The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-12-13
Minority Report on Measure to Re
duce War Tax.

III urges TcuucUlOu OF tne revenues
of about $70,oo0,oo0, or about $30,0o0,-
900 more than that proposed by the
majority of the committee. 1t also
proposes an income tax, with view
of again bringing the subject in modi-
fed form before the United States
supreme court for final adjudication.
The report is signed by the entire
democratic membership of the com
mittee--Messrs. Richardson (Tenn.),
Swanson (Va.), Mcclellan IN. ",
Newlands New, Cooper CTex.), and
Underwood (Ala.).
The report says that the minority
are of opinion that the proposed re-
duction of revenues is too small, and
that the bill does not go far enough
in relieving the people Of the burdens
imposed upon them for war purposes.
The remaining taxes, says the re-
port, are unnecessary and should be
removed. As stated, 1t favors re-
duction of $7O,OOo,ooo, and continues:
eve would make these reductions on
those articles which are most nearly the
necessaries of life, and would take off the
taxes that are most annoying and vexatious
{ TO the people. InlS WOQlu III no way Grip
pie or impair the public service. We be-
lieve that by return TO proper economy In
appropriations a reduction greater than We
advocate coulo be made, and we should at
once inforce this economy. The war being
over, the war taxes should cease, and the
train of extraordinary expenditures" fol-
lowing the war should also terminate.
1--WE shall not, however, oppose the passage
of the bill, for it gives some relief, but will
endeavor to properly amend 1t. If we
were by our efforts to defeat its passage, we
would leave the heavy burden of unjust
taxation on the country The serious OBJ
lection to the taxes levied by this bill, and
as they will be left under the law, is that
the burdens of taxation throughout the
country are unjustly distributed. This be-
ing true, of necessity the revenues collected
are negotiable"
The report says that reduction of $780,
100000 In taxation would permit the relief
of the beer and tobacco producing interests,
which have suffered from the heavy war
taxes, and would enable the abolition of
| many vexatious and annoying taxes that
will be continued under the proposed leg
islation.
eve contend" concludes the minority,
THE vice of our existing legislation Is that
almost all the burdens of the federal gov
eminent are imposed upon consumption
rather than upon production. For federal
purposes the people are taxed for what they
want and not for what they have, and
false system of taxation has thus been
inaugurated which had practically made a
per capita distribution of the burdens in
stead of distribution in some degree pro-
portionate to the wealth which is pro-
tectedt"
VIII support Majority Report.
The republican house caucus on the
war revenue reduction bill decided
Monday night by large majority to
stand by the bill as now drawn and
reported by the ways and means COM
mittee. There were about hundred
members present, and the vote to sup
port the bill as now framed stood
6S ayes to 30 noes. The resolution
finally adopted was offered by Rep
resentative Hepburn, of Iowa, and
was as follows:
Resolved, That the recommends tons
made by the committee on ways and means
in house bill No. 1884 are judicious and
merit the approval of this conference and
we recommend that all republican members
OF the house be urged to vote against all
amendments and for the passage OF the
bill"
House.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE first of
the great supply bills, the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation
bill, was passed by the house Monday in
record time. The bill carries 24,496,-
3os and has 131 pages, but there was
less than ten MINUTES debate upon it.
Mr. Bingham (Pa.), who was in charge
of the measure, rendered his thanks to
the house for the confidence shown
in the appropriations committee. 1t
required about three hours for the
clerk to read the bill. No other bust
ness was transacted.
Mr.. Towne Sworn In.
Washington, Dec. 11.-When the
senate convened Monday Senators
Chandler IN. H., Bate (Tenn.), and
Turley (Tenn.), who heretofore dur
ing the present session I'D not been |
in attendance, were in their seats.
Mr.. Charles A. fowne, appointed
to succeed the late Senator C. K. |
Davis, of Minnesota, also was in at
tendance.
Senator Nelson (Nfinn.), at once
presented the credentials of Mr.. |
Towne and they were read.
Senator Chandler IN. HI, chair
man of the committee on privileges |
and elections, directed attention to |
the last clause of the credentials, |
which was that Mr.. Towne should |
hold his seat until ''his successor was
elected and qualified" He said the
constitution provided simply that the
appointee should hold Office until the
legislature had met.
I'm the credentials presented" said |
Senator Chandler, "the governor has |
undertaken to prescribe the length
of the new senator's term. The add. |
ed clause of the credentials, of course, |
is superfuous. desire simply to
call attention to this fact and have
ing in of Mr., Towne"
The new senator was conducted to
the desk by Senator Nelson and the
oath of office was administered by
Senator Frye, the president pro tenn
Senator Towne was congratulated
warmly by many of his colleagues
as he took his seat on the democratic
side of the chamber
No business of importance was trans
acted in open session, the senate going
INTO secret session on the Hay-Paunce-
tote treaty as soon as routine business
had been concluded,
May Come Up Again.
Washington, Dec. IL. = The point
made by Senator Chandler in the sem
ate Monday regarding the credentials
Of Senator Towne, Of Minnesota, may be