New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-27
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE REGULAR REPORT.
SENATE.
SPEECHES BY SENATORS WHITE AND TEL
1ER ON THE WAR REVENUE BILL.

IER ON THE WAR REVENUE BILL.
Washington. Nav 26-No substantial progress
was made by the Senate to-day toward the uisPo-
sition of the War Revenue bill. although II was ui
der consideration for three hours
Mr. WHITE Dem. CALI made an eN'ehueu
speech covering the general features Ok ''e '''''
espec,sly those relating the tax on corporations
and on inherilances. The consideration OF the ol''
he said had enlisted the attention of the country
and many people were becoming restless because d
final vote had not been reached lie 'hous'' NV
ever that the delay due 10 the PECULIARLY u
the pending measure. The object OF the Dali w.
manded support OF every member OF po'h DrdhcneS
NJ Congress- All are united TO present so''u
front TO the foreign foe. 1t was no longer que'-
ton of doubt that all money necessary for the
prosecution Of the would be supplied II was
simply the method OF raising the funds that WIS
under debate here
Mr. White denounced the stamp tax as an oher-
Gus burden from which all would be glad 70 eS''pe'
II was a nuisance and par excellence tax on INC
nla,, neonIo NJ the land Concerning the inherl-
rance fax Mr. White maintained that. notwi'"-
standing the objections urged against IL by redSo''
Of its being ar invasion of the prerosauVes Oh INC
States IL was perfectly justiiiapie' anu ne
dressed the hope and belief that the courts """''
sustain the action OF Congress In enac'ing 'he prop
osition into law. He then began long discuSs'oN
OF the proposed corporation tax. which he earnest
" .upnorted He maintained that the corporations
owed somsthing 10 the country. not only ior 'hei'
creation. but also for the privilege OF existence.
He maintained that the argument OF oeha'o's '"'
a tax should not be laid against corporation o7
cause It was not laid against partnership e"s'se'
in the Same line Of business was not sound as the
CORPORATION enjoyed more privileges than the part
nership in business and before the law. II Il "e''
not So corpora lions would rot be formed
Mr.. GORMAN's AMENDMENT.
NJ vhuo mid he would make all classes Of
hus,ness hear a lust proportion OF the war puroehS'
and could see no proper or valid reason Why '"o
corporations should be exempt from provisions y,
tho hill He said that Mr. German had pfepheu
an amendment 10 the measure when ne "ou'u 10
willing to support II the general tax on all cor
porations should not be deemed desirable by the
Senate. Al mis- request Mr. German sent 10 ','e
desk and had read the amendment he proposeu u
offer at the proper time. II follows:
That from and after the passage OF this act every
person. firm. company or corpordtIon O"1,,e y,
ANY raiiroad street railroad sleeping car steam
boat ship other vessel engaged OF ei'. .i ' -,
the business transporting passensels ~ I.'ee..s
for hire or in Transporting the mails ~ the hted
States or carving on or doing an eNpFess ous'ne
or having the Gaze or management OF any ~ -
granhic or telephone line by which tclegraphic OF
telephone dispatches or MESSAGES ar" r"'f r,
OF furnishing gas electric light, electric power
steam heat steam power, or reiinlns Pe.' o'cu'
or refining sugar or owning or com ro.'i'IB H.s
pipe line for Transporting oil or other producIsi
whose gross annual receipts exceed $3.50 sna.
be subject TO pay annually a spe,"I eHs'Sr ro aS
amount OF all receipts Of such persons hrms' cor
porWtions and companies IN thelr IesPeS',.'' a.,
ness provided that the assessment heieh$ mac
shall include any amount OF The receipis h hor
the transportation OF persons freignt OF nuns
tween the United States ana any foTesn pCr ' Of
such tax shall be rated ior me no
tinted states through foreign territory 70 port
within nd ,ne Leed rom persos arms compan,
or corporations within the United states feceIVlhs
freight or mails
Mr. White said It had been Whispered that the
great financial interests which had contributed
largely TO a campaign fund were demanding as
compensation for their lbcrality that the burdens
Of war should not be thrust on them lie ala no'
believe however that any Senator on either aide
% the chamber would lie Influenced by a demand
so sordd and selfish. lie objected to The issue ~
bonds at this time because bonds were unneces-
sary and because n great majority % the people
was opposed to them. believing they would Increase
too greatly tho burdens OF tho country
In conclusion Mr. White declared that It would
be the plain people who would not only offer UP
their lives IN defence OF the National honor. but
who would also pay tho bulk OF the taxes for tho
conduct OF the He appealed 90 Senators to
permit the bill 10 pass in such form as would dis
tribute with reasOna bic equity the burdens r. I'M
posed and to levy taxation that would be falr 70
the American people and reflect honor on the
American Senate.
SENATOR TELLER's SPEECH
Mr. TELLER ISL Rep. COLI followed. He said
be had no intention OF discussing tho bill from a
partisan point OF view. considering tho necessity
FOR properly conducting the moro important
than tho securing OF partisan advantage lie spoke
OF the interest felt by the American people In the
Cuban question. saying that the struggling people
could have been aided In the past without violating
the neutrality laws lie thought war might have
been avoided but now that the war was on he
wanted to SEQ It conducted by united country
The Administration would nnd Itself supported by
every party and there would Dee 10 holding back
the sinews OF war He did not believe ne
would he Of Ions duration. and sald
vast appropriations would ne necessary
There was not under the circumsiancrs me
usual justification for taxing future geneIa-
tons 70 pay Tor the war as II was hot 'He M"
Civil War war FOR self-preservailOn. Tic as
sumed that Notwithstanding the bonds provided by
the bill were made payable In ten years, their pay
ment would De deferred beyond ihat limit lie as
attached for The purpose OF taking advantage OF
the war exigency secure authority for bond
the history Of our coantry' He did not think the
bill would produce as much revenue as was est-
was entitled to a detailed estimate. Instead OF
this when they called for facts they received only
Mr. ALLISON Rep.. Iowa. said It impossible
to state with anything more than approximate aG-
curacy what revenue would be raised from the bill.
Estimates were necessarily uncertain VINO. for In
! stance. could tell what amount would be derived
NH Mr. TeeT said taat Mr Aiiisons explanation was
admission that the committee had been guess
ing He took up the amendments for grcenbacks.
the coinage OF the seigniorage and the corporation
tax. and supported them at some length
Before Mr. Teller had concluded his speech tho
bill laid aside that the Senate might tnkc up
the special order-euOgies the late Senator Ed
ward c. Walthal. OF Mississippi
While the special order pending Mr..
SEWELL (Rep.. n j. moved that the Senate con-
cur in the House amendment TO the Senate bill
suspending certain provisions OF law relating TO
hospital stewards. The amendment was that the
increase of stewards should cxceed one hun
dred Mr.. Sewells motion agreed 20. \ bill
reported by Mr. Sewell providing for the EN-
ployment OF retired Army officers IN the present
war. and passed.
Mr.. MONEY tDem.. Miss). being recognized pre-
sented the resolutions the death OF Mr. Walt
hall. Eulogies were delivered by Mr. Money. Mr..
Hawley Mr.. Berry. Mr.. Proctor Mr. German Mr.
Cannon. Mr. Cockrell. Mr. Bate. Mr.. Pasco and Mr..
Pettus. AS further mark Of respect the Senate
adjourned until IL a. m. tomorrow.