The times., 1898-06-17
DALZELL IN THE CHAIR.
Appointed by Mr. Reed Speaker
Pro Tempore.


Pro Tempore.
The Speaker did not show up when the
House met yesterday. He wanted TO turn
out but his physicians peremptorily or
dered him to remain housed for another
day or two.
The House was called to order by Clerk
Mcdowell, who read a communication
from Speaker Reed. appointing Hon. John
Dalzell Speaker pro tempore. Mr. Dali
zell took the chair
At the request of Mr. Dingley. a bill
unanimously reported from the Ways and
Means Committee amending the war rev.
enue act was passed 1t is supplemental
to the act recently passed and is design
ed to make clearer and more specific Ger
tain provisions of that act
II requires that every person, firm, com
pany, association or corporation liable TO
any special or other internal revenue tax
or having possession or control of any
article on which tax is imposed, and
every executor, administrator, and trus
tee, shall file with the collector of the
district such inventories. schedules or re-
turns in duplicate at such times as the
commissioner of internal revenue may re-
quire. The commissioner may also require
a sworn statement from every person.
firm and company engaged-in business on
which a special tax is imposed, where
exemption from such tax is claimed.
The bill exempts casualty, fidelity and
guarantee insurance companies carrying
on business solely for their own protee-
tion and having no capital stock.
fine of 500 OF Imprisonment for six
months. or both. is prescribed for refusal
pr- nul fn . h Fs-
fusing stamps as
1t is also provided that the tax on
gross receipts shall be collected by the
fiscal year beginning the first of the cur
rent month.
1t is also provided that the tax on mon
ey orders shall be affixed by the purchas-
er of the order.
A spirited debate arose over a bill to
make Sabine Pass, Texas. a SUPPORT of
entry. Messrs. Cowherd, Hopkins and
other Western members wanted TO amend
the bill so as to also make Port Arthur
a port of entry Mr.. Payne, who reported
the bill from the Ways and Means Com
mittee, protested that one port of entry
located at the deep-water harbor at Sa-
bine Pass was sufficient. The BILL as re-
ported from the committee making Sa-
bine Pass a SUPPORT was passed.
The general deficiency bill was next
taken up. Chairman Cannon, of the Ap-
preparations Committee, explained its pro-
visions. He said that of the two hundred
and twenty-four million dollars appropri-
ated all save about six millions was for
war expenses. He appealed 10 both sides
Of the House to sustain the committee in
the prompt passage of this essential bill,
The House went into Committee OF the
Whole and that opened the door for the
| discussion of all sorts of questions The
immigration bill. the wa, revenue act and
the tariff were made the subjects of writ
| ten speeches.
The only provision of the deficiency bill
that caused any debate was the item OF
Sl63 600 for the free delivery service Mr.
Loud of California and Mr. Johnson of
North Dakota started a lively discussion
by charging that eX-Postmaster General
Gary had recklessly expended the money
for free delivery. Messrs. Bingham,
Bromwell and others joined in the debate.
| They declared that ii was too late to
talk of the manner in which the defcien-
cy had been created: that the money was
absolutely necessary in order TO keep UP
the letter carrier service, and that 1t
| should be voted.
Pending consideration of this provision
the House adjourned until Il o'clock to-
| day.