The San Francisco call., 1899-08-31
The WAR REVENUE LAW.

nEPORIS from Washington are to the effect that
~ Secretary Gage and other treasury officials are
busy engaged in considering what measures
shall be taken to meet the large increase in expend-
lures for the maintenance OF the army. All hopes
that the might be repealed or
diminished at the coming session OF Congress have
been abandoned The tax law will have to be re-
vsed but the revision will be in the direction OF aug
mentng and OF lessenng the burden upon the tax
payers
The last Congress appropriated for the maintenance
OF the army, including all expenses except those for
the construction OF fortfcatons about $4,000 900,
thus giving the War Department fund sufficient for
expenditure OF about So oooa month During the
two months which have nearly passed of the fiscal year.
however the army has cost more than $3I,ooo,ooo
The war revenue law authorized the issuance OF
SIooooO,ooo of certificates of Indebtedness and $780,
100000 OF bonds 1t has been held by the law officers
OF the Government that the nsurrection in the Phil
ppines is virtually a continuation of the war with
Spain and, consequently issue Of bonds would be
valid to meet the present emergency. Secretary Gage
is reported TO have stated however he does not think
a bond issue will be necessary. Congress- therefore,
will be asked to increase the appropriation and the
taxes.
The operation OF the revenue law has disclosed
considerable number of defects. In the haste OF
errors OF language were committed which defeated
the intentions of Congress, and in several cases the
decisions of the courts have been such as diminish
the expected amount OF the revenue. Hence the
necessity OF revision of the law under any circum-
stances and appears likely to be of the first
things to which Congress will direct its energies
In reviewing the work OF the treasury officials
who preparing the new estimates and considering
ways and means OF increasing the revenues, the Wash
ington correspondent of the Philadelphia Record
says:
Just where to impose these taxes is the question
now troubling those in charge The imposition of d
stamp upon all patent protected articles is sug
gested the theory being that the value OF the article
is greatly enhanced by the protection of the patent
laws of the United States, and that,
purely, the Government would be justified in demand
ing fractional part of the profits secured through
the establishment OF monopoly by virtue OF the
patent laws. 1t is also proposed to place stamp
on all slot machines in which there in any clement OF
chance 1t has been found that the manufacture Of
these machines has attained great proportions. In
each OF them the percentage OF profit to the pro-
prieor is enormous, and the tax would not be oppres
sive OF this would not strike those machines
which dispense chewing gum, for in them there is no
element of chance, and the gum already pays tax
to the Government Another proposition that has
with favor at the Treasury Department is to put
a stamp tax on all firearms except such used for
national State or municipal purposes This would
in all probability be heavy and would yield d
large revenue A similar tax, only less burdensomc,
is suggested in connection with fireworks
1t will be seen from these estimates that after paying
$2oooo,ooo, or about s. head for our Philippine
fellow citizens we will have to pay about $40 more
head to herd them up. The expense is not too much
for so rich nation, but the people will demand that
in the revision of the act care be taken
to avoid any antiquities OF language that will permit
shirking the vast scale practiced by the
telegraph and express companies. A clause which
would compel the shirkers pay the back taxes would
be both just and popular. The issue is important
one II the people be harassed with upon
almost everything they and upon every CONNER
cal transaction is imperative that fairness and I'M
partiality be exercised in imposing the burdens