The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-26
Bills for the Reduction of War Taxes
and for Reapportionment Re-
garded as Important.
ARMY TO BE RE0RGANIzED
MUST BE PUT ON A NEW FOOTING
BEFORE NEXT JULY.
Republican Party Pledged to the
Passage of n Bill for the Encour-
agement of Shipping.

Special to the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-Representative
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, a member of the
ways and means committee, now consider
ing the subject of a reduction of the rev.
enues from the war tax law, and Repub-
lican leader of the House, gave his views
to the Journal correspondent to-day on
prospective tax reduction and other legis-
Iation during the coming session of Con-
gress.
1.-The matter of a reduction of the war
taxes" said Mr.. Dalzell, involves many
matters, and at present / am not prepared
to make any definite statements as to the
precise direction this action will take be-
yond saying that the first efforts OF Con-
gress will undoubtedly be towards remov-
ing those taxes which are most burden
some and most readily felt by the people.
In dealing with this matter there must first
be taken into consideration what amount
of taxation can safely be removed and in
the second place what items can be dealt
with so to arrive at the proper amount
Of deduction and at the same time operate
most readily for the relief of the taxpay-
ers. We will be assailed, of course, by ev-
cry interest which is taxed. Our expert
session disclosed the fact that each par
ticular industry believed that its tax was
most unreasonable and the one that should
be first removed. In all probability the
stamp tax on kilograms and express pack
ages will be removed during this session.
This will afford some relief to people doing
business in this direction. Exactly how
much this will reduce the amount of rev.
enue accruing has not been figured out,
but 1t is comparatively a small sum.
Congress will pass a reapportionment
bill 1t seems to me desirable that in the
passage of such a bill an increase of the
membership of the House should be avoid
ed If possible. OF course, there are diff
culties in the way of the passage of a bill
that might deprive some States of a part
OF the representation to which they are
now entitled, and which might seem un-
others, but / have no doubt that a fair
compromise will be reached on measure
not materially increasing the membership
of the House. The question as to whether
or not any attempt should be made to re-
duce the representation of certain South
ern States is one surrounded with so much
difficulty that without full consideration L
should not care to express an opinion
upon 1t.
"I do not see any way of escaping the
passage of a bill reorganizing the army.
Unless some legislation be had during this
session the existing army will disintegrate
July l. 1901 and IL seems to be abSo-
lutely necessary, therefore, that some bill
should be passed to put the army upon a
new footing. What that footing shall be
is matter for grave considera ton. I
do not believe there is any disposition in
any quarter to increase the army perma-
nently beyond what may be absolutely
necessary and J. cannot believe, In view of
the results of the recent election, that there
will be any opposition on the part of
any one to a proper army measure. 1 do
not think either that there Is disposition
on the part of any one to establish a large
standing army beyond reasonable national
needs. The purpose of the bill TO be en-
acted will be to provide a permanent es-
adjustment that shall be elastic so as
conditions as they may arise
THE Republican party is pledged to
the passage of a bill for the encourage
ment of the merchant marine. That ac-
publican policy. We have demonstrated
that our protection system, applied to
all our manufacturing interests, to whose
benefit Ii is In part directed, has in its en-
forcement resulted in the welfare of Amer
lean enterprise. There is every reason
therefore, why it should be extended to the
building up of our merchant marine, and
II seems TO me that this is an opportune
time for the redemption of the pledge in
the Republican platform on the subject
OF ship subsidy measure.
IF Congress can arrange matters as
to pass a Nicaraguan canal bill without
serious interference with our international
relations / think such bill should be en-
acted. and am in hopes that any obstacles
that exist in that direction may be re-
moved.
There are important measures enough
In prospect to make the coming session an
exceedingly busy one, especially when we
consider the fact that In addition to the
matters l have mentioned there will be
the usual number of appropriation bills to
dispose Of"