Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-11
THE MINORITY MEMBERS
Of THE WAYS and REANS'
COMPLETE THEIR REPORT ON THE
PROPOSED WAR REVENUE
REDUCTION BILL.
SHOULD BE CUT $4,000. 900.
SHOULD BE AN EFFORT TO PLACE.
TAXES UPON PRODUCTION AND
NOT ON CONSUMPTION

WASHINGTON, December 10.-The
views of the minority members of:
the Ways and Means committee on the
bill reducing war revenue taxes about
$40 600 900 was completed and made
public this afternoon. Il is signed by
the entire Democratic membership OF
the committee-Messrs Richardson. OF
Tennessee; Swanson. of Virginia: Nc
Ciellan, of New York; Newlands. OF
Nevada; Cooper. of Texas. and Under
wood. of Alabama.
The report says, that the minority
are Of the opinion that the proposed
reduction of revenues is too Npall and
that the bill does not go far enough
in relieving the people OF the burdens
imposed upon them for war purposes.
The remaining taxes. says the report.
are unnecessary and should be remove
ed
The minority take issue with Secre-
tary Cages estimate OF SEC 600 900
surplus in 1902, and say that If Con-
gress observes proper economy in ex-
penditures the surplus ought TO be
sos. 900 900.
I'VE are therefore clearly Of the
opinion that there can safely be a much
further reduction than is contemplate
ed in the bill presented by the oom-
mittee and that now is the time tot
give such relief. Instead OF taking or
the sum OF forty millions, as is propos-
ed we would go further and reduce
taxation not less than $40 600 900.
I'VE would make these reductions on
articles which are most nearly the
necessaries of life, and would take on
the taxes that are most annoying andl
vexatious to the people. This would
in no way cripple or impair the pub
lie service. The war being over the
war taxes should cease and the train
OF extraordinar, expenditure" follow
ing the war sbJuld also terminate.
We should not. however, oppose the
passage OF the bill for it gives some
relief, but will endeavor TO properly
amend il"
The report continues:
we favor an alteration OF the present.
tariff laws. certainly to the extent that
they have promoted monopoly II has
been proved beyond question by evidence
before the industrial commission appoints
ed by Congress. that many Of the power
ful trusts that have an absolute monop-
oily OF their business in this country and
that exercise their power despoticaily and
injuriously to the people largely owe their
growth to the customs duties imposed In
the Dingley tariff law. which prohibits
foreign competition.
BY destroying in many cases all for
eign competition this bin has made pos
sble home combination with all OF the
evils Of monopoly We witness daily tho
gross injustice Of these mouopolies. Great
ed and fostered by the government. sell
ing goods they continually do. to for
eign consumers out of the same factory
at a lower price than they sch the sama
goods to home consumers.
We urgently insist that the present
tariff laws should be modified so as 20 pre-
vent this imposition upon our own ciu-
zens ANY alteration Of our system of
taxtion which continues such injustice
cannot be complete and satisfactory We
favor an alteration in our system u tax
alton which would collect more revenue
from the accumulated wealth Of tlra
country and oorrespondlngly less from the
producing energies and enterprises.
we also believe that Justice and equal
fly require that person should be taxed
rather on what he has than what he
needs, hence we favor system by which
a reasonable portion Of the present taxes
should be collected from income profits
rather than almost the entire burden Of
taxation should be placed upon consump-
ton"
The report says that reduction 81 no.
O00 90 in taxation would permit the relief
OF the tobacco and beer producing inter-
ests which have suffered from heavy war
taxes and would enable the abolition %
many vexatious and annoying taxes that
will be continued Under the proposed leg
isiation.
We contend" concludes the minority.
"the vice Of our existing legislation 10
that almost all the burdens Of the federal
government are imposed upon consump-
ton rather than upon productions