The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-03
An Additional Tax of so Cents
Barrel on Beer
Is Provided by the New Tariff
Bill as Fixed By
SENATE COMMITTEE.
S17,OOO,OOO More Revenue Ex-
pected From This Source.
Whisky Tax is Reduced Low
er Rates on Lumber and Wool.

Chicago, Ill, May 3.-A special to the
Tribune from Washington, D. c., says:
An additional tax of so cents a barrel
on beer has been voted into the senate
tariff bill by the Republican sub-cOm-
mittee. Whether the item will stay
until the bill gets into the senate is not
altogether certain. Senators Aldrich,
Allison and WOlcOtt prepared for an all
night session in the hope of getting the
measure ready to report to the finance
committee, but about midnight they
declared they could not hope to make
a report before Tuesday. Meanwhile
they voted upon the beer tax. The
present rate of 81 a barrel and the ad-
ditionaI so cents will bring the treas
ury about 1900, 900 annually on the
present rate of consumption. This in
crease in revenue will not entail a dol
lar OF additional expense for collection.
The beer tax is now a part of the bill
Lower rates on lumber and wool are
there also, as well as a tariff on hides
and a reduction of the internal reve-
nue. tax spirits. The sugar Sched-
ule is substantially the same as that in
the Dingley bill, so far as results are
concerned, but will make changes in
phraseOlOgy and in the relative taxa
tiOn of low grade and off color sugars.
Judging from the amount of work ahead
of them, the committee will be lucky
to report the bill Tuesday.
The treasury figures for the month
just ended confirm Chairman Dingley'S S
statement made a few days ago that
there is likely to be nearly year s
supply of foreign goods in the country
when the new tariff bill goes into effect.
While the retroactive clause, sO-called,
of the Dingley bill probably prevented
some of the new contracts which would
have been made and the new orders
which would have been given, it did
not reduce the amount of goods brought
in during April as compared with the
preceding month. That clause of the
bill provided that the new rates of duty
should apply upon all goods coming
in after April l which had not been
purchased prior 20 that date. This, of
course permitted all goods contracted
for or ordered prior to April to come
in under Wilson law rates, and also left
it largely in the hands of the importers
to indicate by their own statements
whether goods coming in after April 1
had been purchased or ordered prior to
that date.
Some of the importers have also cIung
to the belief that this feature OF the
bill would fail to pass the senate, espe-
cialIy in view of the recent publications
so indicating, while still others have
chosen to take the risks of being re-
uuired to pay the extra duty in case
that feature of the bill should become
a law The result OF the consideration
is the total of the importatiOnS of for
eign goods has jumped from $50, O,0OO,0 900
in August, 1885, to $50 600 last month.
The most notable increase has come
from non -dutiable articles which i'm
porters know will soon have to pay
duty. The importations of this class
of goods have jumped from $2l,OOO,OO0
in August, 1896, to about $45, 100000 in
April, 1897.