Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-05-18
SENATOR JONES WANTS THEM LEV
led UPON PROPERTY.
HE WOULD PAY AS WE GO
MAINTAINS THAT WE SHOULD PAY
CASH FOR OUR WAR.
Conflicting Estimates as to Probable
War Expenses Senator Jones
Strongly Opposed to Rev
enue Bill as Passed
by the House.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-Considerable
progress was made by the senate to-day
in considering the war revenues. Mr..
Jones. of Arkansas, presented in general
statement the views Of the Democratic
members of the finance committee. He
maintained that the taxes imposed by the
pending bill ought to be levied upon prop
erty, and not upon consumption; that the
policy of the Republican party always had
been to impose taxes upon consumption,
while that of the Democratic party was to
impose 1t upon property. He believed that
taxation that would raise $150, O0,OOO would
be amply sufficient to be carried by this.
bill. and that If the exigencies Of the war
should demonstrate that more money were
needed, congress could provide 1t later.
He opposed the proposition to issue bonds
and certificates of Indebtedness far In ex-
cess of the requirements of the war, and
held that the expenses should be paid by
the government as the war progresses.
Mr.. Jones called attention to the state
ment of Secretary Gage that the additionai
expense of the war. over and above tne
current expenses of the government, would
be about 1000 month, total OF per-
haps $500, 200, 900 a year. Secretary Alger
had informed the finance committee that
the extraordinary war expenses OF his de-
partment would be about $150,000,000. He
thought this amount sufficiently hberal.
Secretary Long had presented to the COM
mittee a carefully prepared statement
showing that the war expenses OF his de-
partment would be about $15,0OO,0OO. Allow
ing $l5 100000 for extra expenses, the iuii
amount needed by the estimates OF capinet
officers was. according to his figures, IN
the neighborhood Of SAC. 600. This amount
was, Of course in addition to the ordinary
expenses of the government.
Mr.. Hale challenged this statement, de-
claring that the s75, 600 referred to in the
statement of Secretary Long did not in
clude the amount carried by the naval ap-
preparation bill for the present war. and
it did not include, either, about $4,000, 900.
which would be included in the general de-
ficiency bill. He was satisfied that the
amount the war would cost the navy de-
partment would not be far from $780, COO. 600
from the present time until the 1st Of July.
1899
Mr.. Allison called attention to the fact
that he had made that point clear in his
statement yesterday.
Mr.. Jones, continuing, maintained that
1t was entirely unnecessary for all Of the
expenses of the existing war to be pro-
vided for in the pending bill. Congress
would return here in December next and
If the emergency required its presence, 1t
could be called together by the president
sooner than that. Mr.. Jones did not ap-
prove at all of the bill as it came from the
house of representatives. His figures, the
best attainab1e estimates. he said. indicated
that the expenses of the war during the
next year would not be more than $780,
600 900; yet advocates of the pending bill
proposed to place at the disposal of the
government, more than three times that
sum through taxation and the issue of
bonds.
Mr.. Jones declared that every feature of
the bill was a tax on consumption. The
stamp tax was one of the most onerous
and yexatious forms of taxation ever de-
vised.
The tax upon tobacco and upon beer was
tax on consumption. In response to an
inquiry from Mr.. Aldrich, Mr.. Jones said he
did not believe any man could determine
definitely how and upon whom the beer
tax would fall. I've on this SIDE" said
he, ''believe, however, that the taxes levied
ought to rest upon property. while the
bill pending increases the taxes on con-
sumption.
In answer to an inquiry by Mr.. Aldrich,
Mr.. Jones said:
"I am willing to fix the amount that
at $50, 900 900; but believe 1t would be bet
ter and wiser for US to levy even more
taxes rather than increase our interest
bearing obligations II had to take my
choice between an, issue Of bonds and an
increase of taxation, I would prefer to
increase taxation"
Without reaching any agreement as to
what portion of the bill should be con-
sidered first, the senate proceeded with
the reading of the bill, with the under
standing that at any time senators should
have the privilege of returning to passed
items for their amendment or alteration.
At the request of Mr.. Martin, of Vir-
ginia, the tobacco schedules were passed
over for the present, without action on the
committee amendments.
Mr.. Chiffon, of Texas, offered an amend
ment to section 5. providing for the pun.
ishment of offenders against the act. The
words with intent to evade the provisions
Of this act,' were inserted by the amend.
ment. 1t was agreed to.
At this point Mr.. Allison presented tables
showing the amounts of the ordinary ap-