The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-06-02
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY, 1898

upon the country by the war ought to be
borne by all alike. He regarded it as
unfortunate that so heavy a tax should
have been placed upon tobacco because
by some it was considered a luxury. lie
maintained that the placing by the House
OF representatives OF one-thlrd on 1he ta1
to be raised upon beer, one-third upon
tobacco and one-third on stamps was
severe, If not almost unjustifiable.
Mr.. Teller followed. He said he did not
believe the war would be of long duration,
and no vast appropriations would be nee
essary for its conduct. He said there was
| not, under the circumstances, the uSuai
| justification for taxing future generations
| to pay for the war, as it was not, as was
the civil war, a war for self-preservation.
! He assumed that, Notwithstanding the
| bonds provided by the bill were made pay
able in 10 years, their payment would be
deferred beyond that limit if included in
| the bill. He assorted that the bond fea-
| ture OF the bill was In nowiSe cognate 10
| revenue measure, and declared that 1t
was merely attached for the purpose OF
| taking advantag of the war exgency to
! secure authority for bond issue.
In the House Mr.. Cannon called up the
pension deficiency bill as amended and
passed by the Senate. The bill carries a
paragraph inserted by the Senate pro-
viding that temporary appointments OF
| clerks in the Navy Department may be
made without civil-service examination.
| The House -concurred in the Senate amend
ment after a sharp debate.
| Mr.. Moody Mass, R.) made a point of
order against the amendment. The
| Speaker sustained the point. Mr.. Can
non called attention to the nature OF the
pending measure as an appropriation bill.
Il do not propose" he said, "to open
debate upon the civil service or any other
| hobby. If you interiect the question OF
civil service into this bill and let it go to
/ IL hot L. 30 no
pensions and the war can both go 10 the
devil, so far as some men are concerned,
II they have opportunity to talk upon
their hobby"
Senator Hale, of Maine, reported an ap-
preparation to the Senate to supply def
poses. AS reported, the bill carries For
pensions, sS,070,s72; for the War Depart
ment, S125, 000 for the Navy Department,
81 1897; additional clerks in auditor office,
War Department, s78,762; additional
clerks, auditors office, Navy Department,
| Executive Department, 49, 466; miscellane-
Gus, 10000; Senate, $1,000; House OF
Representatives, 1883; total, So, 498 ,405.
Senator Bate objected to the considera-
ton of the bill in the absence of a quo
rum. 1t required about 20 minutes to Sc
| cure quorum. After a brief discussion
of that feature of the measure which
makes possible temporary appointments
of clerks without civil service examina-
! ton, it was passed.
The Senate Committee on Military AT
| feirs on May rs authorized Senator Seweli
| to report original bill providing for the
| employment of retired Army officers on
| active duty in any service during the
| existing war, except in command OF troops.
| The permi sion does not extend Off
| GERS above the grade of Colonel, and the
1 MI of no To ,,tt 1Izn lra
officers in mastering and in performing
other miscellaneous service, in which
| some 300 or 400 Regular officers are now
| engaged, with the view of permitting the
| active officers to rejOin their commands
/ in the field.
| In the Senate on May 81 Mr.. German
| presented his amendment providing tax
| on corporations.
He said that it had been declared dur
| ing the debate that the corporation tax, if
| enacted into law, might be decided by the
| Supreme Court to be unconstitutional. thus
| reiteratlng decision as Infamous" as
| that on the income tax law.
| Now is the time" he declared, while
we are engaged in war, to test the Supreme
| Court upon the corporation tax question.
| decision against 1T Will not destroy our
/ financial structure. The American people
would amend the Constitution so that, in
| time OF war, taxes might be levied upon all
interests Justly and equitably."
Private bills were considered in the
! House.
| In the Senate on May % vote of Al to
1 q laid on the table the corporation tax
amendment to the war bill proposed by
| the majority of the Senate Finance Com
mittee. The German amendment was not
acted upon, and adjournment was taken
until May 81.
Doing Things just Right.
M. Grail, Co. f, 33d Wis, Burchinal,