The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-27


graphic or telephone dispatches or mes
sages are received or transmitted. or car
rying on or doing the business OF 1ur-
nishing gas, electric light, electric power
steam heat or steam power or renn1ng
petroleum or refining sugar, or OWNING OF
controlling any line for transportatlns OH
or other products. whose gross annual re-
ceipts exceeded S250.0OO shall be subject
to pay annually special excise tax equiv
alent to one-hah of one per cent on enc
gross amount of all receipts Of such per-
sons firms, corporations and companies
in their respective business. provided tnat
the assessment hereby made snail not
include any amount of the receipts OF tzle
transportation OF persons. freights or
mails between the United States and any
foreign port; but such tax shall De rsteo
for the transportation Of persons, trelgnt
or mails from port within the Chteo
States through a foreign territory 20 a
port within the United States and shah
be- assessed upon and collected from per-
sons. firms, companies or corporations
within the United States receiving hire
or pay for such transportation of persons,
freight or mails"
RAISES A CAMPAIGN GHOST.
Mr.. White said it had been whispered
that the great financial interests whlon
contributed largely to campaign tuna
were demanding as a compensation ror
their uberality that the burdens OF the
war should not be thrust upon them. He
did not believe. however, that any sena-
tor upon either side of the chamber
would be Influenced by demand so sor-
did and selfish. He objected to an issue
of bonds at this time because bonds were
unnecessary and because great major
ity of the people were opposed to them,
believing they would increase too greatly
the burdens Of the country.
In conclusion, Mr.. White declared that
it 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 the con-
duct of the war. He appealed to senators
to permit the bill TO pass in such form
as would distribute with reasonable equal
ity the burdens it has imposed and to lay
the taxation that would be fair to the
American people and would reflect honor
upon the senate.
TELLER WAVES PARTISANSHIP.
Mr.. Teller followed. He said he had no
intention of discussing the bill from
partisan standpoint, considering the ne
cessity for properly conducting the war
more important than the securing of par
tisan advantages. He adverted to the in
terest felt by the American people in the
Cuban question, saying the struggling
people could have been aided in the past
without violating neutrality laws. He
thought war could have been avoided but
now that war was on he wanted to see
It conducted by united country. The
administration would find itself backed
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 it's conduct. He
said there was not under the circum-
stances the Justification of taxing future
generations to pay for the war. as it was
not, as was the civil war, a war for self
preservation.
"RICH CANNOT BE TAXED"
He asserted that the bond feature Of
the bill was in no wise cognate to rev.
enue measure and declared that it was
merely attached for the purpose of taking
advantage of the war exigency to secure
authority for a bond issue. The pro-
ceeding was without precedent in the his
tory of our country.
Mr.Teller took up the amendments for
greenbacks, the coinage of the seigniorage
and the corporation tax and supported
them at some length. Mr.. Teller said
he did not believe there should be line
drawn between state and national taxa
ton. If this line was 70 be drawn, the
states might render it impossible to con-
duct a great war. AS for himself, he
would not only tax corporations. but he
would also include producing individuals.
He would not put a tax upon the poor;
he would put 1t upon the rich. He would
put a tax on salaries, as well as upon
those of senators as upon others.
But ne said. the taxing power was
greatly curtailed by the decision of the
supreme court in the income tax case.
with the greatest respect for that body.
he said. he maintained that the courts
decision. carried to its legal conclusion
meant simply that the rich cannot be tax
ed He believed that decision was the
most serious blow at the sovereignty of
the people since the government was
erected.
EULOGIEs.
speech the bill was laid aside that the
senate might take up the special order
euloEies upon the late Senator Edward
c. walthaI Of Mississippi
While the special order was pending a
bill was reported by Mt. Sewan providing
for the employment of retired army ONO
ers during the present war. It was
passed.
Mr.. Money CMiss). being recognized.
presented resolutions upon the death of
Mt. Walthall The eulogles were pro-
nounced by Mr.. Money Mr. Hawley
Comm. Mr.. Berry tArkl. Mr.. Proctor
Cvtl. Mr.. German Md Mr.. Cannon
CUtahl. Mr.. Cockren CAo). Mr.. Bate
CTenn.), Mr.. Pascoe CFlal. and Mr.. Pet
tus (AIa)
At the conclusion Of the eulogies. the
senate. as a further mark of respect. adj
journed until Il o'clock a m tomorrow.
u0pDV DIDINn IA Tur ttouor