The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11
WORK ON THE TARIFF
What the Senate Committee Is
Trying to Accomplish.
When the Bill Is Com mpleted it Will Be
as Nearly Pure Revenue Meas
ure as Possible.
FREE LIST TO BE CURTAILED
And Income Taxes Likely to Be
Retained in the Bill.
Bonded Period for Whisky to Be In.
creased Probably Two Years and
the Tax Possibly Raised.
FREE LIST TO BE CURTAILED

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1O.-The Senate
subcommittee engaged on the tariff bill
closed a very busy week late this evening,
and when the work of the day was con-
cluded, found that it had made sufficient
progress 10 begin to see daylight in the
distance" one expressed it. The MEM
bers declined, however, TO state when the
bill would be in shape for presentation to
the full committee. The indications are
that they are making every effort TO COM
plete 1t, to present it some time next
week. Not only the members of the COM
mittee but the experts who are assisting
them are putting in extra hours on the bill.
The developments of the day indicate
that the income tax feature of the bill is
to be undisturbed, that the term for whisky
in bond will be extended for two years
beyond the time at present allowed, and
that the free list will be very much cur
tailed and many of the articles now on this
list will be placed on the dutiable list un-
der the ad valorem system. This latter
change Is to be made in accordance with
the committees plan of making the bill
strictly a revenue measure and to avoid the
appearance of favoritism. The Senators
have been working in the light
of more information than it was
possible for the House ways and
means committee to have when
the bill was before it, and they have been
devoting themselves with assiduity to pre-
pairing a bill which will meet the revenue
requirements, with the end IN view of pre-
venting another resort to the bond issue.
They find in pursuing this investigation and
I'm view of the possibility of the continu-
ance of the present period of depression
that ii will be consistent With this purpose
to both retain the income tax and to place
duty on sugar. Hence there is little doubt
that they have concluded, as far as they
have decided upon any course, to allow the
income tax to remain substantially
as passed by the House. The sugar
duty will be added but possibly at
not SO high rate as the Louisi-
ana Senators would desire or has
heretofore been suggested. 1t may be
anywhere from q of a cent 10 IA cents
per pound on sugar under the 10 Dutch
standard. There is some. opposition in the
subcommittee to any duty whatever on
this grade. but the Louisiana Senators are
so urgent in their demands that the COM
mittee will find it difficult il a majority
were SO disposed. to refuse their request
IL 1t should be made to appear after the
bill snail have passed the Senate that the
Dill Will provide more revenue than will be
necessary, and that the House of Repre-
sentatives will be dissatisfied with and un-
willing to accept it. il can, Of course, be
amended in conference. Indeed, the Sen
ate committee is taking into considerable
the probability of having to make some
bill accordingly. 1t is so with coal, and
while il is understood that the bill. as il
will be reported by the subcommittee, will
report duty of 90 cents per ton on coal,
il is believed that this will be cut to 80 or
40 cents in conference.
EFFORTS OF WHISKY MEN.
The whisky men working hard for
an extension Of the bonded period, and
they are likely to succeed. The Kentucky
distilling interest Is represented here now
in the person of Capt. T. II. Sherry who
has enlisted the active cooperation OF both
Senators Blackburn and Lindsay. They
have succeeded in getting the facts, as
Captain Sherry and others who are en-
gagged in the same work understand them,
before the committee. They show by fig
ures obtained from the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue that if the present laws
the bonded period at three years,
which is not changed by the Wilson
bill as it passed the House. the revenue de-
rived by the government from whisky in
bond would be, at 80 cents per gallon,
fixed by the present law. about $l5O.OO000O.
If the bonded period should be extended
be about $llG,O9OO0O. but if the bonded
period should be heightened and the tax in
creased to 81 per gallon the tax would still
amount IN the aggregate, 10 sl9O, O,N09o,
while, If the tax should be increased to Sill
per gallon, even with the borded period ex-
tended, the governments income from this
source would be about Sl50.000,O 900. The dis
tillers are devoting themselves more par
ticularly to securing an extension Of the
bonded period than to preventing action on
the part of the Senate looking TO an in
crease of the tax. There is still a possibil-
tnl
tax, but no figures are given beyond $l.20
per gallon, with the chances largely In favor
OF tne Nh hSIre S feaims I as ot Ae1 M py tne
$l.10. and that whether there is any in
crease over the Wilson bill or not the bond
ed period will be extended to five years.
The Kentuckians to-day devoted most of
their time to the extension Of the bonded
period which the distilers say,in the present
necessary 10 them. They represent that
there are now S5,000000 gallons of whisky
in bonded warehouses, which must he taken
out under the Wilson bill within the next
three years, much of it within the next
year or two. This, even without the in
crease of the tax, would be a hardship, and
that much heavier. Senator Voorhees,.
chairman of the finance committee, ac-
visit to the subcommittee. a fact which is
considered as favorable TO the extension OF
the bonded period. He had previously been
in conference with some of the representa-
tives Of the distilling interest Senator
Mcpherson was also closeted with the sub
committee for a considerable time during
the day.
The advocates of a duty on iron ore are
bringing strong pressure to bear TO secure
a duty on that article, but have not met as
mucn encouragement as the coal men. The
committee finds a difficulty in the way
which does not present itself in common
with coal Coal Is "A simple article. and one
action upon that will suffice, whereas. if
iron ore is transferred TO the dutiable list
the change may necessitate the complete
remodeling of the metal schedule. The ad-
vocates of duty admit this, but urge that
the necessities are strong The Alabama
Senators are understood TO be especially
urging this change.