Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-12-18
IN THE SENATE.

day, by the submission by Mr. Platt of
Connecticut, of the report of the joint
committee of the Senate and House ap-
| pointed to investigate the use of alco-
hol in the arts. 1t developed that n
| wide divergence Of opinion exists
among senators as to the practicable
| ity, from the point of view of govern
| ment revenue, of reducing the present
| tax upon alcohol used in the arts. A
joint resolution accepting the invitation
of Norway to participate in an inter
| national fisheries exposition, next year,
| was passed
Under special order 130 private pen
| sion bills were passed..
| The session closed with exercises in
memory of the late VIM. Steele Holma1
Of Indiana.
The chaplain of the Senate
| offered fervent petition thai
the senator from South Carolina
might speedily be restored to health
and granted quietude and peace. He
also paid tribute to the memory Of the
late Representative Holman.
At the suggestion of Mr. Hawley,
| chairman Of the military affairs COM
mittee. the bill passed by the House for
| the relief for miners in the Klondike
| region, was taken up at once. He
moved that all after the enacting
clause of the House bill be stricken out
| and the Senate bill substituted. The
motion was carried and the bill amend
| ed and passed
| Senators Hawley, Carter and Cock
relf were named as conferrees of the
| Senate.
With reference to the report of the
committee appointed to investigate the
| use of alcohol in the arts, Mr.. Hoar of
massachusetts, said that he would take
an early opportunity to point out the
difference between those who produce
whiskey as a beverage and those who
manufacture alcohol for use in the arts
1T is time" he said, for Congress to
deal with this question with a little
more courage and little more justice"
Chandler pointed out that so long as
the internal revenue tax on alcohol was
50 great in proportion to its cost. enor-
nous custom duties upon all articles con-
tanning alcohol were absolutely necessary.
Hale said that he would not give his
approval to a bill that would farther re-
duce the revenues of the government SlO.-
oCt.00J per year.
Congress ought to have the courage to
put aside politics in the consideration Of
this question of taxing alcohol. He be-
lievcd il would be perfectly proper to
place an additional tax of 81 per barrel on
beer, and thought that that would remove
the financial difficulties of the govern
ment.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Hoar
adverted to that part of the Wilson law
which dealt with the question of use of
alcohol in the arts.
Hale briefly replied to the suggestion of
Mr. Hoar that the tax on alcohol used in
the arts ought to be reduced. He was not
opposed. he said. to an additional tax of
a 81 per barrel on beer. but he was op
posed to any proposition that would re-
suit in reduction of the revenue of the
government 600 q year.
At this juncture Stewart. New. rose to
a question of personal privilege to reply
to charge which he said had been made
against him by Mr.. Chandler. a charge
which he characterized as very grave
one. He referred to the assertion of the
New HOmpShire senator that he (Stew-
art had misrepresented the attitude of
the administration on the financial ques-
ton. He had extracts read from the
statement made yesterday by Secretary
Gage before the House committee on the
banking and currency. to show that the
administration was committed to the gold
standard. p He contended that this state
ment fully confirmed all that he had
determination to replace the control Of
the currency in the hands of the banks,
giving them all the advantages and eX-
acting from them no security.
Returning to alcohol in the arts. ALI
son deprecated an attempt to raise the
question at the present time.
Mr.. Platt eNpresse- regret that upon
the presentation of the report a desultory
discussion should have sprung up. He
suggested that after the committees re-
port had been printed, the senators peruSe
it carefully.
Gallinger N H.. chairman of the COM
mittee on pensions, requested that at the
conclusion of the morning hour. the time
until o'clock he devoted to the consid-
GRAFTON of pension bills until objected to-
The order was made.
Bills providing for the erection of a
public building at Tacoma WASH and
appropriatiRs $3.50. .0O0 for that purpose,
and providing an American register for
the steamer Jacksonville were passed.
Thurston secured he passage of reso-
luton calling upon the librarian of Con-
gresS to send a statement to the Senate
giving the names of all employees of the
library. their salaries. and the states
from which they come and whether they
have had any previous library experience.
A favorable report being made upon the
joint resolution accepting the invitation
of the government of Norway to take
part in an international fisheries exposi-
tlon to be held at Bergen. Norway. from
May to September. 1898, Nelson, Minn
the author of the resolution, secured it's
immediate passage.
The resolution accepts the invitation
and directs the commissioner of fish and
fisheries in person or by deputy to be APP
pointed by the President to represent the
United States at the exposition and to
make d display of the food fishes of the
United States, the methods of catching.
sailing. curing and preserving them, and
the implements and appliances used in
carrying on the fishery industries of the
United States. Any portion of the col
lection in the National Museum may he
used for exhibit at the exposition at the
commissioners discretion.
The resolution also provides that 5000
be Immediately available to defray the
necessary expenses of the display of the
United States at the exposition. The com |
missioner is directed to make a full re-
port TO the department of state of the
of the United States and the |
information and resources required.
The consideration of pension cases was
then begun. one hundred and thirty bills !
were passed in one hour. One of them
granted a pension of $50 month to Cas-
sius NJ Clay. ST.. Of Kentucky Il ma jor |
general in the nited States army during |
the war of the Rebellion
Turpie. Ind. presented the regular or
der of business. the consideration of res
olutions on the death of VIM. Steele Hol- |
man. late representative from indiana. |
Tributes to the memory of Mr.. Holman |
were paid by Fairbanks. Ind, Mills. Tex. |
saak roll Aifs