The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-29

conduct war with the United states
which would be SO expensive as would
be the war with Spain. No other foreign
country EXCEPT Great Britain had colonies
which in time of war IL was necessary for
the United States to occupy. No man
could say the war would come to any
speedy conclusion and It could not be said
that 1t might not result in complications
Of the most serious nature.
1t would require but spark to set the
whole of Europe afiame and that spark
might be struck from the clashing swords
Of the United States and Spain at any
moment. He did not believe that any coun-
try in Europe would Intervene between
the contending nations. except on grounds
of pure humanity, for not one cared 70
assume the risk OF a war condagration
that might sweep the civilized world.
FRENCH ENMTTY.
Referring 70 the suggested enmity Of
France to the United States. Mr.. Wolcott
declared the people OF that country did not
reliably announce the position OF France.
He was positively familiar with the situa-
ton in France and was satisfied that ex-
cept In the newspapers and among a few
of their followers. French sentiment to-
ward the United States was most friend
ly.
He paid high tribute TO the premier Of
France. He said he was one of the
staunchest friends America had in Eu-
rope, and was IN perfect consonance with
our Ideas and policies. No complications.
he was certain. would arise from that
quarter. From whatever source compli-
cations might spring, however, the United
States must be in a position to meet
them with composure. dignity and honor.
The attitude Of Great Britain during the
present war had been. he said. one OF in
calculabls benefit TO this country.
FAVORS BONDS AND STAMPS
Mr.. Wolcott then entered upon a discus
sion OF the pending bill. strongly advocst-
Ing the issue of bonds, as proposed by the
Republican minority OF the finance COM
mittee, and the proposed stamp tax.
Discussing the tax upon corporations, as
proposed by the majority of the finance
committee. he said taxes should be levied
with view to the ability to pay
Proceeding, he said all railroad mile
age was passing now 34S per cent on
gross receipts; 1s4 per cent upon net re-
ceipts, or 44.5 per cent upon net receipts
after fixed charges had been paid. He
said 1915 per cent of all the railroads Of
the country were now in the hands Of
receivers. He criticised the tax on bank
investments as likely to result in double,
triple and probably quintuple taxation by
reason Of the law requiring banks 10 keep
a per cent of their deposits in desposi-
tories designated by the government. He
said he favored in this respect the bill as
reported by the Republican members CT
the committee.
Addressing himself to the coinage of the
seigniorage, Mr.. Wolcott advocated the
plan as general proposition, but offered
an amendment directing the coinage to
proceed at the rate Of not less than "a, 0O0,-
900 per month and authorizing the secre-
tary of the treasury to issue silver certi-
ficates as the silver is coined
GREENBACKS ATTACKED.
He attacked the proposition to issue
$4,000, 900 in greenbacks, and said:
''Mr. President. L am shocked and sur
prised now at men who, 1 know, are not
of that Populistic element that simply
wants the coinage of silver, tin, or any
ching else for the sake of having more
money; men Of the rock-ribbed Demo-
cratic party, a party that has been al
ways a hard money party, and continu-
ingly declares itself DESTROYS of only gold
and silver as the money of the consti-
tuition, voting now to put out $3.50 900 900
Of greenbacks without a dollar of gold or
silver to back it up
FOR A POPULAR LOAN
Concluding his speech. Mr. Wolcott sup
ported the minority bond provision provid-
ing for bond issue in the nature Of a
popular loan, which could be taken by the
people generally. He contended such a
loan would be readily taken by pouIar
subscription. In this connection he criti-
cised Secretary Gage, who, he said. re-
Gently expressed before the committee on
finance his belief that the people would
not absorb such a loan as was proposed.
His wish, 1 am inclined to believe"
said the senator. was father to the
thought, and 1 trust he Is III only man
In the country who cherishes the belief"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Wolcitt's
speech a proposition was made to vote
upon the amendment offered by Mr.. Cor
man CMd) limiting the excise tax upon
railroad, steamboat, electric light, tele-
graph, telephont, express and other cor
porations TO those whose gross receipts
exceed $780, annually and making the
tax one-half of one per cent.
Mr.. Aldrich moved TO lay upon the ia
Bile the amendment offered by the com
mittee, for which Mr.. Gorman's amend
ment was intended as substitute The
motion TO table was made with the I'M
Outstanding that Mr.. Germans amend
ment should be placed upon its adop-
ton. should the motion to table prevail.
This brought on the most important vote
yet taken in the senate upon the revenue
bill.
AMENDMENT TABLED.
The amendment resulted in ayes a and
noes 27, as follows
Yeas-Aldrich. Allison, Bacon, Can.ry.
Carter, Cullom, Davis. Debee, Elkins.
Fairbanks. Foraker. Frye, Gallinger.
Gear, German, Hale, Hanna. Hansbrough,
Kyle. Lindsay. Mcbride. McEnery, Nc
MILAN. Mason, Mitchell. Morrill,. Muir
ply. Nelson. Penrose, Perkins. Platt
Comm; Prichard. Proctor. Quay. sewelI.
Shoup. Spooner. Warren. Wellington.
Welmore and wolcott-l1
Nays-Allen, Bate. Butler Cannon. Chill
ton, Clay. Cockrell. Daniel. Faulkner.
Harris. Heltfeld. Jones (Ark): Jones eSe-
vada); McLsurin. Mallory, Mantle. Mon
ey, Morgan. Pasco. Pettigrew. RawIins.
Stewart. Tillman. Turley. Turpis and
White-27.