The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-02
Senator Beveridge, Representative
Robinson, Grfmth and Watson
Among Saturdays Arrivals.
WORK ON THE ARMY MEASURE
SECRETARY OF WAR ROOTS STAFF
FEATURES TO BE REJECTED.
Views of Senators Platt and Eikins
or the Shipping BILL. III. Maniey
offered a Good Place


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON. Dec. L-Representative
Overstreet. speaking of the congressional
outlook, said to-day: IF time permits IL
would be wise to reinforce with further
legislation the gold-standard act of the
last session, so as TO establish the gold
standard beyond all possibility of cavil or
question. Is there any doubt about IL now?
Well, under certain conditions OF admin
istration there might be. as was demon
strated by the discussion during the last
campaign. II the Senate had adopted last
spring one clause OF the House bill. on
which we insisted as long as We could.
there would be no possible question about
the solidity OF the gold standard act.
refer to the clause providing for the In
terchangeability of all forms OF money.
Interchangeability does not mean redop-
ton. for redoption means payment. In
terchangeability merely establishes the alb
solute equality of all forms Of money used
by this government. ! would like TO see
at this session. or soon as possible.
provision for interchangeability.
"As to the ship subsidy bill, I am. as at
present advised, against it. At all events
/ am opposed to diverting the revenues
raised by war taxation and applying them
to the payment of subsidies. / believe
there should be a liberal reduction OF the
war taxes. In my opinion we should re-
duce that TO the amount Of S0,O0O.Oo0
year. instead Of sSO,O0O.oOO, I understand
has been suggested by the ways and means
committee We ought to wipe out all the
taxes on proprietary articles, on kilograms
and on express receipts. The tax on bank
checks should be one OF the last 10 go, be-
cause the ability of to write a
check carries with il his ability to pay the
tax.
81 am in favor of the passage OF the
canal bill at this session. / do not think
the membership OF the House should be in
creased, but that the ratio OF representa-
ton should. even if one OF two States
should lose a seat in the House. Compen-
sation for that loss should be gained by
basing the representation of the Southern
States on the actual vote cast IL those
States do not count the negro vote they
should not profit by the negro population
to swell their representation in Congress.
/ am positively of the opinion that We
should do something in the direction OF
changing the anomalous condition which
now exists in this respect"
The committee on ways and means has
decided to report a measure to reduce col
ieetions under the war revenue law about
$50, 100000 annually. This will be done by
reducing the stamp tax and included in
Schedule A of the law about s2O.O0o. .00O and
those in Schedule b about A.000.0O0 Among
the stamp taxes that will be cut of under
Schedule A are those on telegraphic dis
patches, telephone messages. notes, mort
cages, bank checks and drafts bills OF
sale. loans. certificates Of all kinds. ware
house receipts, express and freight. life
and fire insurance policies, etc Schedule +
comprises the taxes on medicinal proprie-
tary articles, perfumery, etc. There Is q
fight on between the brewing and tobacco
interests to secure the further reduction of
s6,0o0O0O 10 make up the proposed total.
The committee is divided between the two
interests. The big brewers want a reduc-
ton OF 81 a barrel. but will hardly get IL.
II is possible the committee may let the
beer and tobacco taxes remain and make
the additional reduction somewhere else.
even on whisky. as the late Internal Rev
enue Commissioner Wilson stated Official
ly, when last before the ways and means
committee. that & smaller tax on whisky
would tend TO stop Illicit distilling and
probably result in producing more revenue
Anyway. this alternative proposition is un-
der consideration.
Senator T. c. Platt, OF New York (the
"aisy boss'D. speaking OF probable legis-
lation this winter. to-day said: II think
the ship-subsidy BILL the army reorganiza-
ton bill. the revenue reduction meas
ures and the isthmian canal bill will all pass
this session" He said he was heartily In
favor of the ship-subsidy bill and viii
work for its passage"
Senator Elkins is also in favor OF the
ship-subsidy bill, but is not so confident
it will pass. He said to-day: Congress.
1 believe. will pass the ship-subsidy bill
The country needs more ships and UNDER
stand that IL has been impossible for
American shippers TO secure vessels 70
carry abroad the goods actually engaged
TO ill orders"
On the other hand Senator Allen. who
knows great deal more about what Con-