The Florida star., 1900-02-02
Internal Revenue Law.


made January 16, on the war reve-
nue. act. Mr.. Davis made a splen-
did speech on this subject, taking
the stand that the internal reve-
nue. law, having served its purpose,
and this country being now at peace
with all nations, the law should be
repealed and the people relieved of
the burden of taxation. Among
other things he said:
Mr.. Chairman: Will the "war rev.
enue law" be repealed or even rea-
sonably modified at this session of
congress? This law was passed and
approved June 13, 1898, now more
than a year and a halfago, and was
intended to meet the emergency of
a war with Spain. When it was
under consideration it will be re-
membered that we, on this side of
thes chamber, protested. against
many of its features and contended
that it imposed unnecessary bur
dens upon the people, We asserted
our belief that the war would be a
short one and that the bill carried
too much taxation for SO brief a
struggle as we were likely to have.
The lamented Mr.. Dingley, then
the Republican leader of the house
and the chairman of the committee
which reported this measure, said,
in reply:
'But it is evident that tine war upon
which We have entered, unless all sign
fail, as | hope they may, is not Ia be- sim
ply sixty days affair, is not To be sim
ply three months affair, Is not Ia be
ask months affair, and the more earnest
we are in our preparations, the more
united we stand, the more means we pro
vide for defense and ofiense, the more We
arm the government with the means oi
carving on this war, the shorter it will
be-"
In point of fact, Mr.. Speaker, in
spite of the fears of the distinguish
ed gentlemen whose language
have just quoted, the war proved tc
be "simply a sixty days affair" or
ut best, so far rs actual hostilitie>
are concerned, SIMPLY IA three
months affair" = = x x
War was formally declared on
April 25th, and on May lst, Dewey
paralyzed Spain and startled the
world with his unprecedented vic
tory at Manila. On July 3rd Spain
remaining fleet went down before
the guns of Schley and Sampson al
Santiago. Then came the intrepid
charge up San Juan hill and the
surrender of the Spanish army. A
few DAYS more and Miles had march,
ed across To Puerto Rico. Spain ca.
pitulated, and August l., 1898, pre-
liminary terms of peace were agreed
upon. Our warshipS came to an
chor and our armies were com
manded 10 halt.
1t appears, therefore, that wher
the war revenue bill' was passeo
the conflict for which we were pre-
pairing was already half over. That
the final and exact terms of peace
were not agreed upon and ratified
bv the bclligcrents until Il later date
that peace commissions were slowe
in coming To terms from diplo
matte point of view than our sol
diers and sailors had been in achiev
ing victory oil land and SEA, make
Mttle difference. The war was Owe
py posses the swords were Sheathed anC
which arms ceased tnroar. There ha
and FF lolnl lsession of congress since
'S,SGentlemef III we heard no suggestion
n fSe IS TO s. rseveraItion of the wa
ffavis left gain in session
% .day hrs, DibD- leiIS suggestion of1
,sPeT and and frS d rsReal nowr
say say t3do. siIvs'Sas fSe the NE asi ~ fun {
( - 6 :: $ :,