The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-06-02
MIR. GORMAN'S STAND.
He Knows No Party in a Crisis Like the
Present.

He Knows No Party in a Crisis Like the
Present.
WASHINGTON, d. c., May 29th-In
the Senate of the United States on
Friday, the War Revenue bill being
under discussion, Mr.. German Dem,
Md said he approved some provi-
sions of the House bill and some of
the amendments made by the Senate
committee, his efforts would, how
ever, be directed toward making the
bill more nearly just and equitable
than it now is. The bill ought to be
framed on lines of simplicity and fair
ness. The burdens ought to be placed
on the large interests able to pay the
taxes, instead of on the people regard
less of their condition. The people,
he maintained, should be exempted
from the offensive and burdensome
stamp tax, the levying and collection
of which would result in most serious
difficulties. He said that it had been
declared in the debate that the cor
poration tax, if enacted into law,
might be decided by the Supreme
Court to be unconstitutional, thus
reitterating a decision as infamous
as that on the Income Tax law.
Nov is the time" he declared,
while we are engaged in war, to test
the Supreme Court upon the corpora
ton tax question. A decision against
it will not destroy our financial struc
ture, but it would destroy the court.
The American people would amend
| the Constitution so that in time of
war taxes might be levied on all in
terests justly and equitably."
Mr.. German then formally present
ed his amendment providing for a
tax on. corporations. He made
strong defense of its provisions, and
appealed to the Senate to engraft it
in the bill
In discussing the proposed coinage
of the silver seigniorage, Mr.. German
held that it involved a political con-
tention of eight years standing. "In
my judgment" he said sit would be
unwise-it would be fruitless to at
tempt to force that question to the
front while the country has the Span
ish army and navy to confront. This
is question we ought to fight out in
a time of peace. l have always been
a partisan. | voted for my party
even when some of it's candidates did
not quite meet my approval. But in
a crisis like this | do not know any
party. | know only the highest in
terests of my country. Knowing how
sharp is the political division on this
proposition l cannot vote for it at
this time, no matter how just it may
be in the abstract or as a proposition
standing alone"
Mr.. German advocated an issue of
bonds. What war" he asked was
ever conducted without the issue of
bonds? The War of the Rebellion
began with an issue of bonds, even
before the first gun was fired on Fort
Sumter. One of the first acts of the
Confederate government was the is
sue of = per cent. bonds" He de-
clared that if the bond provision
should not be enacted into law the
crisis would come, perhaps within
| thirty days, and the President would
be fully justified in selling at least
$780, 900, 900 of bonds to protect the
dignity and honor of the country and
to insure the success of the Ameri-
can arms.
Discussing the appropriations made
necessary by the war, Mr.. German
said that Congress had already appro-
priated $500, 100000. No man could
estimate how much the war would
cost. That its cost for one year would
be at least $500, 100000 he had no
doubt. If peace should come even
within six months the expenditures
would go on to an extent which no
man could measure. The complica
lions arising from the war would GER
tainly result in the expenditure of
tens of millions. Enormous sums
would be expended on the navy, for
that branch of the government would
be extended until the country had
force sufficient for defence against
any foreign aggression. He regarded
| the bond provision of the minority
of the finance committee as wise and
properly drawn. Mr.. German, in
conclusion, declared his opposition to
the issue of legal tender notes.
Swanton.
Mrs. II. V. Leighton is on visit to
relatives near Pittsburg.
A. NJ. r. Warwick, of near Walnut
Bottom, is building barn.