Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-26
WAR REVENUE BILL.
Excellent Progress Made by the Sen.
ate in Considering the Measure.
The SPEECH OF SENATOR ALAURIy.
Two Rills Relating to Our Soldiers Intro
duced In the HOuse-Amendmepta to
Labor Arbitration bill Agreed to
The Curtis bill.

WASHINGTON, May 20. While severa
important passages In the war revenu
measure were passed over yesterds.
for future consideration, excellen
progress was made by the senate II
the consideration Of the bill. Two
thirds Of the measure have been read
tho committee amendments general.
having been agreed TO- Senator Nc
Lsurin. Of South Carolina, opened thu
discussion Of the bill yesterday with
carefully prepared speech touching al
Of Its features lie expressed thu
hope that the bill would pass as re
ported by the majority Of the commit
tee on finance, with the exception Of
the stamp tax, which he thought quite
unnecessary.
Speaking Of the bringing Of the wal
In which we are now engaged, Mr.
1cLaurin said Spain had supposed
that commercial greed had stAed
patriotism. This, to her sorrow, she
had learned at Manila was not the
fact. She had realized that Dewey
was worthy successor to Decatur and
Perry. He was ready, he said, to vote
for any measure that would tend to
bring the war to successful concln.
sion. People on the island Of Cuba
are dying every hour. Their condi-
ton is beyond the power Of description
Every day now means the loss of hun.
dreds. perhaps thousands, of lives in
Cuba, Mr.. McLaurin declared. Liberty
on the island Is at stake and the war
has placed our own national prestige
1t stake
Concerning the proposed issue Of
bonds, he sad that there was an inhu-
ence at work in this country, more
powerful than the president, more pc.
tent than congress- 1t was the silent,
secret influence OF the money power,
which was endeavoring to force an
issue Of bonds. Once the senate, the
forum Of the people yields to this
clamor, Mr.. McLaurin declared, and
becomes entangled In the meshes Of
the money octopus, the people will
suffer indeed. There Is an army in
this country" said he, lust as anxious
10 raid the United States treasury as
our volunteers are to raid the island Of
Cuba. To the army refer to, no vol.
unteers are needed. These jobbers
and spectators form agreater menace
to us than the war with Spain"
At the conclusion Of Mr.. McLaurin's
speech the clerk proceeded with the
reading Of the bill. The proposition
to place stamp tax upon proprietary
articles and perfumeries now in stock
aroused a lively discussion. 1t was
regarded rs retroactive legislation,
and, as such, was opposed by many
senators. The paragraph was not dis.
posed Of
After the reading OF the committee
amendments relating to excise baxes
on persons, firms, companies and cor
porations the bill was laid aside. A
resolution for the improvement Of
Arkansas Pass harbor in Texas was
passed and, after an executive session,
the senate then adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, May 20--Chairman
Hull, OF the house committee on mill
tary affairs, yesterday introduced u
bill providing that the pay and al
l0wances Of such volunteers as are re.
ceived into the service Of the United
States shall be deemed to commence
from the day on which they joined for
duty and nre enrolled at the battalion,
regimental or state rendezvous He
also presented bill amending exist
ing statutes so as officers of the regu.
lar army shall be eligible to staff up.
pointments under the volunteer army
act, and holding that acceptance Of
such positions will not cost them their
place in the regular army, but they
will be entitled only to the pay and
allowance Of their staff rank.
Mr.. Todd, Of Michigan, introduced a
bill to provide means for carrying on
the war with Spain. He proposes to
issue the 100000, 900 In United States
treasury notes; to coin into standard
silver dollars oil the silver bullion
now In the treasury; levy an annual
tax OF five per cent upon the gross
earnings Of all railroad, telegraph,
telephone and street railway com.
panies and stock Of life and fire insur.
ance companies, and five per cent Of
the net income Of any individual or
corporation whose annual income OK.
ceed $4,000.
The house, with only four dissent
Ing votes, agreed to the senate amend
ments to the labor arbitration bill.
The measure now goes to the presi.
dent
WILL REPORT THE CURTIS BILL.
WASHINGTON, May SO.-The senate
committee on Indian affairs yesterday
agreed to report the Curtis bill, which
provides for many reforms in the In.
dian territory. The report has not
been prepared, but when made 1t will
show number Of amendments, among
which is the striking out of oil the
provisions Of the bill In regard to
forcible entry and detsiner because
they are in conflict with the general
laws Of the state Of Arkansas. The
provision for acquiring title in
townships was also eliminated from
the bill, but that authorizing
~ .ncnrporation of towns was left In.