The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-30

The task of the Committee on Ways and
Means in framing bill in revision of the
War Revenue law of 1898, and which will
reduce taxation. Imposed to meet the ex-
penditures Of the Spanish American war.
about thirty million dollars, becomes, it
is said at the Capitol. more difficult. En-
barrassments multiply. The sub-commit-
tee of the Ways and Means Committee,
consisting OF Representatives Payne, Dali
zeII, and Hopkins. has. it is unofaeially
given out, practically agreed on a tena-
tive proposition to remove the stamp tax
from bank checks. bills of fading. freight
and express receipts, telegraphic mes
sages and cenveyances. and to allow the
additional tax. on malt and sPirituous
liquors and tobacco to stand.
Though this bill should be agreed to by
the Republican members of the full Ways
and Means Committee. it VIII, it is said,
zneet with serious opposition on the floor
! of the House of Representatives from dis
tricts IL which liquor and tobacco inter
ests are potent. These Republicans viii
in very large degree be aided III their
opposition by the Democratic minority.
The ideas on the subject OF revision en-
tertained by the Republican leaders on
the Ways and Means Committee do not
| appear to be the ideas OF Republican
leaders on the Finance Committee of the
Senate. It IS understood that Speaker
Henderson Mr.. Payne Mr.. DalzelI, and
Mr. Hopkins desire as little reduction in
the revenue as viii fulfill the letter Of
the Republican platform and ante-elec-
ton promises, and appease some of the
public clamor for reduction.
York have been quoted as fayoring a
! sweeping reduction of var taxes-a re-
! duction which viii carry out both the let
| ter and the spirit or the Republican prom
/ ises concerning a reduction in war taxa
/ ton.
/ The amount of reduction which the
/ Ways and Means Committee has practi-
| cally agreed upon as proper is $50 ,900, 0O0
! The President unofficiaIly recommended
that the revenue be reduced fifteen or
twenty million dollars The Committee
/ on Ways and Means increased the amount
/ to s30 900 600 in the hope Of placati1g
| those members of the Senate who say they
| viii insist on a sweeping reduction
It is also said at the Capitol that the
| interests opposed to the Nicaragua Canal
| bill viii insist upon a sweeping reduction
! in the war revenues for the purpose OF
| placing If possible pecuniary objection
| in the way of the measure which they ap-
pose. They would like to equip them
/ selves with tue argument that with a
| heavy reduction in the revenue and with
| increased expenditures for war and ar
| nament, the United States Government
| ought not at this time to embark in the
expensive object of cutting an inter
| oceanic canal
It is also said at the Capitol that the
! opponents Of the Ship Subsidy bill viii
| fight for a large revenue reduction, in or
H. .rr.asr
when the Eanna-P Payne proposition comes
| 20 the front
/ Museums libraries and other institu-
| tions all over the United States are exert
| ing what pressure they can to bring about
| the repeal OF that portion of the Federal
| Inheritance Tax law which Ievies tax
! upon bequests made to these educational
institutions
| The letter sent to Representative Payne,
| Chairman of the Executive Committee OF
| the Metropolitan Museum of Art of New
| York city, which viii be put before Con-
! gress against the continuance of a tax,
! which il is asserted, is neither needed by
| the Government nor imposed in accord
! anee with good public policy. Mr.. Dodge
is reported to have said:
| Il do not believe Congress ever intend
ed the tax TO be levied on requests to our
/ museum, or like institutions, and am
| money with millions OF surplus in its cof-
feTs. Putting tax upon institutions such
! as ours is really putting a tax upon edu-
! cation. Our association Is merely trus-
| tee for the public It Is as absurd to tax
| rs as il would be 20 put tax on school
houses.
@'Our resources are already heavily
| taxed by necessary expenses, notwith-
! standing the liberal sums appropriate
2 .o ,so{-
| the museum. for It must be understood
| that it costs q great deal to prepare and
keep our exhibits before the public. The
city gives US about $99. 600 year toward
| maintenance, AMI the association supplies
| about as much more.
In Ike manner the city supplies the
| money for our buildings, and the associa-
| ton has spent almost exactly a similar
sum for exhibits.
| TO give an idea OF how generously this
| tax bears upon us I might cite the case
| of a collection Of coins, which was left 10
| Us a little while ago The collection was
| interesting and very desirable but not
| enc which the museum could not have done
| without After 1t was received and con-
! siderable money had been expended in ar
ranging it and providing eases fer it. we
were suddenly surprised by receiving a bill
| from The Internal Revenue Department de-
handing 1880 taxes.
1 'tSone one had assessed the value of the
| collection at $4,000 The method Of as
| sessment is arbitrary although there is
almost no way IN which TO fix valuation
| upon q great portion OF cur collections, and
there was nothing for US to do but to pay
TIE law was passed as a war measure
to provide revenue for the Spanish war.
ard I presume this feature of it was not
carefully considered.
Personally. I happen to know of at
! least two collections of paintings which
| the museum is likely TO receive within a
/ very little WI Ie each of them worth 81
| coo. COG about and assuming that the es-
| tates to which they belong would reach TIE
! 10 per cent tax grade, we should have to
pay 100000 each before we could receive
those pictures.
| We should not be placed in any such
| position If these collections were 10 come
| to Us now, we should be obliged either per-
| sonaIIy to go down into our pockets and
raise the money, go out and pass around
the hat to get it, OF decline the gift
| 'iOther institutions all over the country
are in the sane position. / presume the
| gifts made &c such Institutions throughout
/ the country average $1,000. coo or IS. G90 GEO
/ IN valGe and all have TO pay his tar In
case CT requests Of money the tax IS ia
| ken out CT the Inheritance and the execu-
/ tors pay over the balance. but this cannot
! be done in regard TO objects CT art or CT
rios
"An State inheritance tax iaws provide
| for the exemption of requests for public
| purposes, and this should be true also CT
the Federal law