Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-05-23
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, May %.
SENATE.


At the opening of to days session of
the Senate communication was re-
ceived from the Secretary of War, to-
gether W tn draft of a bill providing
for an increase in the number OF officers
of the corps of engineers.
The consideration of the war revenue
bill was then resumed.
Mr.. Chiffon delivered written
speech upon the general features OF the
bill. He expressed the opinion that the
vast amount of money proposed 10 e
raised by the pending bill would not be
needed for the naval and military oper-
atoms before Congress should convene
next December. He did not believe,
therefore, in view of the fact that the
| war might come to an end within t, W
| weeks, and in view of the certainty that
| the situation would be cleared up mat Q.
rally by December 1st next, that it was
necessary to provide 80 large an amount
for the conduct Of the war. He ex-
pressed his willingness, however, to
Join with others in furnishing ample re-
sources for the conduct of the war until
July l, 1899. He thought it would be q
mistake to appropriate an amount
greater than S25, 100000 a month for
war purposes.
Entering upon discussion Of the
alleged failure ofthe Dingley law to pro-
duce sufficient revenue to meet the or
binary expenses of the government,
Mr.. Chiffon was interrupted by Mr..
Wilson, who said he was just in receipt
of letter from collector of customs
at an important port in which the state
ment was made that the present war
had made a serious inroad upon Gus
toms receipts. Importations had fallen
of materially since the war began.
MIR. Chiffon thought all such state.
ments copjectural. 1t was notorious,
he said, that the Dingley law had fail
ed of expectations as a revenue pro.
| Queer.
"Well," inquired Mr. Spooner, "what
has the Diugley law to do with the
pa sage by the Senate of this war rev.
euue measure?n
Mr.. Chiffon replied that the Dingley
law and the pending bill had a very
near relationship. He desired to show
that the Dingley law were not sufficient
to meet the governments demands.
Then you are making speech pure
ly for political effect" suggested MIR.
Spooner.
81 cannot foretell what lis effect may
be-" replied Mr.. Chiffon.
In the course of MIR. Chilton's discus
sion of the proposed corporation tax
Mr.. Spooner inquired if Mr.. Chiffon
proposed to tax the business Of the cor
poration itself.
Y THE tax we propose" replied Mr.
Chiffon" is an occupation tax on the
business of the corporation. IT, how
ever, the Senator desires ID call it a
franchise tax I'll defend it as SUCH"
"Iu other words" said Mr.. Spooner,
"you do not tax the business but you
tax the corporation doing the business
simply because it is corporation. o
course. I admit the right OF Congress
to levy business or occupation tax
Mr.. Spooner also said it was unfortu-
nate that in response to the govern
ments request for funds to conduct
the war operations, propositions Were
being made by Congress to tender not
ready money but batch of law suits
In the course of his remarks upon
the inheritance tax, Mr.. Chiffon ex
pressed the opinion that next to tax
on incomes and upon corporation, the
succession tax contained more elements
of justice than any other feature of the
pending bill.
Mr.. Chiffon defended the proposition
of the majority of the finance commit
tee to issue certificates against the ell
yer seigniorage. THAT issue would
amount" inquired Mr.. Aldrich, "to
about S42 100000, believe you say ~
| eyes, that is true, replied Mr.. Cnil-
ton.
HOUSE.
The House to-day passed the Senate
bi providing for the payment of vol
unteers from their enrolment and
authorizing the Secretary of War to
pay troops embarking for Manila, one
month in advance.
Inc House then disposed of num-
Der of measures affecting the District
Of Columbia.
AT CAMP LEE.
The Second Regiment of Virginia
Volunteers has been mustered into the
L