The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-09
TO DELAY REVENUE BILL.
Democrats Propose 10 Use Debate
For This Purpose.
COMMITTEE LIKELY TO ELiMI-
NATE BOND FEATURE.

sa,,.s However, Will Restore 1t When
Vote Is Taken-Not Likely To Be Re
ported by the Committee Before the
Last of the Week.
Washington, May s.-The expectation
is that the war revenue bill will be re-
ceiyed in the Senate by the committee on
tiuance on Wednesday, but it's report may
be delayed for day or two beyond that
date The fact is that the committee
has found SO many changes considered
desirable from its standpoint that pro.
gress has necessarily been slow. This has
proved to be true without regard to party
lines. The republicans have suggested
many more amendments to the bill than
have the Democratic members and many
Of those suggested by them have been OF
such importance as to require careful
attention and much time. There are
many matters yet requiring consideration
and until these shall have been voted
upon in committee it will be impossible
to fix day for reporting the bill.
Whether the bill shall carry provision
for a new government loan on bonds, de-
ponds entirely upon Senator Jones of Ne
yada. So far as can be learned he has
not yet made known his position in the
committee and the other members pro-
fess to be ignorant on the subject.
The understanding on the outside is
that he will oppose the bond feature and
that consequently when the bill is report
Cd he tod
probably an authorization for the issu-
ance of greenbacks substituted for it.
Whatever the verdict of the committee
on the bond clause, the bond question will
form the basis of the Senate's considera-
ton Of the bill.
This subject will at any rate be debated
at length in the Senate. 1t is generally
conceded that even though the committee
displaces the provision, the friends of
the bond policy will be strong enough to
restore it in the Senate If vote is taken.
The opponents of bonds hold that the
strength of the bond provision is due to
the fact that state of war exists and
they are hopeful that the war may come
to q close before it will be necessary to
vote upon the bill in the Senate, with
this purpose in view, but they now assert
1t to be their intention to debate the bill
at length or at least to the extent necss-
sary to present their views fully to the
county.
The Repu blican amendments are direct.
ed to the Improvements of the details OF
the bill and to the elimination of many
small items and the insertion of Others
which will bring more revenue.
The Democratic members of the com.
mittee are generally assisting their Re-
publican colleagues in this matter and
admit the bill is being improved; but
they insist that as they have SO far been
engaged On Republican amendments that
party should take the responsibility for
the delay that has occurred. 1t is expect
ed that one or two more days will be nee
essary to the perfection of..the measure,
according to the plan. How much more
time will be necessary for the Democratic
suggestions, cannot be foretold. 1t will
not, however. be very surprising if the
bill should not be taken up for debate be-
fore the last days OF the week. ~ -:
In the meantime the Senate Will devote
its time to miscellaneous Questions. ..
B Monday win be devoted to the post office
appropriation bill and speeches will be
made by Messrs. Faulkner, Butler, Petit
grew and others.