Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-26
PROBABLE LEGISLATION
DALZELL ON
BILLS LIKELY TO BE PASSED.
War Taxes to he Reduced, Army to Be
ReOrganized and n ReappOr-
tiOnment Bill.

Representative DaIzell of Pennsylvania. a
member Of the House committee of the
committee on ways and means now consld-
eripg the subject of reduction of the reve-
nues from the war tax law. and a republi-
can leader of the House, gave his views to a
Star reporter today on prospective tax re-
duction and other legislation during the
coming session of Congress.
THE matter of a reduction of the war
taxes" said Mr. DalZell, Involves many
matters, and at present l am not prepared
to make any definite statement as to the
precise direction this action will take, be-
yond saying that the first efforts of Con-
gress will undoubtedly be toward removing
those taxes which are most burdensome and
most readily felt by the people. In dealing
with this matter there must first be taken
into consideration what amount OF taxation
safely be removed. and in the second
place, what items can be dealt with SO as
to arrive at the proper amount of deduc-
ton and at the same time operate most
readily for the relief of the taxpayers. We
will be assaied of course, by every inter-
est which Is taxed. Our experience during
the hearings at the last tariff session dis
closed the fact that each particular indus
try believed that Its tax was most unrea-
sonabe, and the one that should be first
removed. In all probability the stamp tax
on kilograms and express packages will be
removed during this session. This will al
ford some relief to people doing business
in this direction. Exactly how much this
will reduce the amount Of revenue accruing
has not been figured out but 1t is compare
lively a small sum.
A ReapportiOnment Bill.
Congress will pass a reapporttonment
bill. 1t seems to me desirable that in the
passage of such bill an increase OF the
membership Of the House should be avoided
~ R1,,lf Iac
in the way OF the passage of bill that
might deprive some states of part OF the
representation to which they are now en-
titled and which might seem unduly to In
crease the representation of others, but l
have no doubt that a fair compromise Will
be rec ched on a measure not materially In
creasing the membership of the House. The
question as to whether or not any attempt
should be made to reduce the representation
OF certain southern states Is one surrounded
with so much difficulty that without full
consideration 1 should not care to express
an opinion upon It,
Reorganizing the Army.
81 do not see any way Of escaping the
passage of bill reorganizing the army.
Unless some legislation be had during this
session, the existing army will disintegrate
on July 1. 1901, and it seems to be abso-
lutely necessary. therefore, that some bill
should be passed to put the army upon
new footing What that footing shall be
is a matter for grave consideration: l do
not believe there is any disposition In any
quarter to increase the army permanently
beyond what may be absolutely necessary,
and l cannot believe, in view Of the re-
suits Of the recent election, that there will
be any opposition on the part of any one to
a proper army measure. l do not think,
either, that there is a disposition on the part
of any one to establish large standing
army beyond reasonable national needs.
The purposes Of the bill to be enacted will
be to provide a permanent establishment
that shall be elastic, SO as readily to adapt
the size OF the army to conditions as they
may arise.
To Encourage the Merchant Marine.
1.-The republican party Is pledged to the
passage Of bill for the encouragement Of
the merchant marine. That action would
be strictly in line with republican policy.
We have demonstrated that our protection
system as applied to all our manufacturing
interests, to whose benefit 1t Is in part d.
rected, has in it's enforcement resulted in
the welfare of American enterprise. There
is every reason, therefore, why 1t should
be extended to the building UP Of our mer-
chant marine, and 1t seems to me that this
is an opportune time for the redemption of
the pledge In the republican platform on
the subject Of ship subsidy measure.
'If Congress can so arrange matters as to
pass a Nicaraguan canal bill without seri-
Gus interference with our international re-
lations, / think such bill should be en-
acted, and am In hopes that any obstacles
that exist in that direction may be re-
moved.
There are important measures enough in
prospect to make the coming session an
exceedingly busy one, especially when we
consider the fact that in addition to the
usual number Of appropriation bills to dis
pose Of"