Washington sentinel., 1900-06-02
HON. JEFFERSON NJ. LEVY

, urged justice to the brewers in til
following speech in the House {
Representatives:
"Mr. Chairman: The session c
Congress is drawing to a close an
no action has been taken to reduc
the surplus now lying IN the Treas
ury, due to war revenue taxes
Hearings have been granted bI
the Ways and Means Committee
which, so far as results show, wer,
a waste of both the time OF the
committee and Of the representa-
tives OF the various interests ap.
pearing before them, 1t appears
now, from the statement OF the
distinguished chairman OF that
committee that there never was an
intention OF repeating these taxes
at this session. Twas surprised to
learn from his statement that hav-
ing served their purpose il provid-
ing war revenue, these were now
to b. used in redeeming bonds,
which not only have a number of
years to rrn, but on which, in ad-
dition to their face value, the
Treasury was obliged to pay a
premium OF over $4,000, 900, in
the reiunding out Of the surplus
represented by the difference in
the exchange.
"The excuse for NON action which
the Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee offers will not
be accepted by the taxpay ers of
the United States, and certainly not
by those representing them who
appeared before the committee in
the hope and with some assurance
that their complaints OF the unfair
ness OF these taxes, and their plea
for reduction OF them, il not their
entire repeal, would be needed.
"The available cash balance IN
the Treasury on the a6tb OF May
amounted to S144,oo4.488.8o, in
addition to the reserve, while the
excess OF receipts over expendi-
lures of the Government aggre-
gated S6I,I3o,7oS.a3. War and
naval expenses are decreasing,
customs and internal revenue re
ceipts are increasing, while the
total expenditures of the Govern
ment have decreased over SG2I,-
364436. 10 for the ten months OF
the fiscal year. 1t must be borne
in mind that the Secretary of the
Treasury purchased over SaI ,ooo,-
900 OF four and five per cent bonds,
and set aside $50, 900, 900 to re-
serve, and this amount must be
added to the surplus for the
fiscal year, which would make it
Sr55G3o,79S.
Every delegation that has ap.
peared before the Ways and Means
Committee has presented but one
argument. 1t is the argument
heard everywhere, except in the
committee room perhaps, when no
delegation is present, namely,
The war is over and upon that
argument is based the request to
fulfil the promise that these taxes
wolld be repealed when peace has
been restored.
when the patriotism OF the
people was appealed to, the re.
sponse was prompt, and mer-
chants, manufacturers, bankers,
brokers and tradesmen of all
classes gladly accepted the burden
Of taxation, believing as they had
every right to believe that when
the war ended these taxes would
cease.
"Their hope does not seem des-
tined to be fulfilled at this session
Of Congress, while it seems equally
certain that the taxes contributed
for war purposes only are to be
used for another purpose, and one
not contemplated by any member
OF this House when the War Rev
enue bill was before it, and GER
sainly not by the ranking member
OF the Ways and Means Commit
tee.
THE demand for the repeal Of
these taxes does not come from
one class OF merchants or manuiac-
turers, nor should it be so much a
party measure as a question OF
good business judgment and sound
financial legislation. It is safe to
predict that those who suffer under
these taxes when they know that
the Treasury contains an overflow
ing surplus will hold the Republi-
can party responsible for its failure
to relieve it, and restore it to the
people.
"a surplus is as great a menace
to the Government as it is to cor