The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-05-27
WORK OF CONGRESS.


general statement the views Of the
Democratic members of the finance
committee. He maintained that the
taxes imposed by the pending bill
ought to be levied upon property and
not upon consumption; that the policy
of the Republican party always had
been to impose taxes upon consump-
ton. while that of the Democratic
party was to impose it upon property.
He believed taxation that would raise
$15OO0O,O0O would he amply sufficient
to- be carried by this bill, and that If
the eNigencies of the war should dem.
onstlate that more money was needed
congress could provide it 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 he
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-
viding for the equipment of 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 bond issue was un-
hot oil T1S
the prosecution of the war could be
raised through the proposed inher-
itance tax, by the tax of the corpora
tions, by the coinage of the silver
seigniorage and by the issue of legal
tender notes. These four means OF
obtaining money would yield to the
government during the next year, he
maintained, fully $}OO,OOO.OOO, 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.-Gorman of Maryland the i'm
prisonment penalty was stricken out
of some of the sections relating to vio-
lations of the stamp act. The bill. as
it passed the house. provided a penalty
of 500 for failure to atiix 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 it to the dis
erection of the courts to make it 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 staff APP
pointments in the volunteer army
without losing their rank or place in
the regular service was passed.
In the House.
The house adjourned after session
lasting only an hour and a half. An
especial effort was made TO pass Il
bill prohibiting the publication Of in
formation concerning the strength OF
the country's Notifications. Without Il
word Of debate the defense Republican
bill was passed.
Washington, May 2O.-While several
important paragraphs in the war reyc-
hue measure were passed over for
future consideration. excellent pro-
gross was made by the senate in the
consideration of the bill. Two-thirds
of tile measure has been read, the
committee amendments generally hay
ing been agreed to. Mr.. McLaurin Of
South Carolina opened the discussion
Of the bill with Il carefully prepared
speech touching all of it's features He
expressed the hope that the bill would
pass as reported by the majority of
the committee on finance. with the eX-
ception of the stamp tax. which lie
thought quite unnecessary. The prop.
osition to place stamp tax on pro-
prietory articles and perfumes now in
stock aroused q lively discussion. 1t
was regarded Us 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 house 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 brief political
tilt. precipitated by personal political
explanation from Mr.. Tongue of Ore
gon, the house adjourned.
Washington. May 21.-Socn after the
senate convened Mr.. Hale (Maine).
chairman of the committee OH naval
affairs. favorably reported from the
committee the house joint resolution
providing for the organization and en-
rollment of an auxiliary naval force
which shall form an inner line of de-
Tense. An amendment by the senate
committee provides that tle force shall