosecute the
war. but the opposing doctrines which
! they held clashed at the first onset. over
the methods by which this revenue should
| be raised.
DINGLEY OPENS.
The reading of the bill occupied an
| hour and ten minutes. Mr.. Dingley then
| took the floor TO open the debate. The
bill, he said, was distinctly a war mea-
! sure. forced upon the country by the war
with Spain, IN which We were now en-
| gagged In this war. he said IL was es-
| sential that we should stand as a unit,
| shoulder to shoulder, as II was only
! through such united action that hostili-
|
| to an end at the earliest possible moment
| Mr. Dingley called attention 10 the vast
| cost of modern engines Of war, which
made war now much more costly than
| formerly. This demand upon our re-
sources. he said came just as the coun-
| try was emerging from a long period OF
| deficiencies of revenue and was just be-
| ginning to see the light
Mr.. Dingley spoke with great earnest
! ness. and was listened TO with profound
attention. Many Of the Democrats left
their places and took seats on the Re
publican side in order to hear the better.
LENGTH OF THE WAR.
With great impressiyeness Mr.. Dingley
said that unless all signs failed the war
would not be a three-months' affair nor
a six-months' affair, and the more pre-
paratons we made both for offence and
for defence, the shorter it would be.
When he reached the question Of bond
issue he was besieged with questions by
Mr. McMillin, Mr.. Sayers, and other
Democrats. and there was some discus
sion Of the probable cost Of the war Mr..
Sayers ventured an estimate of $30O0OOOO
per annum which Mr.. Dlngley rejected,
calling attention TO the fact that the
civil war cost $l,l0000Q0o0 per annum.
Mr. Diugley pointed out that the au-
thOrization Of 50OOOO0O0 Of bonds was
simply an authorization, and that If not
needed the bonds would not be issued.
INCOME-TAX PROPOSITION.
Mr. Dingley briefly discussed the pro-
position which the minority would adj
vance for an income tax as a substitute
for the bond proposition. The Supreme
Court had decided the tax unconstitu-
tional, and yet it was proposed, in place
of an authorization to borrow money, TO
remand the government TO the possibility
Of such a lawsuit as had already been
decided against the government.
ut seems so prepOsterOus In such an
emergency" said Mr.. Dingley, that !
can hardly believe such n proposition can
be seriously considered"
The proposition to coin the silver
seigniOragc he characterized as one of
the absurdties of finance which was
never heard of beyond the borders Of the
United States.
THE DEMOCRATIC POSITION.
Mr.. Bailey the leader of the minority.
followed Mr.. Dingley lie said that his
side realized. as much as the other tha
necessity for raising revenue 10 carry on
the war. and they stood willing TO CO.
operate in placing at the disposal of the
government every material aid for the
prosecution of the war TO q successful
and speedy examinations; but. said he,
the minority would not be either led or
driven into the support Of measures
which commended themselves neither TO
their conscience nor their judgment.
Mr. Bailey criticised different features
Of the bill. He declared that. imperfect
as it was. his side of the house would
take IT, if the other side would accept
their proposition for an income tax, which
would provide an additional income
of 100000 600.
He thought the estimate of Mr.. Ding
ley C2j000000 a month for war expenses
a reasonable one, and said that IL the in
come tax proposition were made part
OF the bill we would not need TO mort
gage the future 10 fight single battle
of this unhappy strife.
Mr. Bailey then entered upon an cN-
tended argument upon the constitution
ality Of an income tax, combating the
theory that it was a direct tax, inhibited
iy the Constitution.
The Democrats vigorously opposed the
bond proposition.
Mr.. Bailey also contended for the pro-
position 10 coin Si8.OO0OJ0 OF the silver
seigniorage. and to that he thought Gn
issue Of $5SOO0.O00 of legal-tender notes
ton could be extended that far without
danger. The gentleman from Maine tMr
Dingley) advocated the proposition of a
bonded debt upon this country Of $780,
10000 Whenever the country's credit
ought to be pledged he would be willing
to do so. but there was no necessity, IN
his opinion, for mortgaging that credit at
this time.
TO TAX THE RICH.
I'VE propose" said Mr.. Bailey, "to tax
the rich man now rather than 20 mort
gage the energies of the poor men for
coming generations" Cheers from the |
Democratic side)
Discussing the question Of the Supreme
Courts decision on the income-taX Cose. |
he declared that no question was ever
settled until ii was settled rightly. Hc |
felt that the decision of the court was
wrong
SPEECH OF THE DAY.
Dir. Deliver, Of Iowa, in by far The |
most notable speech of the day, added |
TO his reputation as a brilliant orator. !
He assailed the position Of the opposi- |
ton in the early portion Of his speech. !
but its partisan flavor disappeared TO- /
ward the close, and he aroused the House |
and galleries TO cheers. as with eloquent |
words he touched on the high. unae.hsh |
cause Of humanity i'm which the United |
States had drawn the sword, and then |
melted his audience 10 tears as he re- |
ferred to the blowing up Of the Maine |
and the new Commonwealth we would /
rear as a monument % the unfOrgotten.
The debate was continued until |
o'clock, when the House recessed until
o'clock The evening was devoted TO
brief speeches by members unable 10 BE-
cure time during the afternoon session.