The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-05
AGAINST INCOME TAX.
Significant Vote Taken in Senate
Yesterday.
AMENDMENT PROPOSED BY MIR,
MILLS DEFEATED 50 TO 20.


Democrats, Populists and Silver Republi-
cans All Voted For It-Amendment
Brought In as Rider to Presidential
Succe ssion Constitutional Amendment
Washington, May 4.-Quite unexpected
ly q brief but sharp debate was precipi-
tated in the Senate today on the income
tax proposition. The resolution propos-
| ing an amendment to the constitution
Of the United States relating to the sue.
cession to the Presidency was under dis
oussion. Mr.. Mills Of Texas proposed
an amendment in the form of a new
section intended to authorize Congress
| to lay tax on incomes in such form as
| to meet the requirements of the decision
of the Supreme Court. He was sharply
criticised for endeavoirng to place-such a
rider on resolution which practically
all senators favored but stood his ground
and insisted upon vote on his amend.
ment The amendment was defeated 81 to
30. all the Republicans voting against
the amendment and all the Democrats,
except MIR. Gallery Of Louisiana, together
/ W4oA VAO LOPu4lopo nhA O4ASOi st0PAbAA-
cans, voting in favor of it.
| The joint resolution which was adopt
ed, read as follows: "In all cases not
provided for by article 2, clause 5th of
| the constitution. where there is no per-
son entitled to discharge the duties of the
office of the President, the same shall
devolye upon the Vice President.
''The Congress may by law provide
for the case where there is no person en-
titled to hold Office Of President or Vice.
President, declaring what officer shall act
as President and such officer shall act
accordingly until the disability shall be
removed OF President shall be elected. I"
The conference report on the fortiflca-
lions appropriation bill was presented and
agreed to.
When the Senate convened today the
chaplain delivered an invocation relating
to she war, and prayed .for It's speedy
close. On presenting an amendment to
the war revenue measure, providing for
the issuance of treasury notes instead of
bonds, Mr.. Steward of Nevada said 1t was
well understood that bonds as provided
| for in the bill was favorite investment
| of the capitalist, while the treasury notes
provided for by his amendment was the
| favorste method of the people in meeting
emergency obligations.
! Mr.. Stewards amendments was sub
stitute for the loan and bond section Of
the revenue bill and provided for the is
suance of $500, 600 Of treasury notes,
which would tie ample probably for the
| conduct of the existing war. The amend
nent was referred to the finance commit
| tee.
| Mr.. Perkins of California presented the
conference report on the Notifications
appropriation bill.
Mr.. Chandler and Mr.. German antago.
nized the action of the Senate conferees
in abandoning an amendment offered by
Mr.. Chandler respecting payment by the
government for the use Of inventions of
army and navy officers. The report was
agreed to, however. ssss
4 House bill, authorizing the Supreme
Lodge Of the Knights OF Pythias to erect
and maintain sanitarium on the gov
eminent reservation at bot Springs, Ar
kansas, was passed.
Further conferences was ordered on the
bill extending the homestead laws to
Alaska.
Dir. Gear of Iowa, chairman of the Pa
cific railroads committee called up and
obtained consideration for I'LL authoriz-
ing commission consisting of the secre-
tary of the treasury, the secretary Of the
interior and tho attorney general to effect
an adjustments between the United States
and the Sioux City and Pacific Railway
company, in relation to certain bonds
| issued by the United States in aid of the
construction of the railroad An amend
ment to the bill offered by Mr. Harris
of Kansas, provided that the commission
may not sccept less in settlements OF the
government claim than the principal
of the bonds issued in aid Of the construc-
tion of the railroad.
Mr.. Morgan Of Alabama delivered an
! extended speech upon the measure, in the
course of which he indicated the crest
Importance of the measure az precedent,
At the conclusion Of Mr. Morgan's
sreech, Mr.. Cockre1l of Missouri. secured
the passage Of the following resolution:
"Thas the secretary of the treasury is
hereby directed to make to the Senate a
report showing coming value of the silver
bullion in the treasury and the amount
CT the seigniorage and the amount of
existing treasury notes issued on it's pur-
chase. and the amount of standard silver
dollars coined under act of July IA, 1870.
and tho amount Of the seigniorage and
the amount of treasury notes redeemed in
such dollars and retired"
Mr.. Harris continuing the debate upon
the pending railroad bill, urged the
adoption of his amendment.
Mr. PettigreS of South Dakota said if
the governments should insist upon the
payment of its principal claim in full.
about $1,000, 900, the Northwestern road
would pay it. He declared that the
Northwestern officials had for years falsi.
fed the returns from the Sioux City road
with tho plan in view OF securing the
road at nominal price. He said he
proposed to offer. an amendment to the
amendment providing that less than So
00O, 0G0 should be accepted by tho commits
sion in settlement OF the governments
claim.
At 2 O'Clock the railroad bill was dis
placed by q special order which was a
joint resolution proposing an amendment
to the constitution OF the United STATES