The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-23
RELIEFNEEDED
CUsSES LEGISLATION.
He Says Several Annoying Features of
the War Revenue Act should
BE Eliminated.
SOME ITEMS CAUSE TROUBLE
ESPECIALLY THE CLAUSE REQUIR-
ING STAMPS ON TELEGRAMs.
Hopes Congress VIII Reduce the
Taxes About $25.OOO,OOO at the
Coming Short Session.
HE FAvoRs REINFORCEMENT
BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE TT CAN BE
BASED ON VOTES CAST.
Indiana and All Other States Inter
ested in the Ship Subsidy Bill
Army Reorganization.
Hopes Congress VIII Reduce the
Taxes About s25. zoo, 900 at the
Coming Short Session.
HE FAvoRs REINFORCEMENT
BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE TT CAN BE
BASED ON VOTES CAST.
Indiana and All Other States Inter-
ested in the Ship Subsidy Bill
Army Reorganization.
special to the 1naIanapolis journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Nov 22-Representative
Steele, of the Marion district, prominent
member of ways and means the leading
committee of the House, was interviewed
at length by the Journal correspondent to-
night on the subject of prospective legis-
lation during the coming session OF Con-
gress. II speaking of the probable action
of the House regarding the reduction OF
taxes imposed by the war revenue act Mr.
Steele said:
I'm my Judgment Congress ought to au-
thorize a reduction of taxes under the war
revenue act somewhere in the neighbor-
hood of So, o0o. I hope the House Will
get rid of as many items In the bill as II
can safely drop at this time. Many OF the
items have caused great deal OF annoV
ance to the people and ought to be re-
pealed. The tax on kilograms, for instance.
ought to be done away with. This Is but
small matter, comparatively, when con-
sidered from revenue producing stand
point. In the first place 1t was never IN
tended that the people should be charged
tax for sending messages through the
telegraph companies. The companies ought
to have borne the brunt of the expense
and should have been obliged to affix
Then there is the subject of proprietary
medicines, which will no doubt be con-
sidered with view to a reduction Of taxa
ton. 1 think an agreement will be reached
whereby this tax will be repealed. 1t will
be relief to a great many people. The
taxes imposed upon express packages will
also probably be RENTED, well as SINH
lar items which are annoying to the people
and cut a comparatively small figure in
producing revenue.
81 also think that Congress will pass
bill providing for a reapportionment in ac-
cordance with the latest census figures,
basing the increase OF representation or
the increase in population throughout the
States Some of the States may suffer by
this operation, but others will gain An
equitable plan will be agreed upon, how
ever, so there will be reasonable ground
for complaint. Among the Southern States
for instance, there may be a decrease in
the number of representatives 1t has
been proposed to regulate the number of
representatives according to the number
Of votes cast in elections, but this PROPOSE
ton will hardly carry. If this were done
it can easily be that many of the
Southern States would suffer. Down In the
South they have most magnificent way
Of enumerating the population. but a very
poor one of counting votes. The truth, of
course, is that they do not allow the black
citizens to vote. Take the State of Missis-
sippi, for instance. There are more votes
cast in the Eleventh congressional district
OF Indiana than are cast throughout that
State. Yet Mississippi has seven repre-
sentatives on the floor of the House with
seven votes while the Eleventh district has
only one vote. That is an illustration of
just what effect this proposition would
have upon Southern representation. 1 do
not think any proposition looking to the
enforcement of the fourteenth amendment
as to representation as a separate matter
will be considered at this session owing to
it's shortness.
THE SHIP SUBSIDY BILL.
'I do not think there is much doubt con-
corning the passage of the ship subsidy
bill during this session. The intention is to
get this measure before the House early
as possible. 1t is bill that ought certainly
to pass. 1t will encourage the American
shipbuilding industry and increase the
number of American shipowners. The pro-
posed subsidy to be expended by the gov
eminent, according to the provisions of the
BILL will apply to mail steamers as well
vessels engaged solely in carrying export
trade. We have already increased our
coastwise trade under existing laws, but
we have not materially increased our for
eign shipping industry. and this bill is be-
ing pushed for the reason that 1t will af-
ford encouragement to our transoceanic
commerce in American ships, and at the
same time guarantee vessels to the gov
eminent to be used in case of war, both
as fighting ships and In the transport serv-
fee. 1 want to say in this connection that
there is widespread demand for the pas
sage of this bill. There is just as much in
terest being manifested in the proposition
In the State of Indiana as there is in New
York any other State on the coast. The
proposed bill, l understand, contemplates
the expenditure OF some 50, 600. 900 year in
subsidies, but this is a small amount when
compared with the advantages to be OBJ
tanned IL is estimated. furthermore, that
during the first year OF the bills operation
only about 100000 will be expended
"It is doubtful whether any bill for the
reorganization of the army can be passed
at this session. 1t is not absolutely neces-
sary that one should be passed. Congress
could. by joint resolution, continue for a
year TIC law cfAoCtcu ny the ElLty-HIlI
Congress temporarily fixing the army at
5000 regulars and 5000 volunteers. and
which. by its own terms. expires June 80
next. This would meet present exigencies
and give Congress the advantage OF the
long session, next year. in which 10 formu-
late and enact measure meeting the mill
tary requirements OF the country. OF
course. in extending the existing law it
would be done in such way as not TO In
terfere with the right of any volunteer to
be discharged under the terms OF his en-