The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-02

There is no Money ia the Treasury to Carry
~ Into Tf.cf

WASHINGTON. y. G.. Jan. When
the announcement was made last sum-
mer. at the close Of the first session OF
the present Congress. that no money hal
been appropriated 10 carry out the IN
come tax Law. the officials OF The Internal
Revenue Burean Ildiruieu the aheSed M
pOrtaicc OF this omission, ana sdld thdt
u would make no difference Whatever
so far as The collection OF the tax was
concerned with surprising niidcnce
they announced that az soon as Cong. esa
met in December II would appropriate
the 5000 recommended by Secretary
Carlisle as necessary Ior this years work
ana assured the publc mat the law
would be i'm full working order AT the
beginning of the new year. The law
VIII take effect to-day, but there Is no
money on hand fOr carrying out It's pro-
vision and the Treasury Department is
very much embarrassed by that fact
The Commissioner Of Internal Revenue
had fuzzy HtendCd that the army Of
deputy internal revenue collectors SHOULD
take the field tomorrow and begin the
great work OF collecting the returns
which. under the terms OF the law must
De all filed in the Treasury Department
on OF before the ist of March next
This is a great task 70 be accomplished
under any circumstances, but 1t becomes
d0uhly difficult without money. and the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue Is a 4
loss to know what course 10 pursue under
the circumstances.
The urgency deficiency bill containing
the appropriations for this years work,
passed tha House OF u representatives., but
was pigeOn-hOlcd IN the Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations. from which IL
viii be reported probably some time next
week. Then IL must run the Galnt ct Of
the opposition, which II Is thought viii
be led by Senator Hil Oh the Demo
cratic side, and Senator LoCRc on the
Republican side Of the chamber The
Secretary of the Treasury has been un-
able 10 put the alcohol provision Of the
Sarlh Dlu into effect. because Of the
ambiguity az Its language which would
I'm effect make all alcohol free. and per
haps he viii be unable 10 put the in
come tax law into effect owing to the
failure of Congress to appropriate the
necessary money. At any rate il is
thought that the work of collecting the
tax on incomes viii hardly have been
begun before the Republican Congress W
come forward 10 repeal The law or the
supreme Court 20 declare 10 uncOnstitu-
tona
Interest n the question of a possible
extra session Of the F1fty-fOurth Congress
IN the spr.ng has been lcSsencd I'm !m
portanCc by be report on the authority
OF member OF the Cabinet that Presi-
dent Cleveland would send TO Congress
soon after 80 reasSembles on Thursday
next message recommending an increase
in the tax on beer and whisky. II is said
thai the President and his Cabinet al
viscrs understand now that Congress has
no Intention or passing Inc Springer
Carlisle bill Of currency reform, upon
which vote viii be taken in the House
about tho 18th Of January. and that they
realize the absolute importance of doing
something at once 10 pat money into the
Golfers of tho Treasury. An increase of
the tax on whisky and beer. ana especial J.
ly upon the latter article, has long been
the taVorite plan of many Democrats. and
II was strong y recommended 20 the House
and Senate comm tees when the tar If
Oh was under discussion. II was pointed
ont 10 the tarift makers that an increase
of FEW cents a gallon on whisky and "a
SOmeV hat larger amount on each barrel
of beer manufactured would largely in
crease the revenues without raising the
price of the article to the consumer 10
any aDpTeciable extent. II was thought
at one time that the President would
recommend I'm his message an increased
beer tax but he did not do so. and so far
as could be learned at the time very little
consideration was given 10 the suggestion
of this plan of revenue raising by the
Democrats of either house The public at
once jumped 90 The conclusion that the
explanation was to be found in the strong
influence brought 10 bear by the brewers.
II is admitted on all hands that the
situation at the Treasury Department IS
becoming critical and that unless the
receipts can be made to exceed the eN-
pendltures. which they have not done for
The last six months another bond .ssue
VIII have TO be made. The President and
Secretary Carlisle are very much opposed
To- considering such action As ~, 2nd
are therefore exceedingly anX.ods that
me Springer-CarlIsle bill should pass, or
chat some other means be toNnd for re-
ueNine the embarrassment OF the Treas
urN Department.