The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-28
An INHERITANCE TAX CASE
WHICH GEN. HARRISON WILL ARGUE
BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT.
Passage of Several Measures tlrGed by
Secretary Gnge-Important Items
i'm the Naval Appropriation Bill.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.


ate committee on interstate commerce. will
not be as sweeping as the railroads expect
and would like but it will suffice to cor
rect most of the abuses in the traffic that
are complained Of. 1t will probably con-
tain provisions under which legitimate pur-
chasers of regular tickets may dispose of
unused portion of their tickets without an
noying restrictions red tape. Such pro-
vision will cover about per cent of the
scalping business as carried on in the past.
The bill will provide for the harsh punish-
ment of railroad agents who use scalpers
to cut rates and undersell competitors and
an attempt will be made to break up that
feature of the business, which, according
TO the testimony Of the chief scalp
er, George w. Mckenzie amounts to
80 per cent. of the total At to-
days meeting of the committee it was de-
scalping bill, and to endeavor to reach a
vote on the measure next Thursday The
opponents of the bill did not evince a dis
position to postpone the Vote longer than
necessary to present their views. and somes
of them expressed the opinion that the vote
would not under any circumstances he de-
ferrqd longer than two weeks. There was
also a general agreement to accept the
House bill as the basis of future considera-
tion This bill was originally a copy of the
Senate bill. but it was amended in commit-
tea in particulars which meet with the APP
proval of the Senate committee. At to-
days meeting several amendments addi-
tional to those made by the House COM
mittee were suggested. Among these was
one compelling the railroad companies to-
redeem the unused portions of tickets al d
rate proportionate to the cost of the entire
ticket; another, mitigating the penalties
imposed for violation of the law, and still
another, consolidating the bill with the bill
introduced by Senator Cullom last week
for the improvement of the status of the
Interstate-commerce Commission. 1t was
stated that other amendments would still
be offered, and the intimation was given
out that one of these might provide that
passes should be made good to the bearer.
The discussion was along the lines indi-
cetGd by these suggestions, but there was
not a sufficiently general expression OF
opinion to form definite idea of what thS
vote will be. The opponents of the bill
count on getting five votes for their prOpo-
stion to consolidate the anti-scalping with
the commission BILL and they are even
hopeful of securing the sixth vote, which
would carry ii. In case tile motion should
prevail the effect would be equivalent to
postponement, as some time would be
necessary to consider the commission bill
During the course of the meeting to-day,
Senator ElkinS, who has been considered
an avowed advocate of the anti-scaipng
bill, expressed himself as somewhat doubt
full as to it's expediency. He said that.
while many of the railroads were evidently
favorable in a degree to 1t. there were only
two-the New York Central and tha Penn
sylvania railroads-which were pressing it
with apparent zeal. He said in view of this
fact he had reached the conclusion that tho
majority of the lines were at best indffer-
ent, While he thought that some of them
We're actually opposed to 1t.
The Illinois Inheritance tax case, which
is to be argued before the Supreme Court
of the United States tomorrow, is attract
ing good deal of attention among the law
yers in Congress who hail from the large
communities throughout the country. They
understand the Importance of the principle
involved--that of the legality of progressive
taxaton-and they are well aware that IL
the Supreme Court upholds the law of Ill-
nOis there will be an overwhelming flood of
similar legislation in other States. Mr.: J.
l.. Guthrie, of New York, and ex-President
Harrison will each take an hour in argu-
ments against the law. Mr.. Guthrie was
employed to appear in the case on account
of the remarkable success which attended
his efforts to convince the Governor of New
York that 1t was his duty TO Veto a bill
similar to the Illinois statute, but some-
what harsher in terms, which had been
passed by the aggregation of statesmen at
Albany He is regarded as a very able
lawyer.
proposition to postpone the vote on the Tel
Ter resolution this afternoon Senator Chand-
ler suggested that It would be a good thing
to let the short speeches be made first and
the long ones afterwards Senator Culom
asked If he meant by that 10 put off the
long speeches until after IN. the @ vete was tax
and 1t was adopted by Senator Chandler,
who declared that it should be done, as
most of the long orations on this subject
We're simply warmed-over campaign
speeches of 1896, and might as well be made
after the voting as before for all the effect
they would have. Several additional amend
ments will be offered:
Senator Gallinger, chairman of the COM
mittee on pensions, to-day presented re-
port from that committee detailing the re-
suit of the committees investigation under
the resolution of the 18th inst, instructing
the committee to investigate and report as
to the authority of the commissioner of
pensions for refusing to pass upon applica-
tions for increase of pension until one year
after the original pension has been granted
or rejected. Senator Gallinger includes in
his report a statement from the commits
soner of pensions in which that official
claims that the regulation comes strictly
within the duties and power of the ccm-
mission, and that ii is in the interest of the
service He says that of the 650000 claims
now pending before him. $4,000 are for in
crease and he adds: THE experience OF
the bureau is that a considerable percent
age of the claimants. so soon as they get
their certificates of allowance of pension
file an application for increase. and get the
machinery in motion TO have that increase
claim given preference over claims for pef-
sions that have been on file pending from
one to seven or more years. The conclu-
sion of the committee is that the commits
sioner has ample authority to make the
rule. and that ii is clearly in the interest
of soldiers and widows who have not yet re-
ceived any pension. which fact renders its
wisdom self-evident.
Fears wece entertained for time that the
terrific row kicked up over the deficiency
in the appropriation for letter carriers
might in some way interfere with the going
into effect OF the Greater indianapolis con-
solidation plan, but assurances were given
this afternoon that there would be no hitch
in the arrangements. 1t was further de-
cided 10 put on extra steam 70 have the
necessary letter boxes put up, so the serv-
ice might be completed and rounded out
BY an oversight the fem for the mainte-
nance of the Crow ana Blackfeet Indian
Commission was left out of the approprla-
ton bill. That is the commission of which
James II. McNeely. or Evansville Ind Is a
member. Representative Hemenway waited