The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-05-23
THE WAR REVENUE TAX.
A Warm Discussion in the House Re
EErdInE Its Removal


EETdInE Its Removal
In the House toby Mr.. Payne reported
from the Committee on Ways ard Means
the resolution directing the Presit-nt o.
the Senate and the Speaker OF the 10 Sc
TO adjourn the separate bodies on June 6
at 3 p n, and one 10 authorize the COM
mitee 70 SIT during the recess 70 formu ate
a plan for reducing the var revenue tax 5
Speaking TO the iztJef resolution Mr.
Payne stated Why the committee had L-J
reported bill 10 reduce tEe war revenue
taxes Hearings had been had, be said,
aud every speaker had been willing thar
the tax should be taken OF his bLs-D IS.
The consequence was, he said, that il the
committee had satisfied the demands OF
these people. IL would have reported a bill
reducing the revenue SlVUttt,tlU
year, and producing a deficit in the Treas
ury. A majority Of the committee. al least
he said would not agree 70 a bill, nor ai1
in its passage that woIId cause q deficit
in the Trecsury-
II the committee had reported any bill.
II would have necessarily been an unsat-
iSfacJcry and a fragnertary measure The
committee thought IL would be better 20 sit
during the recess, prepare an orderly
scheme OF reduction, ard have IL passed
IL December. The process OF refuldiue
the bonds IL the new Der cent. Nr
Payne said, al present did not warrant
Congress in interfering with the operation
OF the War Revenue act.
M Fitzgerald erquired II Mr. Payne
thought the men who paid the var reve-
nue. taxes should be taxed 10 refund the
Government bonds.
Il think the Government should pay its
obligations as rapidly as possible, and use
the proceeds OF the war TAX 70 that end"
said Mr.. Payne.
Then the Republican party does not In
tend to reduce the war taxes al this sss-
sion? p" Mr.. Sulzer asked.
Il can say nothing more than I have
with the hope OF penetrating the gentle
man from New York" Mr. Payne replied
The resolution was antagonized by Mr.
Richardson. who said that this session Of
Congress should not close until Congress
had reduced the war taxes IL had been
in session six months in a time OF profound
peace but nothing had been suggested 70
relieve the people He had moved in the
committee that bill be reported reducing
all these taxes so per cent, but the ma
iority would not consent
THE gentleman might also tell that the
minority advocated cutting down the tax
on beer alone as measure CT relief" said
Mr. Steele.
Does the gentleman think that wrong?"
asked Mr.. Richardson
Yes" replied Mr.. Steele.
Mr.. Richardson: We'll, I don't. I an
in favor Of reducing the tax on heer. -
(ApplaUse on the Democratic side)
Further objection was urged by Messrs.
Robinson. Underwood. Fitzgerald, Sulzer,
and Lewis, upon the grounds chiefly that
the Republicans had promised TO reduce
the taxes and had failed 10 do so, and that
the condition Of the Treasury demanded a
| reduction in the interests OF the public.
Messrs- Hopkins and GrOsvenOr criticised
and made fun Of the Democratic record on
tax reduction. and insisted that the pro-
| posed investigation and lep5Tt By the con-
/ mite on Ways and Means was the best
and safest plan Of action
Objection was made TO the consideration
| of the resolution providing for the investi-
/ tion by the committee OF the war revenue
/ in the recess. The resolution Of adjourn
ment was agreed to.