The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-05-20
THE SENATE AND HOUSE
Senator McLaurin Speaks on the
War Revenue Bill.
SUPPORTS DEMOCRATIC AMEND MGNTS
Says There nm Army Ready 20
Raid the Treasury which Has
No Volunteers.
S DEMOCRATIC AMEND MGNTS

Gladstone was made the theme OF the
chaplain's invocation at the opening of the
senate today.
| A resolution presented by Mr. Mills
| (Tex) was passed. 1t calls on the secre-
tary of war for plans and specifications
for the improvement of Arkansas Pass har-
Dor, the removal Of the bar and the i'm
provement Of the channel, making it
twenty feet deep and $50 feet wide at the
| bottom.
At the conclusion of the morning busl-
| ness consideration of the war revenue bill
was taken UP. Mr. McLaurin IS. CD de-
livered set speech on the features OF the
pending bin. Speaking of the bringing on
OF the war in which we are now engaged,
he said Spain had supposed that CONNER
eial greed had stifled patriotism. This, to
her sorrow, she had learned at Manila was
not the fact. She had realized there that
Dewey was a worthy successor to Decatur
and Perry
He was ready, he said, 10 vote for any
measure that would tend to bring the war
TO a successful conclusion. Cuoa's condi-
ton is beyond the power OF description.
Every day now means the loss OF hunureds,
perhaps thousands, OF lives in Cuba, Nj.
McLaurin declared. Liberty on the island
is at stake, and the war has placed our
own National prestige at stake. Conceru-
ing the proposed issue of bonds, he sd d
that there was an influence at work more
powerful and more potent than congress.
1t was the silent, secret influence OF the
money power which was endeavoring to
fTp
the forum of the people, yields to this
clamor. Mr.. McLaurin declared, and be-
comes entangled in the meshes OF the
money octopus, the people will suffer ia
deed.
There is an army in this country" he
sald Just as anxious to raid the treasury
as our volunteers are to raid the island
of Cuba. To the army | refer to, no vol
unteers are needed. These jobbers and
spectators form a greater menace to us
IMAM the war with Spain"
Mr. McLaurln defended the bill as re-
ported by the majority of the finance COM
mittee and hoped that with the possible ex-
ccption of the stamp tax, which he deemed
unnecessary, the bill would pass as re-
ported.
At the conclusion of Mr.. McLaurin's
speech the clerk proceeded with the read
lnS CT tha bill by paragraphs. reaching the
s'oHJp NiN upon all transfers OF stocks,
MI Bacon tGa.) said the committee had
not carefully covered agreements to sell
stocE and that if it should be established
that agreement to SELF should not bear
stamps urless actual transactions took
place, agreements might be made and then
d settlement effected between the parties
without an actual transfer of stock. The
paragraph was amended so as TO clearly
cover Ell agreements to sell stocks whether
the stock actually was transferred CT not.
MI German thought that checks for
sInall amounts ought not TO bear stamps.
Mr. Aldrich in reply said that the elm
nations Of checks fer small amounts would
reduce the revenue for this source about
~ COG, 600 He said, This does not bear
uron small depositors Heavily and uDon
savihg bank depositors who draw money on
tleir books" va
Mr. Clay (Ga) moved to strike out the
Ieiulinent OF tax Of cents upon each
nromlssory note of 800 or less Ii was re-
jected.
MI Bacon moved so to modify the pro
VISION for tax on inland bills of exchange
as 10 relieve bills Of less than 800 in value
Ircm the requirements to fix the rate of
Z cents where the value is between 500
and 5000 Fio'
Mr. Wolcott objected to the change. saw.
ing tnat there was no real foundation for |
upon the stamp. 'A0ep'
Mr.. German suggested that If the hin |
was 10 pass as reported it would carry too |
llucn revenue and that taxes such as those |
uo" unqer consideration could be clint; 4,
mated He urged that the amendments ho |
taken up now. ne
Mr. Allison suggested If the democrats, |
e. :, a, were to be included in the bill.
n,oro Snouiu become law, it would carry |
revenue tbap
was no way of knowing how this would be
put IL they were included IN the final ac'
t'oh OF the senate 1t would be easy to ro-
turn to other items. ''' W re-
WI. Alarich opposed any change In tho |
oraer OF proceedings with the bin
mr' REFER said the difficulty was tb..
.ne committee was divided as to the amoun,
H. a. snouia ne raised by the revenue Hill
ne ala not believe the bin would nro,,,a
as much as Mr. Allison had estima, pdoV tne
as lor himself he wanted a 5000 o0o ann ~,
continuing, he said he thought tho o,,N,tr..
should not only provide revenue for ~,
resent war but also for the now NJ
leller said the indications were that w.
"dI win spain would not long conti,
pu. 10 h'm the signs were equally strona
,nat wi,nin few years we would he in
nrnhab1, auo,uer war which might and
pouencos ,n De OF far more seriou con-
Ny WIN which we are row contendinp"
upoh roll call the Bacon amendm,r,
lost by a vote Of 10 to A. i''i'i Ut
;. mhiie the paragraph requiring all bins
:. a%n,us manifests or receipts of railroads
.ts'nne @a. o, express companies to bear
was under consideration Mr.. SewsIi
w. - inquired whether the commit
, no to tax both the bill of ladinr anN
nc receipt for the property. 'ns ana
), MI. Allison 1owa) replied it did not an,
he pa,asfaph was so amended to make
men passed over by request we're
,n mness ,he reading of the committee
r,uannments referring to excise taxes an
persons firms, companies and cornoro,,o On
ne en- 0ii ,,W was laid eside rLtil tomorrow
,snato " wan, OF Mr. Allison at Ass III.
$50 adjourned SESSION. ana at
THE HOUSE.