The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-16
COWLES' BILL.
The House Committee Decides to Re-
port Its Substitute.

The House Committee Decides to Re-
port Its Substitute.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15-By vote of 10
to the House committee on appropriations
to-day resolved to report favorably sub
stitute for the Cow les internal revenue bill.
The substitute proposes the entire repeal of
the tobacco tax, and omits the ''moonshine'
| sections of the Cowles bill.
HOW THE VOTE STOOD.
1t is learned that the vote on reporting
| the measure was 10 to 4, Those in favor of
| the measure were MeSsrs. Randall, Glenn
| ents, Felix, Campbell of New York, Gay,
| Cannon, Ryan, Butterworth, Long, Nc
| COmas and Henderson. Those opposed to
1t were Messrs. Forney, Foran, Savers and
Rice. Mr.. Forney says that he will report
substitute bill removing the duty on
manufactured tobacco and snuff, but
not on cigars and cheroots He said very
emphatically that he was in favor Of tho
Cowles bill but that the measure reported
| was much different and that it was because
of the changes which had been made that
he opposed the reporting of the bill.
CIGARS AND CHEROoTs.
Cigars and cheroots, he said, should be
taxed, and were taxed by the Cowles bill,
but we're made free of tax by the measure
reported
| Mr. Sayers of Texas said that he intended
to prepare minority report for presenta-
| tion o the House. He said 81 am opposed to
reducing the surplus by taking off the tax
on cigars, cheroots and cigarettes until we
| have first reduced the customs duties on
| the necessaries of life. | believe tha
the people ought to have reduction
of the duties On the necessaries OF life such
| as salt, lumber, cotton ties cotton bagging,
| farming implements AMI clothing. | be-
lieve that cigars and cheroots are luxuries
that the masses of the people have no in
terest in them, aud that such things ought
! to bear a heavy tax so as to relieve the
| necessaries of life from taxation so far as
may L g possible.
| A POSSIBLE CONFLICT.
AS there appears to be some difference of
opinion as TO the measure of privilege
which the revenue bill will possess, which
may later bring on a conflict ON the floor of
! the House between the ways and means and
the appropriations committees, it might
| be we'll to state the position OF the last
named committee in the matter. While
it does not contend that any
committee other than that of ways and
means is privileged to report a revenue bill
at any time, it holds that under the rules
| when bill is once reported and placed on
the calendar, it will itself be privileged and
that motion may at any time be made to
go into committee of the whole to consider
| revenue bills.
THE ONLY WAY TO GET 1T UP.
To succeed in getting at the tobacco bill
| it would he necessary for the House to lay
aside any revenue bill preceding
il on the calendar and if the ways
and means committee should anticipate
the report of the committee on appropria-
| tions by reporting another tariff bill, this
might prove a serious but not necessarily
| insurinount able obstacle to the accom- pli5h-
ment OF the wishes of the friends Of the bill
| to repeal tho tobacco tax
The formal action of the appropriation
committee upon the Cowles bill, was t1
strike out sections /, 2, 3 and 4, and substl-
tute sections and Of Mr., Randalrs tariff
| bill introduced last session, and ais to
strike out sections G, o, 10. Il, II and IL, of
| the Cowles bill.
AS IT NOW STANDS.
In the shape in which it will be reported
the bill provides that after July l next ali
laws now IN force whereby farmers and
producers Of tobacco are restricted in the
sale and disposition of the same
and all laws relating to internal
revenue taxes on manufactured tobacco,
snuff, cigars, cheroots and cigarettes, and
the special taxes required by law 70 paid
by manufacturers of, and dealers in leaf
tobacco, retail dealers in leaf tobacco, deal
erS IN manufactured LODdCC pSuuleIS Ol
tobacco, snuff and cigars and manufac-
turers Of snuff and of cigars shall be
repealed. 1t is provided. also, that draw
back equal to the tax shall be paid on un-
broken factory packages in the hands of
manufacturers and dealers when tho law
takes effect, and redemption at che pro rata
valuation of the special tax stamps.
REPEAL OF THE LAWS.
Thesecond section provides that all internal
revenue laws limiting restricting or regu-
lating the manufacture, sale or expectation
| of t1bacco, snuff, cigars, cheroots and
cigarettes, shall be repealed July ! next,
| but that no drawback shall be al
lowed upon such articles entered
for export on or after that
date. A proviso declares that all laws now
in force shall remain and have full force
and effect in respect TO all onenses com
mitted, liabilities incurred or rights accru-
ing or accrued prior to the date when the
repeal of the taxes shall take effect.
ABoLIsHTNG THE MINIMUM FINE
Another section provides for the abolition
of the minimum punishments, wherever
prescribed. for violations OF the internal
revenue laws with leave for the court TO
impose any fine or punishmsnt within the