Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-08
REVISION COMPLETED
The Customs Bill Sent to the
Printer Today.
CHANGES MADE IN EVERY SCHEDULE
Differences as to an Income or Cor
poration Tax.
A AUCUS PROBABLE.

The ways and means committee. who
have been making a general revision of the
customs bill. which they have already given
to the public, have finished their work and
sent the bill in its new form to the print
Ing office. There have been a great many
changes in the language and some in the
adjustment of schedules throughout the
bill. There is hardly a schedule that there
has not been some slight change made in,
and some Of the changes have been import
ant. The committee have reconsidered
their determination to report two bills, and
the purpose now Is to join the customs and
internal revenue features together either
before reporting the customs features or by
adding the revenue features as an amend
ment later on.
An Income Tax.
The night over the question of a corpora
ticn tax is still active. Notwithstanding
the expressions on the subject in Mr.. Cleve-
lands message and the prior determination
on the part Of the committee to adhere to
the corporation tax rather than an individ-
ual income the present indications are that
the agitation in favor of individual income
will finally result in the committees adopt
ing it. Five of the eleven democrats OF the
committee are earnestly advocating the in
dividual income, and are agitating the Ques-
ton In the House. so that 1T is not improb-
able that some one of the members OF the
committee not now committed to this prop
osition may conclude to vote with them.
VIII BE Defeated I'm the House.
In this event Mr.. Cleveland's Endorsement
Of a corporation tax will go for naught, and
there is a very strong belief on the part Of
members who have been studying the ques-
tion that If the ways and means committee
Il
be defeated in the House and it's substitu-
ton for the corporation tax will result in
the failure Of everything in the nature of an
income tax. The advocates of the tax on
corporations believe that with the indorse-
n:ent of the administration behind them
that proposition can be carried through both
houses OF Congress, but believe that If 1t Is
changed, the whole thing will fail. and the
revenue will have to be derived from sugar
and whisky. Nothing has yet been done
with relation to these last two items,
and it will probably be several days before
the matter is again taken up.
Caucus to He Held.
A democratic caucus to consider the con-
ficting interests involved In the new tariff
bill will probably be held about the time
the measure is reported TO the House GeH
Wheeler Of Alabama Is the moving spirit in
creating q sentiment favorable to the cau-
Gus. He believes that all the democratic
members in the Alabama. Georgia. Tennes-
see, Virginia and West Virginia delegations
as well as the twelve democratic members
from Pennsylvania will sign the call. This
will make fifty-one in all. more than three
times the number necessary to insure the
calling Of a caucus.
All these gentlemen are particularly inter-
ested in the iron and coal industries, hence
their desire to meet in caucus and secure
an agreement placing these articles again
upon the dutiable list. The present duty en-
both articles is IS cents a ton. Leaving
them on the free list, as proposed in the
new BILL would. Gen. Wheeler says, serious
ly cripple the trade, especially on the Allan
tic coast where the consumption is very
great. His constituents, he says, will be
entirely satisfied If the House will leave the
duty at 81 IL cents, or at one-half the pres
ent rate.
Will Not Bind Any Member.
He believes, If the matter is fully discuss
ed in caucus. that this may be done. While
the caucus will not bind any of the men,
bers it cannot fail to result benefcially.
He believes that the democrats should wash
their party linen in private and not in the
open sessions of the House. The matters
under consideration can be discussed more
calmly and in a more fraternal spirit, and
concessions will be made under such cir
that it would be difficult to Sc
cure at any other time. He instances the
fact that when the Morrison bill came into
the House, some years ago, no caucus was
held, and the bill was defeated. The Mills
bill, on the other hand, was carefully con-
sidered in caucus, and it passed the House
trlumphantly. The pending measure he
thinks, will also have the prestige of equal
success If the different schedules be first
considered in private before the measure
Is debated in the House
Gen. Wheeler was asked. what the demo-
Gratis from the foregoing states would do If
democratic caucus left iron ore and coal
on the free list.
Support the bill of course WAS tho s.,
tentious reply.