The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-11-25
LEVY SAYS lie
IS A DEMOCRAT
New York Congressman Talks of the
Situation.
REPEAL THE WAR TAXES.
No Longer Exists,
and Explains
Why.

Why.
NEW YORK, Nov. PA loud growl
OF dissatisfaction is heard among the
business men of the metropolis over the
reports from Washington that the war
taxation is to be continued, for the SiiSht
reduction contemplated is regarded as a
mere bagatelle. Congressman jefferson
NJ. Levy, of this city, gave the question
special attention during the last session
of Congress, having introduced a bill
and made several speeches on the sub
ject An important figure in capitalistic
circles, Mr.. Levy's views are shared by
nne-tenths of those who direct the fnan-
cial and industrial activities of the first
OF American cities.
"a reduction of $4,000, 900. the amount
proposed by the Ways and Means Com
mttee, is ridiculous, said Mr.. Levy yes
terday. 1T should be at the lowest tlS-
ure 60,0Oo.0OO. In my bill, introduced
last February, I proposed that the tax
on fermented liquors should be reduced
from two dollars to one dollar bar
rel of thrty-one gallons, with proper
tional reduction on fractional parts OF
a barrel. This was not in the interests
of the brewers, for they do not pay the
war tax They have lifted it from their
own shoulders to those Of the retailers,
who, in turn endeavor to get it out or
the consumer in one way or another
THE TOBACCO TAN
"Another provision of the bill tut
down the tax on tobacco to six cents per
pound. and on cigars to three dollars
per thousand while all the taxes inn
posed by Section i of the act We're re-
duccd 30 per cent. The stamp taxes pro-
vded by the act in Schedule ~ were re-
duced 30 per cent, except those on bank
checks drafts or certificates OF deposit
nor drawing interest, or orders tor the
payment of any sum of money drawn
upon or issued by any bfank, trust com
pany, etc. On all these the tax was to
be two cents. Proprietary medlclnt+7
were made exempt from the war taxes
|. imposed on them and the tax OF ten
cents per pound on tea was repealed.
"All these taxes" continued Mr.. Levy
were imposed to meet the expenses Oh
the war. Many of them are productive
of very great hardship on large classes
of people, while others are almost OPP
pressive in their eXactions. Pending nos
tilities with Spain. the people submitted
to the burden, relying upon the promise
Of the Administration and Of the Repubil-
can leaders that they would all be re-
pealed as soon as the war closed ana
the condition of the Treasury justified it.
THAT state of affairs presented Itself
more than a year ago: in other words
the receipts at the Treasury exceeded
the expenditures, so that surplus was pc
ing accumulated | called attention 10
the fact at the time, but the Secretary
of the Treasury declared that L was
wrong. Within month he proved by his
TO mn
of bonds that it was he, not /, that was
in error. And still later, in his reply to
a Senate resolution of inquiry he was
forced to put a still more emphatic ad-
mission of error on his part on record.
I'm the late campaign, the Republican
party won on the question OF expansion
sound money and u tariff policy thstt au-
eQuately protects American industry.
These are Jeffersonian principles OF gov
! ernment They were the principles OF
the old Democracy, and as long as they
were embodied in it's creed and adhered
to by it's leaders, the party never failed
to carry the country Every departure
therefrom has been marked by defeat
and disaster.
DEMOCRACY FOR HIM.
"You have no idea of becoming Re
publican like Mr.. Bynum, have you?
..None whatever The Democratic par
" VIII recover ny sliii ~, '1AA' - 49,
again control the government. l believe
that in the late battle, with sound
platform, we could have elected eX-Gov-
ernor Hill. But all that is idle specula-
zion now. What I should like to see at
the present tine is still greater m
fusion of Jefersonian principle injected
into Republican administration and poll
cy.'
In what respect?
..As regards the very question we are
talking about-the surplus. Let me read
to you an extract from Jefferson lits'
annual message in 1901. Sound princt-
pies, he said, will not justify our tax
ing the industry of our tellow-cltlzehs
TO accumulate treasure for wars to nap
nen we know not when, and which might
not perhaps happen but from the temp
tations offered by that treasure mat Is
the correct doctrine. a surplus Under otli
system of government is wrong ana VI
cious 1t is the money or the people anu
no money should be taken from them pc
yond the legitimate wants OF govern
manr economically administered. AS
said in a speech in the House OF Repre-
senta,iyes last January: When the rea-
son for a tax ceases to exist, the tax
should be abolished if the surplus derived
therefrom becomes a menace to lnduStrlai
and commercial enterprises. To lock 1t
I'D in the vaults of the Treasury with
draws it from business channels
Mr.. Levy is the owner OF Monticello, the
nome of Jefferson, which his uncle. the
late Commodore Levy. of the United
States Navy, purchased in 1880. at the sus-
gestion of President Jackson. He has
the distinction of having incurred the dis
pleasure of Richard Croker. and there are
men in influential business circles who
are beginning to talk of him as a suita-
Bile candidate for Mayor next year on
non-parttsan platform.
JOHN P. FOLEY.