Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-05-24

The chaplain in his invocation in the
House rather startled tn House ~
reference TO the Cuban frauds. which
he said. brought the blush W shame /,
the check Of every true American. we
pray" he continued. that tn culprit
Will be brought to speedy justice. that
we may give an object lesson 10 tn,
world in dealing with rertidy ana
fraud"
Payne, chairman of the ways ant
means committee. presented from that
committee a resolution 70 empower tn.
ways ana means committee to Sit dur
ing recess to consider the reduction and
revision Of the war revenue taxes.
There is a great demand for the re-
duction Of these taxes, observed
Livingston. Ga. why cannot the com
mittee consider this subject nOW2'
II will explain" said Payne. who of-
fered 20 minutes on a side for debate
II object" said Dearmond, MD. "Tht
entire session has been fritt5rcd away
There is no necessity for cutting off de-
bate on this resolution"
Payne then offered the resolution for
a Sine die adjournment. June g. ana
proceeded to answer the inquiry of
Livingston on the resolution. He eX-
planned that the total surplus for the II
months and p days Of the prcse nj
fiscal year was $50, 45S. 3l3. The surplus
had averaged 5000 600 a month. until
April when it fell to $4000.OO0 and for
the first 20 days Of the present month
to less than S1,000.000
He then explained the policy entered
upon by the treasury Of refunding 4
ana 5 per cent. bonds in ner cent.
Already about $2S, GEO 600 of bonds had
been exchanged. He pointed out the
saving in interest that would result to
the taxpayers. This refunding process.
he said. did not show in the treasury
balances but as a draft against the
balance. Some s25,300.000 of these
bonds remained to be refunded or a
draft of S53. 600 900 against the surplus
since March II. That would cut down
the balance to almost nothing and in
view Of the falling off Of the surplus. in
April and May. he said. it would be
unsafe to reduce the war taxes now.
do you think ii fair?" asked Fitz-
gerald. Mass. that the people should
pay the bonds out Of the war reve-
nues?"
THE present debt" replied Payne.
lis largely due to the war and should
be paid out of any revenue available"
Richardson Tenn. the minority lead
cr. declared emphatically that Congress
ought not 70 adjourn until some provis-
ion had been made for the reduction
Of the war taxes.
Robinson Ind. called attention to
the statement of the Republican lead
ers that the act would be repealed as
soon as the emergency passed.
Underwood, Ala, insisted that the
tax upon the brains and energy Of the
country should not be continued while
wealth escapes.
Fitzgerald. Mass, said it was the
duty Of Congress to remain here and
consider this subject.
Sulzer. n. V. declared that the Re
pubicans never intended to repeal the
war revenue act. 1t was all a subter
fuge. The other side was playing pol
itics. There will be no repeal of this
law" said he. until VIM. Jennings
Bryan sends his first message from the
White House.
Grosvenor. Ohio. called attention to
the straits to which the government
has sometimes been put by the failure
Of confidence in administrations and
the situation that arose in 1894 when
4 Democratic secretary Of the treasury
asked Congress for power to borrow
5000 900 900 to meet current expenses.
Contingencies must be guarded against.
If there was any assurance that the
present regime would continue Con
gress could proceed with more conf
lence.
we give no assurance" observed
Richardson. Democratic laughter).
The adjournment resolution was
adopted without division.
Ray. y. Y. chairman Of the judiciary
committee. then secured unanimous
consent for consideration Of the Nicely
extra ditiOn bill.
DeArmond. Mo-. opened for the Dem
ocrats and delivered bittle and scath-
ing denunciatiOn of the POPULATION
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