The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-12
The Representatives Insist on his
Point Vigorously.
REDUCTION OF WAR REVENUE.
Tho House Went Into Committee OF
the Whole to Consi,ler the Mca-
surc-NIr. Payne Spoke in
Favor of tho Measure
and Mr. Swanson
Against 1t.
(By Associated Press.)


WASHINGTON, December 1.-THE de-
bate on the war revenue reduction Dill
cnened in the House to-day, btrt was con-
fined to speeches by Mr.. Payne of New
York. chairman of the Ways and Means
Committee on behalf of the majority, and
Mr. Swanson, of Virginia, on behalf of the
minority.
The Speaker appointed the following
committee to investigate the death OF
Cadet Booz, at West Point: Messrs.
Marsh of Illinois, ohairman Wagner CRe-
publican). of Pennsylvania: Smith tItepuo-
ican), of Iowa: briggs (DemocraD, of New
York, and Clayton CDemocraO. of New
York.
4 substitute resolution was reported
from the MILITARY Affairs Committee re-
! uuesting the Secretary of War to report
the result of the investigation he Is NO"
making of the Booz case to the House, 10
gether with such recommendations as ne
may see fit to make.
Mr. briggs, OF New York. the author oi
the original resolution. protested vigorous
" against the adoption OF the substitute
resolution, as it did not include provision
for an investigation OF the general Suo-
iect of hazing at West Point, with d view
to putting a. permanent stop TO Such
practices. He declared that the practice
of UNANIMOUSLY hazing 'plebs" at West
Point was notorious. He cited the case Of
Whitaker. who was hazed in 1850, and
whose case led to a Congressional investi-
CATION.
ABOLISH ACADEMY.
Mr.. briggs declared that he would be in
favor of abctishing the Academy If these
brutal practices could not be stopped
(Applause).
MIR Wanger, of Pennsylvania. who ap-
pointed Cadet Booz. insisted on q Congress
sianal Investigation. The gross outrases
known to have been committed at the
Academy in the past, he said. had aroused
the conviction that the officers OF the
Academy and of the army were so jealous
OF the fair name of the Academy that
they guarded it as indisoreetly as the Of
licers OF France did in the Dreyfus case.
Only a Congressional Investigation would
bring out the facts and lead to the action
which would forever prevent ha2ing in
the future.
Mr.. Nanger had read a letter frcm an
official OF the town Of Bristol where Booz
resided, which testified to the young mans
high standing. physically, mentally and
morally, which recited the charges OF bru-
tai treatment, and which called for an in
vestigation.
FEARS NO INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Clayton. of New York, a graduate
OF West Point said:
The academy fears no Investigation.
the son of waslierwoman and of Il
Tnilis naire are on the same footing when
they enter the academy.
From his personal experience Mr.. Clay
ton said he knew that the reports Of haz
ing were terribly exaggerated.
Mr. Hay, of Virginia, favored a con-
gressionaI investigation because ne be-
lieved an investigation would vindicate
the academy and the cadets
Mr. Hill chairman of the Military Com
mittee, said he had little faith in Con-
gressoraI Investigations; that of tho
War Department. he thought would be
much more searching.
Mr.. Wagner offered q resolution for a
special committee of five to investigate
the case, which was adopted without d
vision.
WAR REVENUE BILL.
The House Immediately went irto. Com
mi;tee of the. Whole and took up the con-
sidera ton OF the bill for the reduction of
the war taxes.
Mr. Payne of New YORK, chairman of
the Committee on Ways and Means, who
| had charge of the bill, opened the debate.
| Mr.. Payne said in reducing iha revenue
great care should be taken lest the re-
duction cause deficiency. The commit
tee felt as though they had gone to the
farthest limit The sixty-five million dol.
lars remaining after the reduction pro-
posed by the committee took effect
would not equal the extraordinary ex-
penses sure to follow as result of the,
Spanish war. including interest on the
bonds issued TO prosecute the war,
amounting to five million and the in
Saf hi inf7 I,ofI rlo III,
should amount to one hundred thousand
men. for the next two or three years
This increase in expenditure would
amount to at least 100000. The increase
in naval expenditures for equipment
together with the pensions growing out
of the late war, would add to our ex-
penditures ten millions more
while there is no reason from any do
ElestIc cause to apprehend any disaster
to business during the next few years
said he, yet, there is a. possibility Of
foreign complications which might have
| that result. OF course, depression IN
! business would mean loss of revenue
GROSS INJUSTICE
Some members of the minority of the.
committee have proposed to abolish all the.
var revenue and offer in place Thereof an
income tax. This would cause an :r1rne-.
! dia te deficiency in our revenues. 1t would
mean loss OF ore hundred and five mil
/ lion dollars. The enactment of the new
T income law would not furnish q dollar Of
| additional revenue What reason IS there
| TO suppose thEr q new enactment OF this
KIND would meet with any BUT It's prede-
eessor,s fate? To abolish the entire adelf-
| t,onal tax upon beer would result in an
saddftioral reduction of twentE-three u1iI-s
lion del,arS. It,zWoald produce the gross
estziniustice What argument is there's IN
favor OF reducing he entire tax on beer
which does not apply Oith as grent force
Esto the reduction OF the entire additional
tax on tobacco, amounting to eighteen
L3 NIL lions OF dollars, or the tax on bank.
ers and brokers. amounting 70 nearly four
/ millions OF dolTars, and the remaining