The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-16
TUE TELEGRAPH STAMP TAX.
CONGRESSMAN JONES' BILL RE-
aulRING coMPlkIRs TO FAY IT.
NH AIse introduced to Repeal Act
Creating Circuit Court Of Appeais
THE Question Of Ofncial rrecc-
dence Hetween Miles and Dewey.


WARRINGTON, Dec. lb-While there
II now no intention arponE Republi-
can leaders. at this session, OF repeating
the war revenue tax laws, 1t II quite prob
able that bill introduced by Representa-
tive Jones. of Washington, requiring tele-
graphic companies TO pay the stamp tax
on messages, win become law. 1t was
the original intention that this tax should
be paid by the company operating the tele-
graphic line and not by the person send
ing the message, but the war revenue law
did not contain any specific provision under
which the Geographic company could be
compelled to do SO.
Mr.. Jones' bill provides specifically that
the tax OF one cent on each message shall
be paid by the telegraphic company or cor
poration operating the telegraphic line over
which the message Ii sent. and imposes
q fine OF 500 for every neglect or failure
on the part Of the company to comply
with this requirement.
The bill also provides that any increase
in the present charge for transmitting tell
egraphic messages shall be deemed evil
dence OF an attempt to evade the payment
OF the tax and shall subject the offender to
fine Of 300 unless It shall be shown that
the Increase was necessary In the conduct
OF business, Independent of the tax. Pro-
ceedings against the company may be
brought In any. competent court of turis-
d!ction.
Circuit Court OF Appeals.
A bill to abolish United States circuit
courts. Of appeals. introduced the, second
day Of the session. l. being received favor
ably by members OF congress, and II 10
possible that II this Is enacted into law
procedure will be radically changed.
Attention IL being called also 70 the man
ner and disposition on the part OF jurists,
other 9TH Federal III benches, incIudins the SUI III
preme court to write decisions so voufni-
nous and involved that the essential points
are LIKELY to be Lost n ,n the ntpcn mos
ern judicial practice one Of the leading
members OF the Senate said that the ten
dency seemed to be toward writing essays
instead OF decisions and that to this fact
must be ascribed much Of the delay in the
adjudication Of cases which has resulted
In encumbering court dookets months and
sometimes years in advance.
The bill abolishing circuit courts of APP
peals was prepared after careful study and
consideration and Investigation BY the
United States codifying commission Of
general Of Ohio. IL member. Under its
provisions circuit courts Of appeals are
wiped out entirely. the original Jurisdiction
the final Jurisdiction OF both district and
circuit courts is increased. The change
would not add to the work of Federal, dis
trict and circuit judges nor would it in
Gen. Kennedy's Grafton.
Gen r. b. Kennedy must have had
fine large time when he was at Porto Rico
as chairman of the fnsular' commission.
Although modest as beseems a great man.
Gen. Kennedy places no mean estimate
upon his oratorical powers. nor does he
ever lose an opportunity to shed fragments
Of eloquence as he pursues his somewhat
aggressive way through life.
An amusing instance of this Is related
nv army officer who was In Porto Rico
during the time Of Gen. Kennedy's some
what meteoric official visit there. This
the other day, says Gen. Kennedy put in
much of his time travelling over the island
and delivering orations to the populace
S No., Ssws he ssstest aha inc.
the general was talking about
The army officer says he attended one
particular meeting where Gen. Kennedy,
for one hour and half. poured forth a
stream Of adjectives and explosives to the
admiring crowd of native Porto Ricans.
He told them that under the present bene-
fcent administration their babies should
have bread. shoes and books. There
should be school houses on the thousand
hills hitherto pre-empted by cattle. All
ne ssT aak and Il Ss ssnS s
be turned into magnificent boulevards just
like the splenatd military road already
stretching across the island
Warming up to his subject, Gen. Ken
nedy paced back and forth upon the stage
gesticulating and gyratng, rising in his
own estimation every minute, for an hour
terpreter to say word Now the humor of
1t is that in all the vast audience the only
two men who understood what Gen. Ken
nedy was saying were the Interpreter and
the military general who Is my informant
A Question Of Precedence.
Washington society, owing to the APP
proach of the season Of functions, is much
interested in the question of precedence
between the two branches of the military
establishment. 1t has not been definitely
settled, yet whether Admiral Dewey, by
virtue of his new rank, shall precede Gen.
Miles, who Is the head Of the army, but 1t
is probable that the commanding general
will be required to take secondary place.
The first official occasion at which the
matter will come up will be the presidents
New Year reception. and the order estab-
lished there will be followed at subsequent
functions at the executive mansion This
discussion makes of interest the following
comparison of army and navy grades:
ARMY. NAVY.
General (vacant). Admiral Dewey
Lieutenant general Vice admiral (va-
Major general tMiIes, Rear cara admiral senior
Merritt, Brooke). grade (McNair and
eight others).
(Otis and four oh grade Cromwell
ers)., and eight others.
Colonel. Captain.
Ideutenant colonel. commander.
Major. Lieut.. Commander.
Captain. Lieutenant.
First lieutenant. Lieutenant, Junior
grade.
Second lieutenant. Ensign.
The army as an organization is much
older than the navy, for which reason IL
hitherto has taken precedence in all cases
where the two branches OF the military
service have met. 1t also Is because O,
this seniority of organization that the sec
rotary of war precedes the secretary of the
navy. in line of succession to the presi-
dency. Having been elevated to the rank