The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-27
THREE HOURS OF TALK.
Senate Made No Substantial Pro.
gress on Revenue Bill.
MESSRs. WHITE AND TELLER CON
sUME MOST OF THE TIME.


yer seigniorage and Corporation Tax
Mr.. Teller Showed Advantages of an
Income TEX.
Washington. May 26. Mo substa tial
progress was made by the Senate today
towards the disposition of the war reve-
nue. measure, although it was under con-
sideratiop for three hours. Speeches were
delivered on the bill by Mr.. White, Demo-
GRAFT of California, and Mr.. Teller of
Colorado. The former opposed the issue
of bonds and strongly advocated the coin
age of the silver ssigniorage and the tax
upon corporations. In his discussion of
the last feature Mr.. White drew out the
fact that an amendment was to be offered
to the bill by Mr.. German, Democrat of
Marylan placing q tax of one half of
/ per cent upon certain large corporations.
Mr.. Teller dwels largely upon the propo-
sition to levy al income tax. He had
not concluded his argument when the bill
was laid aside in order that eulogies
might be pronounced upon the late Sem
H.
In the Senate today. the war revsnu
measure was taken up.
Mr.. White OF. California then began an
extended speech covering pretty fully the
general features of the Bill, especially
those relating to the tax on corporations
and on inheritances. The consideration
of the bill, he said, had enlisted the at
tention of the country and many people
were becoming restless because final
vote had not been reached He thought,
however, that the delay was due 20 the
popularity Of the pending measure The
revenue bill upon which the Civil war
was conducted, was a complicated snstru-
ment, utterly inapplicable to present con-
ditions.
The object of the bill challenged the
attention and the support of every men,
Der of both branches of Congress. All
are united to present solid front to the
foreign foe.
1t was no longer a question of doubt,
that all the money necessary for the pros
ecution of the war would be supplied. 1t
was simply the method Of raising the
funds that was under debate here.
''Great as this nation is" said he,
"mighty as are her resources, this ooun.
try is not now prepared to place before
an opponent its full strength and all che
material of war residing in Its bosom.
But in time (and not a very long time
either it will be ready to put forth its
entire strength and then this conflict will
be decided speedily
Mr.. White regarded it as unfortunate
that so heavy tax should have been
placed upon tobacco because by some it
was considered luxury. He maintained
that the placing by the House of Repre-
sentatives of one-third OF the tax to be
raised upon beer, one third upon tobacco
aud one third OH stamps. was severe, if not
eontsnded that tobacco and beer were
legitimate articles of taxation but there
could be no doubt that the burden Of the
tax would fall upon the poor men Of the
country.
Mr.. White denounced the stamp tax as
q burden.
Mr.. White entered upon long Discus
sion of the proposed corporation tax
which he earnestly supported.
He regretted that there was a manifest
disposition among Republican senators
to oppose the placing Of any tax upon any
corporations Mr.. White said that Mr..
German of Maryland had prepared an
amendment to the measure which he
would be willing to support if the gen.
eral tax upon all corporations should be
deemed desirable by the Senate. At his
request MIR. German had read the amend
nient he proposed to offer at the proper
time. 1t follows
= That from and after the passage of
this act, every pS rson, firm, company or
corporation, owning or possessing or hay
ing the care or management of any rail-
road, street railroad, sleeping Car, steam
boat, ship or other vessel, engaged or en-
ployed in the business of transporting
passengers or freight for hire, or in trans
porting the mails Of the United States
or carrying on an express business or hav-
ing tne care or management OF any tele-
graphic or telephone line by which tele-
graphic or telephone dispatches or mes
sages are received or transmitted CT car
rying on or doing the business of furnish
ing gas, electric light, electric power,
s5eaIu neat, or steam power, or refining
petroleum, or refining sugar, or owning
or controlling any pipe line for transpor-
rating OIL or other products whose gross
annual receipts exceeds $3.50, 900 shall be
supJect TO pay annually Il special excise
TAX equivalent TO one half OF per cent
on Uhe gross amount Of ali receipts of such
persons, lrms, corporations and compa.
MES IN thelr respective business, provided
bhat the assessment hereby made shall
noe iAciuue any amount of the receipts
Tor the transportation of persons or mails
DetWeeh the United States and any for
9iSH P'Ao, oub tDhG suCn Tax snail De rat
ed iof the transportation Of persons,
fTelghtt OF mails from port within the
unlted states through foreign territory
co port within the United States and
shall be assessed upon ana collected from
persons. urms. companies or corporations
wt6nln the United States receiving hire
or pay ior such transportation of persons,
freight or mails -
MIR. white said IL had been whisnere
that the great financial interests which
had contributed largely to campaign
fund We're demanding as compensation
for their liberality that rhe bnrdens If
war should not be thrust upon them, He
objected to the issue of bonds at tbis TINA
because bonds were Unnecessary and ha.
cause great majority of the people were
opposed 10 them
In conclusion, MIR. White declared ,h.e
10 would be the plain people who would
not only offer up their lives in oefsnsa
of the national honor, but who xo,,IS
also pay the bulk of the taxes Tor The cI,r' :.
duct of the war. He appealed to senators
to permit the bill TO pass in such form ,s
would distribute with reasonable equity
the burdens it imposed and to levy taxa.
ton that would be fair TO the American
and reflect honor upon the american
Senate. Mr.. Teller followed He said he
had no intention Of discussing the till
from partisan standpoint, considering
thn pecaSsit,, for Yroparly nOnd netting th q