Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1900-12-06
THE VIEWS OF
JERSEY SENATOR'S.
General Sewell and Senator Kean
Speak on Issues.

6he Army Reorganization bill, the
matter of the reduction of the war
revenue, the Spooner resolution re-
garding the government of the Philip
pine Islands, the Ship Subsidy bill,
The Nicaragua Canal treaty matter
and the Reapportionment bill. Ow-
ing to the widespread Interest in
these matters, interviews have been
secured with the-Senators and Rep
reSentativeS in Congress from New
Jersey as to their position on these
measures.
On the subject of the Army Reor-
ganization bill, Senator Sewell ex-
pressed himself as in favor of main
tanning sufficient force to meet the
exigencieS of the situation. Said he: :
1.-THE army will, necessarily, have
to be reorganized. Our Democratic
friends in the Senate insisted, in the
last Congress, upon limiting the
period for the increase then made in
the army to June 30th, 1901. This
requires the discharge of every vol
unteer and the reduction of the regu-
lar army to about $1,000 men. We
have gone through period of great
expense in the conduct of the army,
by reason of this limitation as to
time, having had to discharge volun-
teerS and then re-enlist them, and
we will now be required to discharge
them upon June 30th next, most
expf nsive method of conducting war.
The country, under present circum-
stances, needs from eighty-fiye to a
hundred Thousand men, and | am
inclined to think that the reorganiza-
tion will, probably, take the line of
minimum and maximum, which
may be from fifty to one hundred
Thousand men, to be determined from
time to time, by the exigencles of
the service, and at the discretion of
the President.
Personally, l do not expect to see
the army, for years to come, less in
number than the suggestion made by
General Miles of one man to each
1000 inhabitants. The Philippines
will take one-half of the number so
provided for, and, possibly, consider
ably more for two or three years. !"
Taking up the War Revenue BILL
Senator Sewell said:
AS to the reduction of the war
revenue, that depends, of course, up
On the expenses of the army and
navy. From present appearances, it
would look as though there could be
1926, 900, 900 to $50, 1000, 600 taken off
taxation. 1t is not determined yet,
by even the committees, as to what
will be done in the matter There
are propositions to do away with
stamps on taxes, receipts, etc., but 1
| do not think that this strikes the
people who are suffering the most by
reason of this taxation. People who
can draw checks can, generally, pay
for stamp. The tax ON transfers of
stock, ETC., largely comes from specu-
! latOrs, who can afford it. The idea
does not commend itself in my judg-
ment that it is nuisance to attach
these stamsp to transfers, etc., or
that they should be done away with.
AS the Government requires money
| from some sources, this seems to be
the easiest way of getting it. Pro-
prietary medicines and drug items
have been taxed largely and should
have relief. The question of the in
creased tax for beer will also come up
prominently.
On the subject Of the shipping bill,
| Senator Sewell volunteered the Sug-
gestion that in his Judgment the
measure will come before the coming
session of Congress during the early
days of December Said he: $,
"The shipping bill, for the in
crease of the merchant marine, will
also come before Congress in the first
days of December. The Republican
party has been, for some years, COM
mitted to this measure, and it was
thoroughly discussed in the late cam
paign. Immediately after the. trans
fer of our commerce to foreign ma
tiions, during our Civil War, came
the necessity for the building of rail-
roads across our continent, and all
the energies of our great country
were devoted to this purpose, from
that time until late period, to the
almost utter abandonment of the
shipping interests. Now that these
railroads are constructed, and with
the Commerce of this mighty nation
rolling to the sea over these mighty
roads, it is but fitting that its con-
tinuous journey should be in ships
that are built on American soil. We
are paying about $500, 900, 600 year
for freight to England and Continen-
tai Europe for the tranSnOrtatlon of