The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-18
TOO MUCH MONEY ASKED.
JONES VOICES DEMOCRATIC OBJEC-
TT0Ss To WAR REVENUE BILL.
Expenses of the War for the Conn
ing Year Are Altogether Too High
should BE Materially Reduced

progress was made IN the senate today III
considering the war revenue measure
Jones OF Arkansas presented in general
statement the views OF the Democratic
members Of the finance committee. He
maintained that the taxes imposed by the
bill pending ought TO be levied upon prop
srty ard not upon consumption: that the
policy Of the Republican party had always
been 10 impose taxes upon consumption,
while that Of the Democratic party was 10
impose II upon property. He believed that
taxation that would raise Si50. GO 600 would
be amply sufficient TO be carried by this
bill and that II the exigencies OF war
should demonstrate that more money was
needed. congress could provide IL later. He
opposed the proposition 10 issue bonds and
certificates OF indebtedness far in excess
OF the requirements OF the war. and held
that the expenses should be paid by the
government as the war progresses.
Hale offered the following resolution.
which was agreed TO:
That temporary appointments made by
the president on and after April q, 1885 and
up TO the date of the passage of this joint
resolution, Of officers OF the line and staff
OF the navy are hereby ratified and con-
tirned. TO continue In force during the ex-
igency under which their services are re-
CURED In the existing war Officers so APP
pointed shall be assigned to duty with the
rank and pay of the grades established by
existing laws and shall be paid from the
appropriation for the pay of the navy"
A bill was reported from the military af-
fairs committee by Carter and passed. pro-
viding that the pay and allowance OF vol
unteers enlisted in the United States army
shall begin on the day of their enlistment
st the state camps with the provision that
volunteer troops sent TO thu Philippine ISL
ands may draw months pay in advance.
On motion of Allison consideration OF the
war revenue measure was resumed. Jones
Of Arkansas took the floor.
Jones called attention to the statement OF
Secretary or the Treasury Gage that the
additional expenses Of the war over and
above the current expenses of the govern
ment would be about 81. 600 900 a month,
total perhaps of s300.n0. GO a year. Secre-
tary Alger had informed the finance COM
mittee that the extraordinary war ex-
penses OF his department would be about
si50,ooo0oo. He thought this amount suffi
eiently liberal. Secretary Long had pre-
scented to the committee carefully pre-
pared statement showing that the war ex-
penses of his department would be about
$4,000, GOO Allowing SIS. 600 600 for extra ex-
penses the full amount needed by the esti-
mates Of cabinet officers was, according to
his figures. In the neighborhood of $40 Coo
o0o This amount was of course in addi-
ton of the ordinary expenses Of the gov
eminent
Hale challenged this statement, declar-
ing that the $75.0l9.0oo referred to in the
statement OF Secretary Long did not in
clude the amount carried by the naval ap-
preparation bin for the present year. and
did not include either about SEQ oo0 eco
which would be included In the general de-
fciency bill. He was satisfied that the
amount the war would cost the navy de-
partment would not be far from $3.50 900 900
from the present time until the first of
july 1899.
Allison called attention to the fact that
he had made that point clear In his state
ment.
Jones continuing. maintained that 1t was
entirely unnecessary for all of the expenses
of the existing war to be provided for In
the pending bill. Congress would return
here in December next. and II the emergen-
cy required its presence. X could be called
together by the President. Jones did not
approve OF the bin as II came from, the
house. His figures. the best attainahle es-
Inmates, he said. indicated that the ex-
pshses OF the war during the next year
would not be more than $40 900. CO., yet the
advocates OF the pending bill proposed to
Pi2cs at the disposal! OF the government
more THAN three times that sum, through
taxation and the Issue of bonds.
Jones declared that every feature of
the Dill was a tax on consumption. The
stamp tax was one OF the most onerous
vised. The tax upon tobacco and upon
beer was Il tax upon consumption. Il
response 10 an inquiry from Aldrich
Jones said he did not believe any man
could determine definitely on whom tie
beer tax would fall.
I'VE. on this side said he. ''helicya.
however. that the taxes levied ought TO
rest upon property. while the biz pend
ing Increases the tax on consumption
In answer 10 IN inquiry by Alarch.
Jones said:
Il wiling 20 fix the amount that
ought to BE- produced by the pending bill
at $50 coo ukt: but / believe X would h.
hotter and wiser for Va 10 levy even mere
taxes rather man TO Increase our interest
bearing bonds. II / had to take nv
choice between an Issue OF bonds and an
increase of taxation. would prefer TO
increase taxation"
Without reaching any agreement about
which portion OF the bill should be ccnsid-
cred first. the senate proceeded with the
reading VITA the understanding that sem
ators should have the privilege OF return
ing 10 past Items for their amendment or
alteration.
Allison presented tables showing the
amounts O. the ordinary appropriations
for the neXs fiscal year They aggregate
Cess S5lea."D1 fer the sinking fund.-.
s4so >lg. ~
The total estimated revenue QncIudlng
postal rcveuuesl, AlliSon's tables showed.
were slS2s'is47. an excess OF SAGA. rs
over the estimated ordinary appropria-
tons. The appropriations for the war
Allison gave as follows:
National defense tact e March
Arms f5rtidcaslons ana navy
tact 81 May il ..-.,,...,.....,,. s.. l93
Eettiftcatto tiA ,-+.-~,... .-.-...--. / 80
Naval as, increase over lsIs for ,
war purposes ...-.... ..-.-.-.. =. ltsl.aso
Naval deficiency, l>:> ...,....... - 20 90
Natal este 0.,shn3snt fer 1895. al