Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-11
WILL HAVE TO GO.
After Congress Stops Wrang-
ling Over War Revenue
The Original DingIey Bill viii Un-
doubtedly De Passed.
Maine Men Responsible for Measure But Not
for tho Delay.


now attending important war legisla-
ton in Congress can be placed at the
doors of Maine members of Congress
When the war revenue bin was before
the House ii was in the hands of Maine
men and was disposed of with dispatch
Chairman Dingley Of the Ways ana
Means committee saw to it that the
measure was promptly considered in
that body and himself rendered a
great service to the country by having
in mind two or three weeks in advance
of actual hOstilities the framework OF a
reasonable measure. As soon as the
bill was reported to the House Speaker
Reed was prepared to put other mat
tiers aside 50 that it could be reasonably
debated and promptly handed on to the
Senate.
As soon as Speaker Reed attached
his signature to the bill it was re-
ported to the Senate and referred TO IL +,
Senate committee On Finance No
member Of that committee is a Maine
man or formerly lived in Vermont.
There are several New England mem
bers on the committee. The venerable
Senator Morrill, Of Vermont, who
framed the great revenue measures Of
the Civil war being then a member OF
the House. is the chairman, but on ac-
count Of his advanced years assumes
but little of work belonging to the
chairman Of the Finance committee at
the present time. The ranking rcpub-
lican member Of the committee is Sen
ator Allison Of Iowa, who prcsides n
the committee meetings most Of the
time. Next to him. however on tn"
committee is Senator Aldrich Of lthOd"
Island, and sitting next to Senator AID
rich is Senator Platt Of Connecticut.
Senator Wolcott of Colorado sits next
to Senator Plat The Colorado sena-
tor is native of Massachusetts. 1t is
not to these men that the great delay
is due. but 10 the Democratic Senators,
who have just as many votes in the
committee as the Republican members
and who are constantly asking time 70
formulate some scheme which viii be
more Ia the liking Of their party. SEN
ator jones Of Nevada, who was once a
Republican, but went over to the silver
ranks when the movement swept the
West. holds the balance of power and
whether the measure stall contain 4
provision for the issue Of bonds to
prosecute the war depends upon Sena-
tor Jones' vote
The upshOt of the whole matter Will
probably be that after senators have
Wrangled over the war revenue meas
ure for three or four weeks they will
come back to practically the same
measure that Chairman Dingley framed
No II h a
was the case with the tariff bill that
became law last July. There We're
wranglings over the schedules for fully
two months hut when the bill was
finally passed through the Senate 1t d /
not differ Very materially from the
bill that Chairman Dngley had pre-
pared and senators We're more conVlnc-
ed than ever that Mi. Dingley IS the
best informed man on tariff in the en-
tire country and that he had exercised
excellent Judgment in making up the
tariff rates.
There has been a very noticeable fall
ing off in the great food Of petitions for
reform legislation. which Maine people
were forwarding to Washington a few
weeks ago. They have not ceased al
together. Last week Senator Frye pre-
sented petitions from the Woman
Christian Temperance Union of Pitts
field. Dexter. and of Evergreen Lodge
of Good Templars AZ Ripley, Me,
Drawing for the enactment Of leGisla-
ton to protect state anti-cigarett5
laws and for the prohibition of the sale
of Intoxicating liquors in government
buildings Petitions from the Womans
Christian Temperance Union and fhf
Methodist Episcopal church at Sou
Deer Isle, Me. were also presented
praying for several similar legislative
enaCtments.
Senator Frye also presented last
week a memorial of the New I1nglanc
| Wholesale Grocers Association. remon-
| stratng against the IMPOSITION OF th'
| proposed tax Of stock of manufactured
| tobacco on hand. This petition was re
ferred to the finance committee Of the
| Senate. 1t is not improbable that botf
| Senate and House will agree not to I'M
pose this tax. although it is by No
| means certain 1t will be remembered
| that the ways and means committee
! were badly duped in their purpose tt
! raise revenue on the last tariff blil bA
! the delay of the Senate. which allowed
! manufacturers the country over 70 I'M
port vast quantities of goods, so thai
| their stocks have not even yet been de'
| pleted. No Kind Of argument Wouit
| inpel the Senate to business like ACTOR
| and Weighty statesmen there dalhet
with the question for weeks ana weeks
1t may not be true but some people
say that the proposition to impose tax
| eS on stocks of manufactured tobacco
on hand was made by some crafty mar
on the ways and means committee To-
the purpose of frightening the tobacc'
dealers the entire country over Other
wise they would lay in large stocks
| While the Senate was celebrating, an(
no revenue would be derived from tina
source till long after the war wa
over, Therefore it may not be surprls
ing if the Senate refuses to vote TIM
tax, after which the House may grace
! fully yield. as there will be little TIM
left for the tobacconists to secure sup
plies. This cannot be prophesied Will