New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-28
THE WAR TAX BILL TAKEN UP
GENERAL DEBATE BEGUN IN THE HOUSE.
srRoNo ARGUMENTS FOR PROMPT ACTION MADE
BIZ aEssRA pHoLEY AND po1ALvER-
AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED By THE
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE

ny xEssRA pnNGLEY AND poIILvER-
AMENDMENTS TO BE OFFERED By THE
, WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE1
Washington, April 27.-The general debate on
the first tax bill to defray the expenses OF the
Spanish American war was opened In the House
Of Representatives to-day in the presence OF
large and imposing assemblage Of spectators
An unusuauv large proportion OF the members
we're in their seats and the galleries were crowd
ed when Chairman Dingley of the Committee on
WAYS and Means arose to address the House.
His exposition Of the provisions or the Dill
was as lucid and satisfactory as his explanations
OF legislative measures always are ara HIS ai
guments and statements OF fact showing the
Importance and necessity Of prompt ana FAVOR
able action on the pending measure were coseh''
clear and convincing. He was interrupted
number Of times by members OF the minority
several Of whom took the liberty 10 lnterJec'
into his speech remarks which would nave oeeh
more properly. II not probably. reserved for
the fve-mnute debate. Mr.. Dingley bore the
Interruptions patiently and good-naturedly. and
took advantage of them to make several telling
points which he might otherwise have reserved
until a later stage Of the debate.
Toward the erd Of his speech Mr.. Dlngley
turned his attention to the several propositions
which the minority intends to offer as amend
ments-the income tax. coinage OF the so-caiieo
segnorage and various other relics or the free
silver Junkshop-and handled them without
gloves This portion Of the speech. as well as
the patriotic peroration. excited great enthusi-
asm and repeated and hearty applause on the
Republican side.
ATTITUDE OF THE MINORITY STATED.
Mr. Bailey who opened the debate In behalf
Of the minority. began with a protest against
allowing partisan considerations TO weigh or
partisan prejudices to exhibit themselves In the
discussion OF the pending measure. and then
went on to make them prominent. His tribute
TO the zeal and patriotism OF members or all
parties In the existing crisis was we'll deserved
except by some men who sit in Congress to-day
One thing was noticeable throughout the speech.
and that was the recurrence frequently that
At became monotonous Of the pronoun we
1--WE" will do thus and so; we VIII not 90
this or that: I'VE" cannot be led or driven by
patriotic impulse TO consent TO this or vote TOT
that In word unless Mr.. Bailey was alto
eetber mistaken "we"-the Democrats. Popu-
lists and Silver Republicans-are TO vote as one
man for all the amendments proposed In the
Committee on Ways and Means yesterday. and
then vote against the bill itself unless the
amendments are adopted. While the speech was
heard in the House that side OF the ques-
ton II was delivered with a fuency and an
amount OF physical exertion which were i'm
press!ve and it excited good deal OF enthusi-
asm and applause among the members OF the
coalition of which Mr. Bailey is perhaps the
most prominent leader.
DOLLIvER'S TRIBUTE TO THE PRESIDENT
The speech Of Mr.. Dolliver, Of Iowa, who fol-
lowed was an unusually strong and eloquent
one even for him, and his broad. patriotic ana
thoughtful treatment Of the subject under con-
sideration offered striking contrast to that
Of the statesman who had preceded him. MT
Delivers dissection and characterization OF the
various propositions advocated by MI Bailey
were heartily enjoyed by the Republicans, and
his glowing tribute to the patriotism, nodera-
tion wisdom and craftsmanship OF President
Mckinley was received with hearty and gem
applause not only on the moor. put by
many of the spectators in the galleries.
Mr.. Bell, of Colorado. the Populist leader.
next spoke. and was followed by Mr. Sayers. or
Texas who criticised the bfll on account OF the
large amount of money to be raised at this time
TO, carry on the war. 1t was altogether too
large in his opinion. in view of the fact that
Congress would reassemble in December ana
could make such further provision as might
then seem necessary after the war had been
some months in progress He declared, ana
nobody doubted. that he would vote for any
tax or any amount of loan that might be neces-
sary to carry the war; but he warned the
House not to make the amount so large that
a big surplus would be left in the Treasury
after the war to tempt Congress TO extrava-
gance in appropriations and the Administra-
ton TO prodigality' in expenditures.
AN IMPORTANT AMENDMENT.
II is expected that the Committee on Ways
and Means will offer several amendments to
the bill on Friday. One provision which has
given considerable difficulty is that relating
70 the tax on telephone messages, which was
regarded as desirable and necessary on account
of the tax TO be imposed on telegraphic dis
patches Mr. Tawney, Of Minnesota, who Is an
officer Of telephone company and has some
practical knowledge Of the telephone business,
drafted the provision now in the bill. but
not thoroughly satisfied with it. and he has
prepared a new one which. it Is understood. he
viii offer with the sanction of the committee.
1t is one of great importance and general in
terest. and reads as follows:
That any person. firm or corporation owning
tance or toll telephone line lines. whether such
line lines or any part thereof is or are operated
OF any c'de eacb nm o1tb retIrn ~ ne Col
lector OF Internal Revenue in and for the district
;he nbcr Of MESSAGES transmitted over the said
respective separate Or connected lines during the
preceding month. the SAID return to include the
porate subscribers to the telephone service OF said
persons. firms or corporations, and from the re-
firms or corporations. together with the total sum
received for each message so transmitted. pom
the failure Of any person. firm or corporation to
make such return they shall. upon conviction there
of. be fined not exceeding 500.
On each message so transmitted for a distance OF
thirty miles or mbre the charge for which. accord
ing TO such sworn return does not exceed q cents
said person firm or corporation shall pay a tax OF
/ cent; when the charge exceeds % cents and does
not exceed 81 81. cents; when the charge exceeds
81 30 and does not exceed s., 10 cents: Provided
that official messages of the United States Govern
ment shall be exempt from the taxes herein i'm
posed upon Geographic and telephone messages.
II Is Mr.. Tawney's opinion that If this pro-
vision is embodied in the La it will yield reve-
nue. OF $4,000. 900 a year OF this total he
thinks that the telephone companies OF New
York alone will pay about SSO0O0O. there being