Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-09
One Way to Increase the Revenue
Likely to Be Adopted.
A TEA And COFFEE DUTY PROPOSED
Il is Urged on the President by
the Free Traders.
CHANGE OF SUGAR DUTIES

The increase of the tax on beer by one
dollar per barrel is considered as likely to
be the outcome of the struggle between the
democratic administration and the repub-
lican Congress to the best means or
providing for the deficiency in the revenue
Prominent republicans have already init
mated that they would be willing to meet
the deficiency in this manner, and they
have, in taking this position, only followed
the views they expressed when they critl-
cised the democratic ways and means COM
mittee for not substituting this source OF
revenue for the income tax The increase
of the tax on beer was urged upon that
committee by 50 eminent a political econo-
mist and tariff reformer as Mr.. David A.
Wells of Connecticut but six of the eleven
democratic members were bound to have
the income tax and voted down every sub
sttute which threa tened to make the reve-
nue. from the income tax unnecessary. The
argument was then made that the brewers
would stamp the life out of any political
party that dared to increase their burden
of taxation, but this threat viii lose much
of it's force If responsibility for the new
tax is divided between republican Con-
gress and a democratic President. the
tax has the advantage of supplying $780,
900 600 of additional revenue without the
necessity of any new machinery for col
Letting it. Many believe that President
Cleveland would sign a bill increasing the
beer tax, and would sign it with the APP
prevail of Secretary Carlisle, when they
became convinced that nothing approaching
more closely the theory of a revenue tariff
could be secured from republican Con-
greSS.
A Tea and Coffee Duty Proposed.
The plan of meeting the deficiency which,
1t is said, is being urged upon the President
and Secretary Carlisle by the free trade
element in the dem ocratlc party is the levy
of duty upon tea and coffee. They do not
expect that any such legislation could be
secured from a republican Congress, but
they believe that the fight for a strictly
revenue tariff might well be kept up by
the President in his message and the Secre-
tary in his report, in order to make the
people familiar with the subject and ripe
for a revenue tariff when the democratic
party is again in control of the government
A large sum could be raised by the restora-
ton of a duty on tea and coffee if 1t were
thought desirable. The importat!ork of
tea during the fisca! year 1894 were 81 SOL
$50 pounds, and a duty of 10 cents per pound
would yield over s9090,o00. The war duty,
which continued until 1870. was % cents
per pound, and the duty until 1872 was 10
cents per pound.
The importations of coffee into the United
States during the fiscal year 1894 were
54T, 06S,994 pounds, which would yield q
revenue of nearly $l10O0,O0O at the mod
crate rate of two cents per pound. The
war rate was five cents per pound, which
would yield a revenue of about 81, 100000.
These figures may be presented to Congress
in December and may become the subject
of earnest discussion in the future, but
republican leaders have already served
notice that no assistance Will be given by
them TO the adoption of free trade tariff
by a republican House.
Change in Sugar Duties.
A proposition which may receive some
consideration If the brewers put up a
strong fight against the increase of the
beer tax is change in the duties on sugar.
The immense fall in the price of sugar
since the enactment of the present tariff
has cut down by about SlS.000G00 in years
Of normal importations the estimated reve-
nue. from this source. 1t has at the same
time reduced somewhat the protection af-
forded by the duty to American sugar
growers The substitution of a specific
duty Of one cent Per pound would add
about $l0oO0,OO0 to the annual revenue
and be much more satisfactory to the
Louisiana planters. They are likely to
urge a change in the existing law, but any
attempt to change the duties Will involve
another struggle with the sugar trust
which members of either party may be
reluctant TO court. The trust would not
accept for a moment the plan of a specific
duty without a change i'll the differential
duty which would maintain the present de-
gree of protection for refined sugar. The
ad valorem duty is in itself protective by
imposing a higher duty upon the more
while a specific duty is handicap to the
refiners because it affords lower ad va
loren rate upon the costly refined sugar
than upon the cheaper raw sugar.