The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-04

The Caucus Facilitated the Work of the
N.n.to Tariff Refornrrs


WASHINGTON. ID. c.. March 3.-The
Democratic members Of the Finance Com
mittee took long stride in the direction
Of the completion Of their labors on the
tariff bill to-day According 10 reports
that are believed to be accurate, the
leaven placed in the loaf during the eau
Gus has made the work of the committee
comparatively light, and 1t has been ac-
tuated by a spirit Of concession
This afternoon much of the time Of the
committee was consumed in the digestion
Of matters laid before il by Commissioner
of Internal Revenue Miller yesterday.
Mr.. Miller went before the committee 10
urge the increase Of the tax on manu-
featured tobacco, the Secretary OF the
Treasury. looking upon this as the read
Jest means for getting money into the
Treasury. Mr. Carlisle asked for an in
crease to twelve cents pound on all
manufactured tobacco, but there IS an
indisposition on the part of the committee
to grant this. one member OF the com
mittee held out for nine cents. and the
discussion of the afternoon was an ef-
fort to compromise on ten cents. Mr..
Carlisle, it is said, insists that the tax
shall be doubled.
During the day it is understood Mr.. Pugh
was notified that the committee agreed
TO place iron ore back on the dutiable
list at forty cents a ton, II being now
free in the House bill. BY doing so coal
is made TO suffer a small cut, for that
article is reduced from the fifty cents a
ton which the committee had agreed TO
give and placed on the same level with
iron. This action Of the committee, If It
is accepted, will add to the revenues about
5000 900. Under the present law there was
imported TO the United States Tor the
fiscal year ended June Both last l,OsO,5'f
tons of coal. upon which duty OF VIII
go vas paid al the rate OF seventy-ilse
cents a ton. Upon iron ore, the duty DeiAs
the same. there has been imported o"'5l
tons. yielding a duty Of @O',9i6. lhe COM
mittee is pursuing its work on such lines
that will make the bill a revenue measure,
bringing in sufficient revenues to meet the
expenses of the Government. ln number
of ways. besides the increase Of rates In
demand to the wishes of senators, the
committee has brought about this result
1t has been practically agreed that a tax
shall be placed upon all patent medicines
cosmetics, and perfumery at the rate OF
one cent for every twenty-hve-cent pack
age. This will yield &0OW,OD.
The committee has also been discussing
the whisky and beer question. ana
numerous arguments have been brought
to bear TO cause them to increase the
tax on these articles. 1t may be that
no change will be seen I'm the bill IN
this respect when il comes from COM
mittee. but If the suggestions that nave
been made are carried ont some amend
ments will be offered in the Senate. one
of these is 10 make the tax on whisky
$50 gallon. and applicable 70 al
whisky in bond, this clause taking erect
the first day Of January 1895. Should TINS
be done. the additional income from that
source would be $7j.00O.00O. based upon last
years production of l25,OoCWO gallons
Should the tax on beer be increased one
dollar a barrel. this would add $1,000
600. There is still another proposition In
connection with the liquor business and
that is to assess a tax against every
retail dealer in the country Of one nun
dred dollars a year. As there are $2i5,-
900 Of these dealers, such a tax would
bring in $2l5O0 900. These four items Of
internal revenue aggregate N6l ,VgWO'
but the committee will not consider them
in this shape. although it looks as If
the patent medicine tax would be endors-
ed by the committee. These four items
appear as a response on the part of one
member Of the committee 10 the ques-
ton how TO raise the differences be-
tween the revenues. the Wilson bill yields
and the Secretarys estimate of the
money he must have.
Mr. Carlisles estimate called for $n2-
000. 900. but he has been able TO reduce this
by Sz50OO,OO0. The Treasury is certain
of S29i, i,0O0OOO. of which the House bill
provides $4,000 900. and internal revenue
Sl6l 100000 thus leaving about Sl2O 000-
900 to be provided for by the committee.