Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-11
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
THE REPEAL OF TOBACCO
TAXES GROWING IN FAVOR.
A Total of 112 Votes Counted on as Ger
tain by the Friends of the Proposition
Brief Sessions of the Two HOuses-The
Unwilling of the Statue.

A Total of liz Votes Counted on as Ger
tain by the Friends of the Proposition
Brief Sessions of the Two HOuses-The
Unveiling of the Statue.
w WASHINGTON, May 10.-The Demo-
Gratis of the Ways and Means
Committee met at Mr.. Hewitt's rooms to-
night and talked over the situation. and
Mr.. Hewitt's bill in a general way. No
conclusion was reached as to the course
to be pursued. Mr.. Hewitt has not fully
formulated his bill. 1t will make horizon
tai reductions similar to those of the Nor
rison bill, ana viii contain Mr.. MOrri-
sons original free list, with the addition
of some articles which have no friends.
The general opinion of revenue reformers
is that neither this nor any tariff bill can
pass. The internal revenue bill can only
pass, they say, with the help of almost
all the Republicans.
The movement in Congress in support
of the proposition to repeal the tobacco
taxes is developing rapidly. 1t is not
confident to either party, but gaining
strength from both parties in the House,
and from the tariff reformers as we'll as
the protectiOnists. The movement thus
far has been quiet, but it has become for
midable, and there can now scarcely be a
doubt that it will result in an open strug-
gle over the question in the House. 1t is
well understood that if the Way and
Means Committee should not report a
tobacco tax repeal bill the friends of
the proposition will make the
fruit brandy bill, now on the calendar, the
basis for the proposed internal revenue
bill. Ii is pretty generally conceded that
this will be an allowable proceeding.
Under the rules of the House a majority
Of that body can reach the fruit brandy
bill at any time. hence the chief thing
which the tobacco tax repealers have in
hand is to muster the necessary majority.
The members who have been canvassing
the House say that their movement will
have the following votes beyoud any rea-
sOnable doubt: Alabama 8, GeOr-
gia 10, North Carolina 8. South Carolina 7,
Louisiana 6, Florida ,, Tennessee 10, Nir-
ginia 10, West Virginia 4, Maryland s.
Pennsylvania 2S, New Jersey Z, Ohio 10.
This would be tOtal OF 107. 1t is eX-
pected that Connections will con-
tribute 4 votes and Delaware l, thus max
ing 112. Mr.. KassOn, of Iowa, is inter-
ested in the movement and is working up
support among the Republicans, very
considerable number of whom, even out
side of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia,
are at present favorable to the proposed
repeal. The repeal of the tax on manu-
featured tobacco, cigars and cigarettes
would wipe out about $25, 900, 600 the an
nual revenue and in addition to this
there would be for the first year after the
repeal an expenditure Of between five
and ten millions for rebate payments, thus
making a total reduction of over thirty
millions in the revenues for the first yeaf.
If the tobacco bill should be passed by
the House, it would be made the basis of
a orpaf tafiff diG0nsofOO n tho Sanatn
in the latter body under the precedents
and the rules, the bill would be subject to
amendments relating to customs duties.
The developments during the next week,
with reference to the tobacco tax repeal,
will be interesting and important.