The times., 1898-05-20
DISCUSSION is RESUMED.
Senator McLauren Opened the War
Revenue Debate.

Senator McLauren Opened the War
Revenue Debate.
In the Senate yesterday the war reve-
nue. bill was again the subject of consider
alton
Mr.. McLaurin secured the floor and
made quite lengthy speech. He declared
that it was the most important measure
that had been before Congress for many
years, and the hopes of the people are
that while we shall provide sufficient
means to prosecute successfully the pres
ent war, we will eliminate as far as pos
sible all oppressive features.
.'Our national honor and self interest
are at stake and every citizen owes 1t to
his Government to contribute his share
toward the expenses involved"
Mr. MeLaurin declared that he was will
ing TO vote for any measure which was
necessary to bring the war TO a speedy
and victorious close. I'VE must conquer
Spain, and conquer her quickly said he.
In speaking against the amendment
providing for the issuance of bonds, the
speaker declared that if such an amend
ment should prevail. it would only be the
means of opening the door to the inn
mense army of treasury raiders which
would be d far greater menace to the
country than the armies of Spain.
The Secretary of the Treasury was pay
ing out gold in order to sustain his de-
mand for bonds by reducing the gold re-
serve.
IF the secretary succeeds in paying
out ali the gold reserve in the Treasury,
hope that will never again be gold
reserve held there"
1T is the policy Of this Administration
to increase the interest-bearing debt
AT the conclusion of Mr.. McLaurin's
speech consideration of the bin by sec
tfons was again resumed.
Schedule "a of the bill. providing a
stamp tax on bonds. debentures or certi-
ficates of Indebtedness. was amended
so as to cover agreements 10 sell as we'll
as sales.
This amendment was made at the sug
gestfou of Mr. Bacon, who said the law
could be evaded by stock brokers by sim
ply making agreements TO sell, and set
Ting their differences without consum-
mating the transaction.
1t was here suggested that the Senate
proceed to discuss the propositions of the
bill on which the committee were divfd-
ed 1t was stated by Mr.. Teller that the
proper way to do would be 10 first decide
how much of the money necessary for
war purposes should be raised by taxa
ton and then it would be comparatively
an easy matter to agree on the things TO
be taxed. He was of the opinion that the
country was rich enough to pay the entire
expenses of this war by taxation at the
present time and he predicted that we
would have q worse war in few years.
He advised going right along with war
preparations so as not to be hampered
and annoyed as we are now by a lack of
coast defense and the weakness of our
navy.
I'VE are abundantly able to pay every
dollar that this war will cost and the
people of the United States will not OBJ
iect if the burden is evenly and properly
distributed.
Il am in favor of raising 500. 0G0, 900 by
taxation. If there is any advantage in
our system of government and any merit
in trying to extend the area of freedom,
then we oght TO extend this tax now and
bear it cheerfully."
e. The provisions relating to the tax on
express and freight, life insurance poll
cies and proprietary articles and prepara-
tions was passed over and will be consid-
cred later.
Mr. Daniel spoke in regard to the great
Iy increased tax upon tobacco. THE tax
is already 6 cents a pound on tobacco.
The House bill raised that to u cents per
pound, and the Senate committee have
still further raised that tax to 16 cents
per pound.
Mr.. White Interrupted the speaker TO say
that the committee had decided to recon-
slider that question tomorrow.
Mr.. Daniel-said he was not aware of
that fact Continuing, he said that there
had come frem Seyery mercantile agency
in the United States a storm of protest
against this retroactive clause upon to-
bacco. They all urge Congress not to i'm
pose upon that trade this great burden
as it would result in running all small
sdealers and leave the business wholly in
the hands of the large dealers. He stat
ed that in all of these protests all had eX-
pressed themselves as willing and glad
to bear a portion of the war burden. All
they wanted was to have the burden i'm
posed as evenly as possible.
Mr.. Mantel asked for information from
the committee on the proposition to tax
the retail druggists for the goods they
have on hand. He was informed that the
committee had amended this feature of
the bill so as not to tax such articles un-
til they are sold. A number of sena tors
have received many letters from retail
druggists protesting against the House
provision in this regard.
Mr.. Allison stated that the committee
amendment was framed in accordance
with suggestions from the druggists