Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-05
FROM $l75.oOO,Oo0 10 $lso,oOo,oOO
It is Expected That More Will Be
Produced the Second Year.
THE HOUSE SHORT SESSION

Speaker Reed were on the floor during the
early hours of the session.
The tariff bill was taken up with little
delay. and Mr.. Mills (Texas) moved to
amend paragraph 395 by striking out books
of all kinds" his purpose being to place
books on the free list; rejected, 1873.
Mr.. Mills then proposed a new paragraph
for the free list, viz: THE Bible in what
ever language printed"
There was considerable amusement among
senators at this proposition, but Mr.. Mills.
with earnestness, insisted a yea and
nay vote The amendment was rejected,
2l-25 Messrs. Kyle, Stewart and Teller
voting with the democrats in the affirma-
tive and Mr.. McEnery with the republicans
in the negative.
A new paragraph was inserted in the
free list: WATERS, unleavened or not edi-
bic, for sacr amental use, or for covering
or holding pharmao eutical preparations
The new committee amendment, relating
to stamps on bonds, debentures, certificates
of stock, etc, was taken up, and Mr.. kili-
son proposed changes striking out the Sec
ton authorizing the commissioner of in
ternal revenue to supply collectors. post
masters stationers, etc, with stamps and
to allow five per cent as commission. The
last section was changed by making the
stamp tax apply to bonds, etc, issued "af-
ter September Is, 1897" instead of "here-
after" The rates were as originally pre-
scented, viz: On each 500 of face value OF
bonds, debentures or certificates of indebt-
edness, five cents; on each 500 OF face
value of original issue of certificate or
stock, five cents; on each 500 OF transfers
of shares of certificates of stock, two cents
A legal discussion ensued as to the le-
gality of the provision that unstamped
bonds, &C., shall be utterly void and shall
not be used in evidence"
Mr.. Allen (Neb.), while concurring In the
of he "a,
that Congress had no power to lay down
rule of evidence for "a state court.
Senators Chiffon (Tex), Teller (Col) and
White (Cal) shared in this view, while
Mr.. Vest (Mo) and Mr.. Morgan (Ala)
maintained that the provision came within
the power of Congress.
Mr. Bacon (Ga.) made the further point
that the amendment trenched on the rights
of the states by prescribing the manner of
record and registry of such bonds, &c.
Mr.. Lindsay (ky) declared that the pro-
vision should be struck out. unless Con-
gress intended to follow the example of the
King of England of establishing stamp
tax when the independence of America
YES declared
Mr.. Plat Comm. speaking for the
finance committee. said that the ques-
ton had been raised 1t would be carefully
considered and. If need be, changed before
the bill became law.
The stamp amendment as a whole was
then agreed to on a viva voce vote. no call
no response vas light and came from
the democratic side of the chamber.
Mr.. Allison proposed the amendment
heretofore offered by Mr. Spooner for a
tariff inquiry by three members of the
board of appraisers
Mr.. Teller took occasion in this connec-
ton to criticise the committee for first
Transforming the House bill and then 90
ing back in substance to the House rates.
He had tried to learn what amount of
revenue the bill would yield. and he said
he would be glad to have the chairman,
Mr.. Allison, throw some light on that SUBJ
Ject.
This brought Mr.. Allison to his feet for
the 1irst definite statement as to the reve-
nue. expected to be derived from the bill
He said 1t was not possible for any expert
to make exact calculations on the amount
of revenue tariff bill would yield. 1t had
never been done and never would be DONE
The Revenue Expected.
But from the best information availa-
ble." proceeded Mr. Allison. Il believe this
bill will yield $175,OOO.0OO to $780, OUO 600 the
first year; that is. from July 1, 1897, to July
], 1885,
He said the schedules had been gone over
at every stage, successive changes were
made. and he felt that this estimate could
he safely made. 1t applied only to the first
year, after which there would be a much
larger yield of revenue.
How much the second Year," Queried
Mr. White.
1T depends" answered Mr.. Allison, but
would say something over s2ooO00.OOO."
How much over the present law?" asked
Mr.. Stewart Of Nevada.
About $6O,OOO,OOU." responded Mr.. ALI
son. But it will depend upon the condi-
ton OF our industries. No one can tell ex-
will be imported next year and the wear
following. 1t Is not possible to make more
than general estimate"
Mr. Vest remarked that the average ad
valorem rate of the bill would be much
higher than that of existing law; that the
MCKINLEY ad valorem was 40 per cent, the
eAlsting law 30 per cent, while the estimate
on the House bill was 81 per cent.
Mr.. Allison said the average ad yalorem
OF the bill in Its final form would be in the
ne:ghborhood of so per cent. 1t would b.
higher than the existing law, as the addi-
icnai duties on sugar had necessitated an
increase IN the average ad valorem. I'm
portations had been pouring in in anticipa-
tlon OF the passage of this bill There was
a years supply of wool in the country and
hve months supply of sugar Therefore
all estimates as to the revenue the biII
would raise this year must be conjecturai
Does the senator say there have been
Mr.. White.
Il have no doubt of it,"
Ihen. said Mr.. White, that shows
mat the sugar trust understands the effect
certainly" replied Mr.. Allison. eve
may nave our eyes closed here, but the
eyes OF the business world are not closed.
ana importers are rushing their goods
through the custom house."
MIR. Teller again got the floor at this
POINT He criticised the estimates of the
amount of revenue the bill would produce
which had been offered by the majority.
He ridiculed Chairman Dingley's estimate
and referred to the admission that means
must be found outside of the bill as ii
came from the House to supply the deficit.
He spoke of the various propositions the
nnance committee had advanced and then
abandoned. The beer tax he said, would
not have cost the consumers a single mill
1t would have been borne by the beer man.
ufacturers, who had been prosperous
through the years of Industrial stagnation.
But" continued Mr. Teller "a great cleo
ton was pending in one of the great states
of the Union where large portion of the
voting population did not believe in a tax
on beer so 1t was sacrificed
Mr. Teller argued that there were other
methods of raising revenue without LAYING
inordinate taxes on the necessaries of life.
He said he had once been greatly i'm
pressed with remark of Mr. Allison's to
the effect that we had in this country
more untouched and untaxed means of
revenue than any other of the world
Mr.. Teller commended If the finance COM
mittee was looking for revenue from $40