Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-27


be influenced by demand 80 s0rdid and
selfish. He objected to the issue Of bonds
at this time because bonds were unnoces-
sary. and because a great majority OF the
people were opposed to them. believing
they would increase too greatly the burdens
Of tho country. In conclusion, Mr.. White
declared that 1t would be the plain people
who would not only offer UP their lives In
defense Of the national honor. but who
would also pay the bulk of the taxes for tho
conduct of the war. He appealed to sena-
tors to permit the bill to pass in such form
as would distribute with reasonable equity
the burdens 1t imposed and to lay taxa
ton that would be fair to the American
people and would EsfIect honor upon the
senate. - :s'r-'e .-
Mr.. Teller followed, He said he had no
Intention o. discussing tine bill from par
tisan standpoint, considering the necessity
for properly conducting the war more I'M
portant than the securing of partisan ad-
vantage. He adverted to the interest felt
by the American people IN the Cuban dues-
tion, saying the struggling people could
have been aided In the past without violat-
ing the neutrality laws. He: thought war
might have been avoided. but. now that the
war was on. he wanted to, see 1t conducted
by united country. The, administration
would find itself supported by every party,
and there would be no holding back the
sinews of war.
Mr.. Teller referred to the unprepared
condition of the country for war and said
this should not have been the case. He
did not believe the war would be OF long
duration. and said no vast appropriations
would be necessary in Its conduct. He said
there was not, under the circumstances.
the justification for taxing future genera
tions to pay for the war, as 1t was not as
was the civil war, a war for self-preserva-
ton.
He asserted that the bond feature of the
bill was in no wise cognate to revenue
measure. and declared that It Was merely
attached for the purpose of taking ad-
vantage of the war exigency to secure au-
thority for a bond issue. The proceed
ing was without precedent in the history
of our country.
He did not think the bill would produce
as much revenue as estimated by the COM
mittee and7said the senate was entitled to
detailed estimate. 1nstesd Of this when
they called for facts they were given only
guesses. --.-.4..-
Interrupting. Mr.. Allison said It was i'm
possible to state with anything more than
approximate accuracy what revenue would
be raised from the bill. Estimates were
necessarily uncertain. Who. for instance.
could tell what amount would be derived
from the proposed bank check taxi?
Mr.. Teller said Mr.. Allison's explanation
was an admission that the committee had
been guessing. He took up the amend
ments for areenbacks. the coinage of the
seiniorage, the corporation tax and sup
ported them at some length.
Mr.. Teller said he did not believe there
should be q line drawn between state and
national taxation. II this line were TO be
drawn. the states might render It impos-
sible to conduct a great war. As for him.
self, he would not only tax corporations,
but he would ALSO include producing indi-
viduals. He would not put tax upon the
poor: he would put 1t upon the rich. He
would put tax on salaries as well
upon those of senators as upon Others
But he said the taxing power was great
ly curtailed by the decision Of the SUI
the greatest respect FOR that body. he
meant simply that the rich should not he
taxed. He believed that decision was the
most serious blow at the sovereignty Of
the people since the government was
Before Mr.. Teller had concluded his
speech, the bill was laid aside that the
senate might take up the special order.
eulogies, upon the late Senator Edward G.
Walthall, of Mississippi.