The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-03
The Senate Committee on Finance VIII
Hear Interests That Are Radically
Affected by the Wilson Measure.
WHISKY AND INCOME TAXES
Two Questions No Yet Settled by
Wilson's Committee.
Reasons Advanced for substituting AID
ValOrem for Specific Duties-The
Administrative Bill.
special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. At will be re-
called that Senator Voorhees,, in an inter-
view published in Indiana a few days be-
fore the new tariff bill was given to the
public, stated that but little time would be
consumed by the Senate committee on
finance in considering the new tariff meas
ure, and if it was passed by the House be-
fore the Christmas holidays it would come
up in the Senate before February. He left
the impression in his interview that the bill
might be law by February. 1t was from the
cue thrown out in this interview that the
declaration was made by Democrats here
Of an intention to rush the measure through
the House and to then hasten action in the
Senate committee.
Senator VOORHEES, has startled Washington
by calmly announcing in a personal inter
view to-day that there will be given the
fullest opportunity for hearings before the
finance committee" Those who have talked
10 Senator Voorhees, privately report that
ne expects to give a number of hearings to
industries while the bill is before the finance
committee, and he does not expect the meas
ure to be reported from his to the
Senate under six or eight weeks after 1t is
passed by the House. 1t is now figured that
the bill will not be reported from the finance
committee before March.
The statements made by Senator Voorhees,
since his arrival from Indiana indicate that
he has changed his views about the tariff
bill; that he does not regard the Wilson
measure by any means perfect, and that
he believes there should be radical changes
made in Ii and a hearing given those in
dustries and interests which disapprove of
its provisions. There are a number OF Dem
ocratic Senators, besides Chairman Voor-
hees, who find much fault with the Wilson
bill, and VINO predict that 1t will be rad
ically modified by the finance committee
and many changes made when it comes be-
fore the Senate for final action.
AS intimated In a Journal special, Senator
Voorhees, will ask for a number of changes
in the Wilson bill, tending to curtail the
weight Of the blows delivered against In
diana industries. Like Representative By
mum, he is a free-trader in theory and
general action. but when 1t comes to spe-
ciic free trade for Indiana products, and
answering specifically for free trade to con-
stituents on the farm, in the factory and
the mill in his own State, he is equivoca-
tory. Senator Voorhees, has refused for
publication to specify the items in the bill
to which he takes exception, but it is re-
ported that, at least ostensibly, he is not
in favor of free coal, and that he will
suffer slight increases in the proposed du-
ties levied upon imported articles which
would come in direct competition with
those produced in his own State.
CHANGES WILL BE MADE.
The intimations given by Chairman Voor-
hees, to-day, bear out the predictions made
in Journal dispatches that the Wilson bin
will be so altered in the Senate as to make
it almost unrecognizable; but it can be
stated now, and there should be no false
hopes entertained by Indiana farmers, man.
ufacturers and laborers, that the changes
which will be made in the Wilson bill in
the Senate will not be in the direction of
protection, although they will ostensibly
be effected in that behalf. They will be
made with a view TO increasing the revenue
capacity of the bill. There must be more
revenue provided than could be secured
under the Wilson bill. and while there will
be allowed p-roclamations of friendship for
the industries and labor, the notifications
will be with the sole object OF revenue.
Indianians should not hope for rescue
from Senator voorhees, or any otner Demo-
crat, although there may be assurances or
succor made, as all HooSier Democrats, at
least, are in reality in favor of even more
sweeping reductions If the revenue features
are not destroyed.
Another week has ended without the ques-
ton of an increase of the whisky tax being
settled. The ways ana means COHliiltCee
has been in session every day this week.
and has held sessions almost every night,
either at the Capitol or the private resi-
dence of Secretary Carlisle, for the pur-
pose of determining how the Wilson tariff
bill can be amended SO as 10 provide at least
$40 OOO. 600 more of annual revenue. The sit
nation has resolved itself into a bond issue
or an increase of the whisky tax. To mod
ify the tariff bill outside Of the internal
revenue section, so as TO make it produce
that amount of revenue would be to destroy
its free-trade principles, and this the Dem
ocrats refuse to do. 1t is an accomplished
fact that private incomes as well as cor
porations snail pay a direct tax. but these
will only turn in about half as much addi-
tional revenue as must be prGyiaed: IL y rs
be increased. and it is believed that a decis-
ion i'm the matter will be reached before
next Tuesday or Wednesday. The temper
ance and church organizations throughout
the country, and n great many or them IN
Indiana, have urged an increase OF the
whisky tax to $50 a gallon. Distilling in
terests at Terre Haute, Aurora and Law
renceburg have had representatives here
working on the problem for some time.
The committee. a week ago. agreed 10 an
increase to Sl.30, but Secretary Carlisle.
who opposed any Increase because IT would
be a disadvantage 10 one OF the chief indus
tries of Kentucky. compelled the committee
to reconsider its action. if the whisky In
bond is made TO pay the increase or tax
whisky out of bond before the law goes
into effect. and several hundred millions
of dollars will be turned into the treasury,
which would more than make good the de-
fcieDcy and provide for immediate de-
mands Secretary Carlisle is holding back
his annual report till the whisky tax prob
lem is settled.
SPLIT ON IL INCOME TAX.
A regular press dispatch says that the
Democratic members Of the ways and
means committee were in session three
hours this afternoon reviewing the tariff
bin for the purpose of correcting typo
graphical errors and other minor incon-
grrities. The subcommittee on internal
revenue reported that its labors were not
vet complete, and that II would be impo5-
sible TO report their schedules before some
time next week, the chief difficulty under
which the committee labors being the inn
possibility OF fixing rates of taxation Until
the revenue estimates under the new bill
are so far completed as TO indicate the
probable deficit under its operation. The
Democratic members did rot enter into
the final discussion Of the income tax atieg-
ton that was anticipated. the chief reasOn
being because OF the absence Of Mr.. COch-
ran. 1t was thought best that no con-
alusion should be reached in the absence of
any Democratic member. as the committee
is nearly divided on some OF the phases OF
the proposition. The uncertainty as TO the
amount of deficit under the new bill and the
possible difficulty OF meeting this deficit