New-York tribune., 1900-12-11
WANT A s7oOOoOOO REDUCTION.
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE DEMOCRATS
ALSO FAVOR AN INCOME TAX.

Washington, Dec. 1o.-The Democratic mehloelS members
of the Ways and Means COMMITTEES nav -
pleted their report on the War Revenue FNTuu
bill and il was made public late to-day IL uIsss
a reduction of the revenues of at least S'oVoOWO'
or about $50 100000 more than that proposeu OS '1
majority of the committee 1t also PROPOSES an
income tax, with view OF again orlhsIhs t"9
subject in a modified form before the United states
sunreme Court for final adjudica ton. The minority
take issue with Secretary Cages estimate OF $1o'-
OOo 600 surplus in 1902 and say that Congress oo-
serves proper economy IN expenditures tne surplus
ought to be slOe.OO0OOO. The report continues;
can safely be a much further reduction than is
contemplated in the bill presented by the commit
Setead fSe ana Of taxing of the sum OF S6O0
posed we would 60 further anq redIce sse Tec
tions on those articles which are most nearly tne
mat are most annoying and vexatious to the people
This would in no way cripple or impair me bpa3er
economy in appropriations reduction greater @ tnsn
we advocate eoad oe Iae S van anu bstn over the war
taxes should cease. and the train OF eXtraordnaIy
expenditures" following the war should also Ter
not however oppose the 2 Rasss9s sn9ssS6r o5 the 9s
properly amend it. II we were by our eno[ts 20
burden of unjust taxation on the country. The
serious objection TO the taxes levied by this PHI ana
burdens Of taxation throughout the country are G %
reyeSues reSeiS esS Collected are inequifable.
We favor an alteration Of the present tariff laws
monopoly It has been proved beyond question. By
evidence before the Industrial Commission ap-
pointed BY Congress. that MANY OF the powerful q
trusts that have absolute monopoly or tEelr
business in this country and that exercise their
power despotically and injuriously 70 the people
largely owe their growth 70 the customs duties I'M
posed in the Dingley tariff law which prohioitS
foreign competition
should be modified so as TO prevent this imposition
upon our citizens. Any alteration of our sys-
tenn of taxation which continues such Injustice
alteration in our system Of taxation which would
collect more revenue from the accumulated wealth
OF the country and pondingly less from the
producing energies and enterprises.
We also believe that justice and equality require
that a person should be taxed rather on what he
has than on what he needs. hence we favor a sys-
tenn by which a reasonable portion OF the present
taxes should be collected from incomes or from
profits rather than that almost the entire burden
OF taxation should be placed on consumption We
believe that a provision could and should be pre-
pared which would accomplish the Just ends sought
in an income tax. yet escape an adverse decision
Of the Supreme Court OF ths United states. sucn
as was rendered against the income tax provided
for in the Wilson law.
The report says that reduction Of S00ooOoo IN
taxation would permit the relief OF the tobacco and
beer producing interests which have suffered from
heavy war taxes. and would enable the aoonton
OF many vexatious and annoying taxes tnat VIII De
continued under the proposed legislation