The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-12
WAR REVENUE REDUCTION.
Minority Demands Cut OF 100000. 200
Instead OF $50. 600 OoO.

Washington. Dec. 1.-The debate on the
war revenue reduction bill opened In the
House to-day, was confined 10 speeches
by ar. Payne OF New York. chairman
OF tho Ways and Means Committee. on
behalf Of the majority and AIr. Swanson.
OF Virginia on behalf u the IA norlty.
The House went into Committee 81 she
Whole and took Up the consideration OF
the bin for tho reduction OF the war taxes
right after consideration Of the Booz case.
Mr.. Payne OF New York. chairman OF the
Committee on Ways and Means. who hal
charge Of the bill opened che debate
Mr. Payne said that ~ reducing the
revenue great care should be taken lest
the reduction cause a deficiency The
committee felt as though they had gone
10 the furthest limit. The sixty-fve MIL
Hon dollars remaining after the reduction
proposed By the committee took effcc,.
would not equal the extraordinary ex-
penscs sure 10 follow ne result OF the
spanish war. including interest on the
bonds issued 10 prosecute the war amount
ing to 5000 90: and the Increased army
Whlch both sides admit should amount to
one hundred thousand men Tor the next
TWO or three years. This increase IN ex-
penditure would amount 10 al least tso .
WpVop. The Increase In naval expendi-
lures for equipment. together with tn.
pensions growing out Of the late war
"ould add 70 our expenditures so. O00000
while there ie no reason from any
domestic cause TO apprehend any d1saster
70 business during the next few years -
ne SAID yet there IS a possibility OF for
elgn complications which might have
mat result OF course. depression in busi-
ness would mean loss OF revenue
Against an Income Tax.
Some members OF the minority Of the
connttee have proposed 20 abolish all
the war revenue and they oner In place
thereof an income tax This wosil q
cause an immediate deficiency In our rev
enues. II would mean a loss OF one
hundred and hvc million dollars. The en-
ectment OF a new income law would not
furnish dollar Of additional revenue.
What reason is there to suppose that a
new enactment OF this kind would meet
with any but its predecessors' fate. To
abolish the entire additional tax sipon beer
would result in an additional reduction
Of twenty three millions OF dollars. n
would produce the grossest Injustice.
Vince argument is there in favor OF re-
ducing the entire tax on beer which does
not apply with as great force 10 the re-
duction OF the entire additional tax on
tobacco amounting 20 sls.Oo00O or the
tax on bankers and brokers amounting
70 nearly $4,000 AMI che remaining
taxes amounting to fifteen millions Of
| dollars. Certainly the tax upon beer
should never be wiped out until every
other vestge Of the war taxes IS re-
moved"
Mr.. Swanson OF Virginia. member Of
the Committee on Ways and Means. fol-
lowed Mr.. Swanson said that the Demo
cratic party fully recognized the urgent
necessity for reduction. During four
years taxation had increased over $40
10000 ana II ths heavy burden was con-
tinued. business and commerce would Sc
riously suffer. He expressed regret that
the Republicans had failed to avail them-
selves OF the present excellent onportun-
ity 70 devise a more just. equitable and
permanent system OF taxation. He ar
gucd that there should he reforma-
ton of the tariff and an aboli-
ton OF the custom duties which
have created trusts and mOnopo.ies lie
also Insisted that this government should
collect more revenues from capital in
comes and profits rather than from the
consumption and the business and Occur
patton OF the people. that taxes should
be levied upon what a man has and not
upon what he needs"
Wants N STO.OOO.OO Reduction.
He said there should be a reduction made
now in the revenues OF al least SO 90 900
instead OF $1,000 COO. He said that unless
the administration proposed 20 make reck-
less expenditures IN two years from now
the governmental appropriations should
greatly decrease instead Of Increase; thai
with the organization OF a home govern
ment In Cuba, with the pacificatlon of the
Philippine Islands. and with a settlement
u the Chinese complications. an OF which
the administration assured In less than
TWO years. there ought 10 be an immense
reduction in governmental expenses. Thus
he clomed, 1.-THE revenue could. ut this
time. be safely reduced at Ieas, $40 600 =
plo without at all embarrassing the treas
ury.
Mr.. Swanson asserted that the onlv
persons who were benefited BY a large
surplus In the treasury. we're those who
were seeking extrnvagant and unjust an
preparations. the national banks that were
DESTROYS of continuing the large govern
mental deposits free OF interest and the
bondholders who desired the government
20 redeem their bonds al a high and exor-
bitant premium. Mr.. Swanson CONCLUDING
said the minority would move to recon-
NIT the bill with Instructions TO provide
for reduction % NJ least $4,000. 600.
At 3;o5 p. m. the House adjourned
MEN E-nOM urrH- mn. . ..