The age-herald., 1898-05-29
DECISIVE VOTE
 ON REVENUE BILL Corporation Tax Amendment Proposed by Democrats Laid on the Table. THE VOTE WAS Al TO 27 German Then Proposed Substitute Pro- Viding for Tax on Corporations. SENATE ADJOURNED TO TUESDAY Wacott of New Jersey Delivered Notable Speech in Support of the Propositions
 of the Republican Minority of
 Finance Committee.
SENATE ADJOURNED TO TUESDAY

Washington, May 2S.--After a discussion which has lasted almost two weeks the senate this afternoon reached the first de- cisive vote on any feature of the pending war revenue measure. The bill had been undersonsideration four and one-half hours today when MT. Aldrich, of Rhode Island, republican member of the finance commit- tee entered a motion to lay the corporation tax amendment proposed by the democratic majority on the table. It was recognized that this was the first test of strength of the opposing elements in the senate ard the roll call was followed with deep inter- est The result was decisive. The amend ment was laid on the table. MT. German then proposed his substitute providing for a tax on corporations;- vote on that was rot reached.
 Early in the session the senate discussed in desuitory way the corporation tax proposition with a view to getting vote upon it. Subsequently MT. Daniel, or Vir- ginia, delivered an extended speech III which he took strong issue with those who had contended that the tax on corporatiohs was unconstitutional.
 MT Wocott, of Colorado, followed In notable speech supporting the propositions of the republican minority of the finance committee. By a vote of SS to sl the seh- ate decided to a0JOurn uHtH uoSuaS'
 After the transaction of some routihe business. the senate resumed consideration of the war revenue measure. The sergeant at-arms had to request the attendance oe absent senators, and 1t required twenty five minutes to secure quorum.
 Allison Desired a Vote
 MT. Allison said he hoped vote cou.d now be secured on the corporation tax proposition. The question was on tne amendment offered by MT. German or Maryland which provided for special eN- else tax upon all corporations whose gross receipts are more than $z5V,VVO per ahhu'u of one-half of per cent.
 MT Faulkner of West Virginia suggested to MT. German that he accept an amend ment making the tax one-quarter Of l per cent.
 Mr. Turpie of Indiana, while not specially opposed to the amendment of MT. Faulkner said Mr. Germans amendment ought to provide for a proper penalty. He main- tained that mere fine would be of no avail under the circumstances, as the corpora tions would simply pay the fine In cases where it was less than the taxes. He strongly urged that the penalty ought to include not only a fine, but imprisonment for not less than six months.
 Mr. Faulkner urged the acceptance of his amendment as the finance committee had carefully considered 1t, and had de- cided that one-quarter of per cent was n reasonable and proper tax. He pointed out that the tax of one-quarter of l per cent. upon the gross receipts was quite as high as that of per cent. upon net receipts provided for in the law of 1894.
 Objected to the Substitution
 Mr. Jones of Arkansas, member of the finance committee, says he would be willing to accept MT. Germans amendment If it to aurlu only substitute for that paragraph of the bill tax'ng rall- roads, street cars and other transporta- ton companies. He objected, however, 10 its substitution for the paragraph levying tax upon all corporations.
 During the afternoons debate MT. Dani- el, of Virginia, made a long argument in favor of justice and constitutionality of corporation taxes and MT. Wolcott adyo- cated the issue of bonds and a stamp tax
 He opposed the Lodge Hawaiian annexa- s tion project being added to the war reve- nue measure, and declared that France was friendly to and her premier one of our stanchest friends in Europe.
 Mr. German presented an argument in favor of this amendment. Mr. Lindsay, of Kentucky, suggested that as propo- sition of law it might be well for Mir. Cor man to entirely expel from the section the limitation of $250,000. MT. German bad no particular objection othe sugses- kfon.
 In reply to the suggestion that the rate of tax proposed should be reduced, Mir German declared that the corporations and their friends were making great mistake in his judgment, in endeavoring to es- cape from the proposed tax and to evade their just and equitable share of the bur dens of the war.
 MT. Daniel, of Virginia, said that while he had no desire unduly to delay the pass age of the pending bill he thought a full discussion of it's features ought to be had. He favored a tax upon the gross receipts of corporations and expressed his regret that objections to it on the ground of it's suspected unconstitutionality. had been made. These objections he desired to an- swer by citation of authorities. He made an elaborate presentation of his views upon the respective state and fed eral powers of taxation as put. in atas- tion by the pending bill contending that tine taxation upon corporations will be with held the law now existing is explained by the courts.
 Hanna Bribery Charges
 In the course of MT. Daniels speech the vice president laid before the senate a communication from the Ohio legislature announcing the report of the Ohio senate committee of investigation of the charges of bribery against the junior Ohio senator. MT. Hanna. The communication was re- ferred to the committee privileges and elections.
 Mir. Daniel presented an argument in fa- vor of an income tax.
 MT. Wolcott, of Colorado, followed in ad- vocacy of the position taken by the re- publican minority of the committee on finance. He said it was a source of great qualification to him that no political turn had been given either to the bill itself or to the debate thus far. Until the Hawaiian annexation amendment had been offered to the senate not one feature had been sug- gested that was not perfectly relevant to it. He rejoiced that the amendment had not been offered by a western senator who certainly would have been charged in doing 50 with an effort to obstruct the pending measure. Whatever might be the individ- ual opinion of senators upon the Hawaiian question it was to him perfectly clear that 1t ought not to have been tackled as rider to the revenue bill -asx
 VVoIooff raforriuQ fo the dasira hi1itv