Washington sentinel., 1898-05-21
Senator Jones, OF Arkansas, on the
Beer Tax.

Beer Tax.
The first Democratic Senator
who pointed out the enormity OF
the increased tax on beer was SEN
ator Jones, OF Arkansas. We copy
a portion of his speech:
However these things may be deter
mined, one thing seems to me TO be per-
iectly clear, and that is, that with the most
extravagant calculations made by the
gentlemen who are in favor of large
appropriations, it is impossible to make
it appear that it will be necessary to nave
100000, ,ooo in addition to our ordinary
expenses during the next fiscal year,
With these extraordinary expenditures
to be made, taking the sum Tor the sake
of the argument at $500, 900, ,ooo--it can
not be made to reach that, even on the
extravagant calculations which are made
by the Senator from Maine Mr.. Halel
and others-but take that as the neces-
sary amount to be raised, the next qucs-
tion for us to determine is, How will we
provide for that $500, oOo. 900 If we pro-
pose to do 1t at this time and in this billr
In the first place, it is not necessary
hat all the expenditures which are be-
lieved to be necessary for twelve months
shall be made now, when in fact the war
may not last anything like full year
after July next1 Is it necessary for all
the money to be provided for now IN
this bill that will be expended during
the next Year, The Congress of the
United States is bound to assemble on
the first Monday in December next, it
IS in session now, and will remain in
session as long as the public interests
require that it shall do so. In addition to
that, the President can convene Congress
whenever there is a necessity that it
shall be done. Hence there is no Inn
peratiye necessity that we shall provide
now all the money which may by any
possibility be needed during the next
twelve months.
But suppose we do, and it is proposed
to raise $3oo.o 900. The question is
How shall it be done7 This bill as it
came from the House Representatives
provided for raising practically $2S,ooo,-
600 of additional revenue by an addi-
tionaI tax on tobacco; by an additional
tax on beer, thirty-three millions, and
thirty millions on stamps. In addition
to that, it proposed practically to in.
crease the bonded debt OF the United
States by the sum of 100000, 900. True,
Sroo. .ooo, 900 of the bonds were not to be
called bonds, but we're to be called cer-
tIfcates, but they were to bear interest
lust as though they were bonds. A
promise by the Government to pay
debt at day in the future and to pay
interest upon that debt, no matter by
what name called, is practically bond,
Here was a proposition, then, to ex-
pend possibly 5000, 100000 in twelve
months. To provide the money neces-
sary for this expenditure $4,000 900
was to be raised bY taxation and 5000, -
100000 besides was to be raised by the
sale of bonds Seven hundred millions
of dollars was to be raised to meet an
expenditure of less than $500, ,ooo 900.
MANY OF us were not willing to pass a
bill which provided for a scheme so
unreaso enable; hence we proposed some
changes in the bill.
The plan 10 raise the $Ioo, 900, 900 by
taxation had some marked character
istics. 1t was not to be levied on the
property Of the country, but was to be
Il HO1l.r Of -
consumption. The tax on beer nobody
will deny IS tax on consumption; the
tax on tobacco is also tax on consump-
tion, and the stamp tax, which was the
other great item, was intended 10 be put
upon every article OF medicine, upon
every "packet, box. bottle, pot, OF
phiaP' containing pills, powders, sirups
tinstures, lOzenges, cordials. tonics
plasters; upon bonds, debentures, mort
cages, deeds, bills of lading, ETC., and
while general in its application. bear:
with greater proportional weight upor
small transactions than upon large
Ol-es, and is one Of the most onerous, a:
wellss one Of the most vexatious, ,form
Of taxation which has ever been adopted
in this coustry in my opinion.
The Senate committee modified man,
OF these provisions and made some addi
tions to the bill which, think, mus
commend themselves 20 the Senate a
wholesome and be received by the peo
pie OF the country with appiaval.
The first material change made in tn
bill was provision Tor an inheritanc
tax. Property passing by inherilanc
or by will must contribute to the suppo,
Of the Government under which this
done. There Is no natural right b
which any man can convey his prOpert
to another when he comes to die; and
the Government gives him the power
do this and the means of doing II, 1t
but just and reasonable that he shoul
contribute something to the mainter
ance Of the Government which give
him this right, and this is as just I
that the mau who takes glass Of be-
OF who takes a chew Of tobacco shou
be required to do So We believe th
TO be just and equitable tax and OF
which rests upon property.
We propose some other taxes in ado