The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-05-26
WORK OF CONGRESS.

3 es3ss - )
Washington, May 49,. Considerable
progress was made by the senate in
considering the war revenue measure.
MI ones of Arkansas presented in a
general statement the views OF the
Democratic members Of the finance
committee. He maintained that the
taxes imposed by the pending bill
ought to be levied upon property and
not upon consumption; that the policy,
OF the Republican party always had
Deen to impose taxes upon consump-
ton, while that Of the Democratic
party was to impose it upon property.
He believed taxation that would raise
SLOT, 100000 would be amply sufficient
to be carried by this bill, and that if
the exigencies Of the war should dem.
onstrate that more money was needed
congress could provide it later. He
opposed the proposition to issue bonds
ana certificates of indebtedness far in
excess Of the requirements Of the war
and held that the expenses should be
paid by the government as the war
progresses.
In the House.
Inc house held brief session. Two
important bills affecting labor were
passed, one limiting the labor of per-
sons employed upon government
WORKS and in government service to
eight hours daily, and the other pro-
Fldlng Tor the equipment of q nom
partisan labor commission to consider
legislative problems affecting labor.
Washington, May 10. = The feature
OF the session Of the senate was the
speech of Mr.. Turpie of Indiana on
the war revenue measure. He stoutly
commended that a bond issue was I'M
necessary; that all the funds used for
the prosecution of the war could be
raised through the proposed inher-
ltance tax, by the tax of the corpora
lions, by the coinage of the silver
seigniorage and by the issue of legal
tender notes. These four means of
obtaining money would. yield to the
government during the next year. he
maintained, fully $3OO,OOO.OOO. an
amount in excess of the estimated sum
necessary for the conduct of the war,
Inc speech was Enthusiastically
beautiful in diction and clear and
tofcetul in reasoning. Considerable
progress was made in the reading of
the bill, which included the considera-
tlon OF the amendments proposed by
the committee. Through the influence
of Mr.. German of Maryland the i'm
prlsonment penalty was stricken out
OF some of the sections relating to vio-
latlons of the stamp act The bill, as
1t passed the house, provided a penalty
OF SlOO for failure to aftix the stamp to
any drug or medicine or perfumery.
L he senate committee has changed the
tine to $500. The provision was
amended to-day by striking out the
maximum fine, leaving it to the dis
erection Of the courts to make it less
than $500. The provision was also
changed so as to provide that the Of
tense should be made to appear inten-
tional. In section Is of the bill the
stamp taxes provided for were made
effective on the First day of June"
After an extended debate, part of
Which occupied a secret legislative
session, the conference report of the
Dill suspending certain parts of the ex-
listing law relating to the purchase Of
supplies by the war department, was
adopted. The bill permitting officers
of the regular army to accept staff APP
polntments in the volunteer army
without losing their rank or place in
the regular service was passed.
The house adjourned after a session
lasting only an hour and a half. An
especial effort was made to pass
Dill prohibiting the publication of in
formation concerning the strength Of
the country's Notifications. Without a
word of debate the defense Republican
bill was passed.
Washington, May 2O.-While several
important paragraphs in the war reve-
nuB measure were passed over for
future consideration, excellent pro-
Sress was made by the senate in the
consideration of the bill Two-thirds
of the measure has been read, the
committee amendments generally hav-
ing been agreed to. Mr.. McLaurin Of
South Carolina opened the discussion
of the bill with a carefully prepared
speech touching all Of it's features. He
expressed the hope that the bill would
pass as reported by the majority of
the committee on finance, with the .ex-
ception of the stamp tax, which he
thought quite unnecessary. The prop
osltlon to place q stamp tax on pro-
pl1etoiy dillcleS ana perfumes now IN
stock aroused a lively discussion. 1t
was regarded as retroactive legislation
and, as such, was opposed by many
senators. The paragraph has not been
disposed Of. r.
The adjournment of the house until
Monday postpones until next week any
possible consideration of the Hawaiian
resolutions. After passing the labor
arbitration bill as amended by the SEN
ate, and experiencing a brief political
tilt, precipitated by personal political
explanation from Mr.. Tongue of Ore
gon, the house adjourned. "a.
Washington. May 21.-Soon after the
senate convened Mr.. Hale (Ma;ne).
chairman of the committee on naval
affairs, fayOrably reported from the
committee the house joint resolution
providing for the organization and en-
rollment of an auxiliary naval force
which shall form an inner line Of de-
Tense. An amendment by the senate
committee provides that the force shall
not exceed 200 men. The resolution
was passed.
A joint resolution was also passed
No1linrp Z