The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-28
UNDER new LAW.
The New Democratic Bill Be-
came a Law at Midnight.
One Section Badly Mixed-Easy Mat
ter 10 Evade the Tax on Alcohol.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2s.-At IL o'clock
last night the Mckinley tariff law, which
had been in operation since Oct. 30, 1890.
practically four years, died on the statute
books, and the new Democratic tariff biz,
passed by the Fifty third congress, became
law without the signature Of President
Cleveland
The constitutional period Of 10 days al
lowed the president to consider the bill
expired with the midnight hour, and 40
Sording 20 the terms Of the constitution,
the president having failed 20 return the
bill 60 congress with or without his APP
proval, it became law
The placing of the bill on the statute
books ended one Of the longest and most
remarkable struggles in the history of the
government. Ii was practically year ago
that the preparation Of the new tariff law
was commenced The extraordinary ses-
sion of congress was called Aug. T. 1893.
for the purpose OF repeating the Sherman
silver purchasing law.
Started In at Once.
Two weeks later the ways and means
committee OF the house, with Mr.. Wilson
of West Virginia as chairman, was ap-
pointed, and almost Immediately the work
of framing the Democratic tariff reform
measure began. Months were spent in its
preparation, and it was not reported until
after the holidays during the regular
session beginning In December.
For three weeks 10 was debated In the
house, passing that body on Jan. 20 by n
vote of 204 to 140. Seventeen house Demo
Gratis voted against It, The bill went TO
the senate, after being considered until
March 90, and was reported, greatly
changed from the house bill. The debate,
which began in the senate April 2, lasted
until July 8, when the bill passed by
vote of 80 to a.
The crisis occurred when the bill reached
conference On Aug 18 the house yielded
and accepted the senate bill in toto. In
five days afterwards 10 went to the presi-
dent, and at the expiration of the constitu-
tional 10 days Sunday is not counted)
it became law without Mr.. Clevelands
signature.
The Alcohol Tax.
There seems to be serious doubt enter
tained as TO whether or not the treasury
officials will be able TO carry into effect the
section of the new tariff bill making alco-
hol used In the arts free Of internal rev.
enue tax.
Section 81 Of tho act provides that any
manufactures finding IL necessary TO use
alcohol in the arts or any medicinal OF
like compound may use the same under
regulations 20 be prescribed by the secre-
tary of the treasury and on satisfying the
collector OF internal revenue for the dis
trict In which he resides or carries on
business that he has complied with such
regulations and has used such alcohol
.wh.ratfrr, M AL L.
stamps which show that a tax has been
paid thereon, shall be entitled to receive
from the treasury q rebate or repayment
of the tax so paid.
There are approximately 100000 drug
gists In the United States who use alcohol
to some extent In the manufacture Of COM
pounds of various kinds, and this number,
1t is believed, would be increased from 30
to 100 per cent under a liberal application
of this provision of the act
Another Hitch.
While the law provides that manufact-
urers may use " free of tax under regula-
tions prescribed by the secretary, no ap-
preparation Is made to carry the provision
into effect, and It is argued that it would
require small army of revenue agents to
prevent fraud upon the government and
tQe lOb3 oi iuitiions oi rtNcnue 10 III from
the operations Of unscrupulous persons
Under these circumstances, it rs be-
iieved that the secretary will find &c prac-
tically impossible 10 enforce the law, and
will therefore refrain from issuing any
regulations on the subject, at least until
congress, which reassembles in December.
shall mako sufficient appropriations for
che carrying out Of the provision.