The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-16
Mr. Richardson's Motion I'm Behalf
OF the Minority, 10 Recommft,
Defeated, 131 TO 155.
PENSION BILL ALSO PASSED
BUT THIRTEEN MINUTES REQUIRED
TO VOTE sI45,I45,230.
Robert w. Wilcox, Delegate from
Hawaii, Sworn I'm and We'll
coined by Many Members.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 15.-The House to-
DAY passed the war revenue reducing bill
The opposition sought to recommit the
bill, with instructions TO report back q
measure reducing the revenue at least So
000,0O0 and including a provision for an in
come tax so drawn as to escape the ad-
verse decision OF the Supreme Court The
motion failed, lSl to 155. Thereupon the bill
was passed without the concurrence of the
minority. who refrained from voting. The
amendment placed in the bill yesterday to
tax express receipts was defeated on
yea and nay vote in the House. l25 to 1s9.
The pension appropriation bill, carrying
$l45. 145, go. was passed in exactly thirteen
minutes
Robert w. Wilcox, the delegate from
Hawaii was sworn in Immediately after
the approval of the journal Mr. Wilcox
was escorted to the bar OF the House by
Mr.. Perea, the delegate from New Mexico.
After the oath had been administered.
many members came forward to congratu-
late Mr.. Wilcox. Consideration of the war
revenue reduction bill was then resumed.
Mr.. Underwood. OF Alabama, moved to re-
duce the amount CT property exempt un-
der the inheritance tax from $1,000 to 5000.
MI w llCO4 Is not unknown ncTet naNluK
been present while the Hawaiian legisla-
tive bill was being perfected. The dele
gate says Hawaii experienced considerable
excitement at the initial election. but now
quiet is restored and the islands are pros
porous. The people feel. he says. that they
have more advantages. than ever before.
and the election afforded them an oppaTtu-
nifty of learning the powef~fny ~,
changes in the Hawaiian law. including an
amendment whereby the Hawaiian Ian
guage may be used in the courts as well as
the English language.
Mr.. Payne. of New York. in charge OF the
bill, said that personally he thought the
inheritance tax should not have gone In
the original act, as the States generally,
especially the Eastern States, levied heavy
inheritance taxes. But If it was to remain
he would object to reducing the exemption
to 5000. The amendment was lost. IS 70 Sc.
Mr.. Powers, OF Vermont, offered an
amendment providing that the Inheritance
tax would not be levied on the estates Of
persons who died prior to June L. 1s9& It
was adopted. so to As.
WOULD TAX CORPORATIONS.
Mr.. Newlands, OF Nevada offered a modi-
fication of the amendment he presented
yesterday TO tax industrial corporations
whose gross receipts exceed $4,000 one
twentieth of per cent. upon such receipts
His purpose. he said. was to re uon1i
great aggregations of wealth.
1.-The real purpose OF this amend
to apply an inquisition TO corporatl
1t not?" demanded Mr.. Pearce. OF AIis
Its purpose" replied Mr.. Newlands
both to raise revenue and TO securs>
formation on which to base REGULATE
legislation"
Has the gentleman changed his mind
since he signed the report saying the pend
| ing bill would raise too much revenue ?'s
asked Mr.. Payne.
MY objection to the pending biIl,- re-
sponded Mr.. Newlands, 'is twofold- 49,
raises too much revenue and it does not
raise it from the proper sources"
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio. opposed the
amendment He expressed the hope that
the House would not attempt TO make in
roads on industrial corporations without
investigation by the proper committee of
the House. Why attack industrial corpora
tions?
IF you will frame amendment that
will reach every corporation or every In
come will vote for it," observed Mr. New
lands amid applause.
Mr.. GrosvenOr said he might favor an
income tax If IL were constitutional. but
he said it was futile to discuss an in
come tax after the decision Of the Supreme
Court
Mr.. Sulzer, OF New York. supported the
Newlands amendment. He was IA favor OF
compelling the big corporations 10 bear
their share OF tax burdens. He favored
a graduated corporation tax.
The amendment was lost--75 to los.
Mr.. Fitzgerald. OF Massachusetts,. moved
TO strike out the tax of 10 cents per pound
on tea.
Mr.. Payne opposed the amendment The
tax on tea, he said. raised about 100000
Of revenue and for ten years had been
asked for by the tea trade The amend-
ment was defeated-55 10 &c.
After the bill had been read Mr. Levy. OF
New York. offered a substitute fixing the
tax on beer at sl50 per barrel, cents upon
tobacco and SNUFF and repeating all the
other sections OF the war revenue act. The
substitute was defeated without division.
NO TAX ON EMPRESS RECEIPTS.
After the bill had been reported TO the.
House Mr.. Payne demanded a separate vote
en- the Smith amendment placing a tax OF
cne cent on each express package.
MIR. Underwood demanded a separate vote
on the Powers inheritance tax amendment.
which specifically exempted the estates
Of persons who died prior to June l2 1855.
On yea and nay vote the House re-
versed its action OF yesterday and defeated
the Smith express receipt tax amendment
l25 TO lss. The Powers amendment was
adopted--si TO So.
Mr.. Richardson. OF Tennessee. on behalf
OF the minority. moved to recommit the