The times., 1898-04-28

had X not Deezl IoE Alic p4oAOAAStu PaSo-
Dect Of war our natural revenues would
today be in excess Of expenditures.
Chairman Dinslev r +h~ hts
speech lauded the Dingley tariff bilb as
serting that # L hau not Dven Tor the
pending war that bill would have pro-
duced more revenue than the Govern
ment's expenses.
Mr.. Dingley said, with much emphasis,
that the idea that this would be a short
war should be rejected. He said that it
would not be a few months or a six
months war but would be protracted
for q longer period, and that the coun-
try should put itself in readiness for
long war.
clared the speaker, there has been an
average monthly expenditure of S25.00O,
600 in preparations for war" Proceed
ing. Mr. Dingley made an elaborate and
detailed exposition of the financial COLI
ditions of the country.
He showed that in current funds there
was not more than So. 600. coo in the Treas
ury on March 9 to meet the $50,GO0090 war
appropriation. BY current funds he
meant money on which future liabilities
had no claim. as. for example, the Sl4.-
OoO. 600 that must be reserved for interest
on Pacific Railroad bonds.
Up TO Monday last MIR. Dingley de-
clared war liabilities amounting to &5
900 coo had been incurred. and in another
week the entire $50. coo. 900 appropriated
would be exhausted. Not only that. but
certain funds transferred in the Treas
ury to make good the $5e,oDD003 appro-
priation must be replaced. These were
some of the existing reasons why a radi-
cal war revenue measure should be
adopted. Chairman Dingley then took
the bill up section by section, and pro-
ceeded with his explanations and recon-
mendatiOns.
Section by Section.
Mr. Dingley said the majority OF the
committee had. in framing the taxing
features of the bill. endeavored to place
ibe burden on articles not deemed neces-
saries and to lay it on consumption il,
order that the taxpayer might regulate
the amount of his tax by reducing, if he
pleased. the quantity or quantities Of the
taxabla articles consumed. He stated
that the doubling Of the tax on fer
mented liquors would produce s5.0t0-oW.
tobacco and snuff had been increased
from C to i cents per. pound and cigars
and cigarettes by ole dollar upon very
thousand: these provisions together with
the other taxes laid on tobacco, would
produce sI5. .0o9. .05o; the restoration of the
stamp tax substantially as it existed IN
1866 with some additional features would
produce $50. .0J0 e05; the old tax Of $3.50 on
tobacco dealers had been restored and
would produce about S5e09,0O0 tax
had been laid on chewing gum, mineral
waters beVeTa geS OF all kinds not now
taxed, and domestic wines. The product
of which could not wen be estimated.
Legal instructions and obligations were
also included and the tonnage tax was re-
stored. The bill as reported would pro-
1as her an
500 903.0o0
He spoke Of the revenue to be thus
raised as necessary for the payment OF
interest. or the maintenance Of the pub
lie credit" He sought TO impress on the
House the fact that the money produced
by this bill would consti ute but small
proportion Of what the Government would
require to prosecute the pending war to
a successful issue
With earnest and impressive manner be
declared that his would not be waI
FOR only sixty days, or three months. OF
six months, but q war OF d more pro
tracted period and he appealed TO the
House to vote the Government all tnt
means necessary TO put it in condition
for operations Of defense as well as Of
fense. FOR a war of some duration.
He said that no provision for taxes tha
could ought TO be laid could provid'
for the war on the scale upon which /
would be conducted; but Congress woul
contribute TO an earlier termination o
the war by supplying liberal means 70
iIs prosecution. He appealed for tn
Sitting Of partisanship and for the swa
OF patriotism
In response to a question, Mr.. Dingle
said that the proposed tax did not incl I'd
mortgages already recorded.
The next phase Of the bill touched up
on by the Chairman Of the Ways an
Means Committee Immediately stirred tn
House from the air Of apathetic interes
with which the speech had thus far bee
heard and aroused a spirit of cOnter
gion. AR. Dingley proceeded TO supple
Inent his remark that no system q
taxation could supply adequate fund.
with the assertion thar there was bU
one way Of raising the enormous SUI
OF money required for the emergenc
now upon this country and that meth0
was by going out and borrowing as n
phrased IL. He said that the SO 900 g
recently voted for the war had bee
practically exhausted and that the Gov
ernment must speedily have another sup
ply Of money.
Mr.. Sayers Of Texas succeeded IN OBJ
tanning the attention Of Mr. Dingley
who had hitherto declined 10 be inter
rupted- Ar. Sayers suggested that Con
pTcss would reassemble in the ordinar
ne could not see the necessity or the wis
dom Of authorizing the borrowing 0
$500 600; that rather than lay such a
enormous burden upon the country a
This junctuTe he thought IL would b
much more sensible and more in keepin
with economy 10 provide for immediat
needs and let the coming session q
Congress authorize bonds il that shoul
become necessary.
This suggestion was promptly disaI
proved by Mr.. Dingley. who insisted tha
the entire amount should be authorize
AT once. adding that should that sum NJ
e. needed, the bonds would not be il
sued
The Evident Intention.
Mr.. sayers frankly avowed his bell,
that All the bonds authorized would I
ISSUED. tsXE
AFTER having declared that the metho
OF borrowing money by the issl
ance Of bonds was the one and only Sc
sible. practical plan for the occasion NJ
Dingley grew somewhat heated in COZ
demnng the proposition for an incoH
tax. He said he had read in the publ
press that the minority would prOpos
an amendment or substitute for III
bond feature. q scheme TO impose an il
come tax He added that anyone VIII
understood the real facts must see ths
such a proposition would be dangeroU
and would weaken instead Of strengthe
Ehe country; that to undertake TO rails
money IN time Of war by such a precs
rIOus process was 10 actually cripple II
Government. He referred to the 81
preme Court decision against the incon
tax. saying that decision declared the Ia
unconstitutional because II was dire
tax. He then referred to the proceeding
Of the constitutional convention TO sh0
that the decision OF the court was base
upon and IN accordance with the nnlit