Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-08-23
PROSPECT BRIGHT
FOR BATTLE ROYAL
Fireworks Turned On When De-
bate on Emergency Revenue
Bill Is Opened.
G. O. P. CHARGES REFUTED
Simmons Presents Figures to
Prove There Is No Demo-
cratic Extravaganza.
G. O. P. CHARGES REFUTED

WASH1NGTON. August 22--with
Senator Simmons. chairman of the
Finance Committee. submitting figures
designed 20 disprove Republican
charges of Democratic extravagance,
and Senator Snoot. Republican.
finance expert. asserting that the DEM
ocratic party should be convicted of
attempting to procure votes under false
preteHces. general debate on the sl05.-
ooo.ooO emergency revenue bill began
to-day I'm the Senate There were in
dicattons on every hand Of n partisan
bat,le-royal to be waged for several
days.
Senator Simmons insisted that ma
tional fense preparedness and the
Mexican situation were altogether re-
sponsible for tho necessity of special
revenue legislation and proposed
bond issue.
SENATOR SMOOT OPENS
REPUBLICAN ASSAULT
Senator Smoot, opening the Repub-
lican assault on the rcvenue bill, said
IL the Democratic party were to be re-
tained In control of the government
the country would suffer an era of
unequaled extravaganza combined with
inefficiency unsurpassed" His attack
was supported by Senator Curtiss. who
asserted that revenues should he
raised by protective tariff.
TO prove his contention that normal
appropriations Of this session are not
excessive. Senator Simmons submitted
Treasury Department estimates for the
year 1917. showing that. excluding
postal appropriations. bond issues al
ready authorized and amounts that
Will not be expended, revenues must
be provided for disbursements of ST.
126.2i3,ooo. OF this amount the total
appropriated for national defense would
aggregate about s654 ,o00, 900. and the
Senate submitted other figures to prove
that this extraordinary amount due TO
preparedness and the Mexican emer-
Eency. exceeded normal defense np-
preparations by about s372.os0, 900.
WOULD LEAVE S.53.0G3, 900
FOR NORMAL DISBURSEMENTS
This amount" said Senator Sim
mons, deducted from the total esti-
mated disbursement for the fiscal year
1917 would leave s753,es3,ooO as the
amount required to meet the total
normal disbursements of the govern
ment for that year Now the total
estimated receipts for the year 1917.
under existing laws. is s76o 900. .O0o. or
Ss'o3'ooo moro than the estimated
normal disbursements. making il clear
mat, but for the extra ordinary increase
in the appropriation for the naval and
military establishments. which have
been thought eXpedient and necessary.
the normal receipts would be sufficient
TO pay the expenses OF the govern
ment for the year and leave a surplus
of over $4,000 900 In the Treasury. lust
Tho ny In ho
we entered upon this preparedness pro-
gram and before the Mexican situation
developed actually yielded a sufficient
revenue to pay the expenses of the
government and left n surplus in the
Treasury of S55.2T0.0oo"
SuhtractinG from the estimated dis
hursements the estimated receipts for
1917. the Senator showed that the bal
ance to be provided for is S364.243.
To meet this amount he submitted
that the pending bill would raise S20s.
100000; the bond issue. $3.50 00O. 900
leaving balance of So9.c43,0O0 to be
taken care of by the general funC of
the Treasury. which, he said. amounted
10 S134.3S7,s95 on August I6 last.
Ma PANAMA BONDS SOLD
BY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Referring to the proposed 100000
600 bond issue for Mexican expedi-
tiEes, Senator Simmons said Panama
bonds could be used to reimburse the
Treasury, and added that up to this
time the Democratic party has issued
no Panama Canal bonds. whereas the
Republicans during the Soosevel, and
Taft administrations sold $4,000 900
worth.
senator Smoot asserted that the
democratic party had not Kept the
r."cges of retrench-nent and economy,
ana charged 1t with 'wastcful and
useless expenditures too long for
enumeration"
Just before adiournment Senator
F'nrose Offered res ,lution to present
the revenue bill to the Finance Com.
mlttee with inst"n 'tions that It he
amended to raise an equitable portion
Of revenue required from Il protective
tariff. No action was taken OH the
l., oposal