Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-01-04

WASHINGTON, Jan. "A 2 per cent
tax on incomes above $4,000, an addi-
ton tax of 10 cents a gallon on whisky
and tax of cents pack ON playing
cards was the decision reached by the
Democratic members of the ways and
means committee to-day. This conclu-
sion was not unexpected, inasmuch as
the committee have been known for
some time TO be evenly divided on the
proposition to tax incomes, with Repre-
sentative Turner of Georgia, occupying
the only position Of doubt.
The committee met at the Treasury
Department at o'clock this afternoon
determined to settle the question of an
income tax before adjournment. 1t was
represented by such of the members as
favored the proposition that general
income tax would yield the government
an annual revenue of $30,000,000; that
making the exemptions $4,000 would
limit IT to class amply able 10 afford
1t, and that in view of the large deficit
that will be caused by the reduction in
customs duties there was no alternative
but to adopt 1t.
THE VOTE G TO 5.
Some Of the members who opposed
the tax argued at length that the politi.
cal effect would be fatal to the Demo-
cratic party, and that il would be better
to limit the tax to the corporations only
and raise the additional revenue neces-
sary from other sources.
Representative w. Bourke Cochran
Of New York said that an income tax
should be laid upon all income, whether
large or small, and that any other
course was unwise and undemocratic, in
that 1t did not fall on all alike.
When Chairman Wilson put tho
proposition to vote six of the eleven
Representatives present voted ave.
These were Messrs. McAIillin, Bynum,
Tarsney, Whiting, Bryan and Turner,
and 1t was carried. The tax applies TO
the net earnings of corporations as well
as TO private incomes. 1t does not, how
ever, apply to inheritances, although
that suggestion was one of the earliest
advanced when the matter first came up
for consideration in the committee a
month ago.
WHISKY BOND PERIOD EXTENDED.
The additional tax of 10 cents a gal
Ion on whisky includes whisky now in
bond. With view to making the tax
fall as lightly as possible upon the
owners of this whisky il was decided to
extend the bonded period to eight years.
II is now three years. 1t was decided
that the allowance for "outage" shall be
limited to six years. The term "outage"
is technically used to express the liquor
lost by evaporation and from other
causes after its manufacture.
PLAYING CARDS AND CIGARETTES.
The large revenue arising from the
income tax caused the committee to re.
cede from the tax Of six cents pack on
playing cards and reduce it to two cents,
the more especially as it was telt that
the maximum tax would prove an EN-.
barrassment TO the manufacturers. The
tax of $l.60 per thousand on cigarettes,
upon which the committee agreed several
weeks ago, was allowed to stand.
MR.. WILSON WILL SPEAK TODAY,
Mr., Wilson, the chairman of the WAYS
and means committee, will not present
these revenue features agreed upon to.
day formally to the House of Repre-
sentatives. He will announce to.nor-
row the conclusions reached bv the
committee and will offer the items as
an amendment To the tariff bill when
Mr.. Wilson will call up the tariff bill
at the conclusion of the morning hour
on Wednesday, and will make a short
speech in explanation. The chairman
is so exhausted with the labor which
the preparation of the bill has imposed
upon him that he is in no condition of
body or mind, as he expressed it to-
night, to do the subject Justice. He is
IN IN IN n ~.
delayed, however, and ii is for this rea.
son that he will bring it up tomorrow
with view of disposing OF it as quickly
as possible.
TIE TIME OF DEBATE.
While there is no disposition on the
part either of Mr.. Wilson or the Demo.
cratic majority to prevent the Republi.
cans from debating the matter fully, IL
is the chairman's intention to reach a
vote on the bill January 18th. Deduct
ing Sundays, this will leave the bill be-
fore the House IL legislative days. II
is Mr.. Wilson's intention to limit gen
eral debate to five days, The remainder
of the time will be occupied in consider
ing the measure under the five. minute
rule. Night sessions will be held in
order that members who desire may
have an opportunity TO speak, but UNI
less the present programme is changed
all debate will be closed ON the 18th
instant.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Wilson's re-
marks tomorrow, Mr.. Burroughs
(Mich.), one of the leading Republican
members OF the committee, will speak in
opposition to the bill.
The members of the committee esti-
mate that $30,000,000 will be derived
from the income tax, $4,000, 900 from
the increased tax on whisky and about
$5,OOO,000 from the other taxes. This
sum, with the expected increase in GUS
toms duties from increased importations,
will be sufficient, it is believed, to sup.
port the government with an economi-
cal administration of affairs.
Representatives Wilson, Corkran,
Stevens, breckenridge and Montgomery
are said to have voted in favor of limit
ing the income tax to corporations,