New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-09
REVENUE LEGISLATION.
RFPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN ANXIOUS
TO REDUCE WAR TAXES AS SOON
AS IT is SAFE TO DO so.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

washington. June S.-There is an evident de-
sire among Senators and Representatives to
take up and consider the subject of revenue
LEGISLATION and TO repeal or reduce the war
taxes of 1895 as soon it safely be done.
Nothing except a fear that such action would
be premature prevented an effort in that direc-
ton at the recent session, despite the embar-
easements which always attend any piecemeal
ATTEMPT to deal with that important subject.
especially in Presidential year, when the lead
ers of every political party are eager to win
vot9s The revenues were and in
ceedingly satisfactory condition, yielding a few
millions more each month than is required to
meet current obligations and provide means to
carry on the refunding operations, which are
successful to such unexpected degree that
before the end of the current fiscal year the
amount of bonds bearing higher rates of in
terest exchanged for the new per cents will
probably exceed S3oOooooo0
T7ut prudent statesmen must always take into
account the possibility that revenues may
diminish or that something may happen to
swell expenditures beyond the estimates of even
the most careful and far-sighted fnanciers, and
the members Of the Finance Committee of the
Senate and the Ways and Means Committee of
the House wisely decided to wait few months
longer They could well afford TO do for other
than party reasons, in view of the experiences
OF the National Treasury in the last Administra-
ton which the country cannot yet have for
gotten. While the cutting of the endless chain
has removed Of the chief dangers of a re-
curreuce Of similar conditions, and more en-
lightened legislation by Congress and more con-
servative and safe administration of the Ma
tioral finances have insured for the time being
the continuance Of business prosperity so far as
Il can be assured by Congress and the Executive.
something might happen the Tuesday after
the first Monday in next November which would
put different aspect on the future. To such a
possibility, more than anything else the waiting
policy Of the financial committees Of Congress
is TO be attributed and by it justified
Committeeman TO STUDY QUESTION.
It is not expected therefore, that either of
those committees Will begin the serious and
formal consideration of legislation until
after the Presidential, election. but in the mean
time the members will pay more or less atten-
ton to individual Investigations Of details. Be
fore the beginning of the December session of
Congress, however, both the Finance Committee
formal and frequent sessions TO consider the
subject. Whether joint sessions Of the two
committees will be held has not yet been de-
termined.
1t is expected that during his sojourn in Eu-
rope, for which he will sail next Wednesday,
Chairman Aldrich, of the Committee on Finance,
will devote some attention to the tariff laws of
France and several other Continental countries,
which provide for maximum and minimum rates
OF duty imports from foreign countries the
latter rates being enjoyed only by countries
which have paid for the privilege of making
equivalent concessions in their tariffs. This
policy seems TO have operated equitably and
benefc4ally in those countries which have
adopted it. and for several years Senator Aldrich
and other Protection leaders in Congress have
had under favorable consideration the PROPOSE
ton TO adopt it for the United States The
chairman OF the Finance Committee and other
influential Senators and Representatives who
have been studying the question are active
and earnest advocates Of the new policy. One
4I.ar ar1+a -aG ole iv1,ea1 for
fords the only just and equitable basis for COM
, mercial reciprocity, and one of the chief and
most effective arguments employed against the
ratification of the Kasson reciprocity treaties at
the recent session was based this conSidera-
ton There strong indications, therefore.
that this new feature of the revenue system will
be seriously discussed and considered whenever
the proposed revision Of the revenue laws is
undertaken.