The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-16
3lgK CHECKS MAY BE TAXED.
INCREASE IN THE TAX ON BEER
ALSO POSSIBLE.

a.. PRESIDENT and Secretary Carlisle
said 10 BE Seriously Considering
This Means of Increasing the Rev
.,res of the GOVernment-AnA Addi-
,ionaI Tax of 81 Per Barrel ON Beer
c,,nted on 10 Increase the Reve-
,,es-Tyventy-fye to Thirty Million
Dollars.
washington, Oct. 15.-Bank checks and
/ t..r are expected to provide sufficient
r.yanue to meet the deficit now existing
- -b. treasury of the United States. Sec
rs.arv Carlisle did not confide this secret
Il - r5e people of Boston when he made
bis recent speech at the dinner of the
massachusetts, Reform Club, but it is a
f5ct nevertheless, that the President pro-
-osss n. recommend to congress the i'm
aosition of an additional tax on beer, and
afso reouest congress to authorize the
Secretary Of the Treasury to use his
discretion as to the advisability of impos-
in, a tax on bank checks if the condition
of The treasury demands it.
This statement is made by prominent
member of the administration who has
the confidence of the President and Secre-
tarv Carlisle, and who discussed this
subject with them at a recent period. 1t
is probable that the President desires TO
wait until the last moment before ne
nuts himself on record as recommending
an increase in the revenues of the gov
ernment because several OF the account
Ing officers of the treasury have advised
him that in their opinion there VIII De no
necessity for such recommendation py
the time congress meets. II Is not pIOU,,
able, however, that their predictions VIII
be verified, for during the fifteen days
Of the present month the expenditures
have exceeded the receipts OF the govern
ment by more than SlO,OO0VO.
This increase in the deficit is accounted
for by the fact that something over So,OOO,-
e0 has been paid out this month Ior IN
terest alone. In computing the ordinary
transactions last month there was sur
plus of about $3, 900 000-that is, the receipts
exceeded the expenditures for the month
Of September by that amount.
1t is pretty well settled in the mind OF
the President that there must be some In
crease in the revenues OF the govern
ment in order to meet the current eX-
penses, until there is more decided i'm
prOvement in the business of the coun-
iry. He is doubtless Influenced to GER
tain degree by the statement made to Sec
ietary Carlisle by Mr.. Ford, the chlef or
the bureau of statistics of the treasury
department., who has figured out sur
plus instead of a deficit for the next fiscal
year. He contends that there will be no
|hecessity to increase the tax on beer
or revive the bank stamp tax to meet
the expenses of the government. The
present outlook does not justify the pre-
|dction of Mr.. Ford, and the President and
Mr.. Carlisle have about determined to
urge congress in their annual communica-
tons to that body to increase the tax on
beer. It4is estimated that the revenues
will be increased from S25, 200, 600 to $50 900,
N0 as the result of the imposition of an
additional tax on beer of 81 per barrel.
If that does not produce sufficient reven-
ue to meet the expenditures and pay off
some of the Indebtedness, congress will be
requested to restore the bank check tax,
which at the time of its repeal was yield
ing revenue of from S15, ,000. 600 to $40. 900 CO.,
The advocates of this tax assert that it
will yield almost double that amount now,
as the wealth Of the country represented
by those who are able to draw bank checks
has about doubled in the last fifteen years
upon the rich people exclusively, for the
poor man is not troubled with bank ac-
count and he does not have an opportunity
10 draw checks upon the banks and sub
lect himself to the tax if it should be i'm
posed. 1t is not proposed to recur to this
tax, however, unless 1t is absolutely neces-
sary, and it is suggested that the act shall
be so drawn as to enable the Secretary of
the Treasury to collect the tax, wherever
In his discretion it may be required to meet
the current expense of the government.
1t is understood that the question will
pc presented to congress as a purely bus
mess proposition. without appealing to
me political prejudices of the represen-
tatlVes of either party. In view of the
enormous profits derived from the sale
OF beer it is contended that the addi-
tiOnal tax will not fall upon the con-
SIDES the treasury officials insist that it
Is the easiest tax to collect because it
will not involve the expenditure of an
additional dollar.