Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-17

stored to health and granted uuietude and
peace. He also paid tribute to the memory
of the late Representative Holman
AT the suggestion of Mr.. Hawiey, chair
man of the military affairs committee, the
bill passed by the House for the relief Of
the 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 amended passed.
Senators Hawey, Carter and CockreIl
were named as conferees on the part of the
Senate.
Alcohol I'm the Arts.
Mr.. Platt Comm presented the report of
the special committee appointed by the
Senate and the House to investigate the
use of alcohol in the arts. In connection
with the presentation Of the report Mr..
Hoar (Mass.) said that he would take an
early opportunity to point out the differ
ence between those who produce whisky as
a beverage and those who manufacture
alcohol for use in the arts. 1T is time,"
said he, for Congress to deal with this
question with a little more courage and
little more Justice
In response to inquiries from Mr.. Chan
dler On. H) and Mr.. Gray (Dei.), Mr.. Platt
said that the joint committee had not been
able to agree except upon one proposition,
f.e., that Congress cannot at this time and
in the present circumstances of the govern
ment legislate for a removal OF the tax
upon alcohol used in the arts.
Mr.. Gray inquired what relief would come
to the industrial users of alcohol if the
tax were reduced as suggested by the Sec
rotary of the Treasury to what he calls
the revenue point, 30 cents q gallon.
Mr. Platt said that one suggestion was
to reduce the tax 20 the revenue point, in
accordance with the idea of the Secretary
q hllt he rf.r init faah had
dealt with that point.
Mr.. Chandler pointed out the fact that
SO long as the internal revenue tax en-
alcohol great in proportion to it's
cost enormous customs duties upon all
articles containing alcohol We're absolutely
necessary.
Mr.. Hale said that he could not give his
ar prevail to bill that would further re-
duce the revenues of the government $780,
oOo,OJ0 per year.
Proposed Additional Beer Tax.
Mr.. Hoar (Mass.) expressed the opinion
that Congress ought to have the courage
to put aside politics in the consideration Of
this question of taxing alcohol. He be-
ieved 1t would be perfectly proper to place
an additional tax of one dollar per barrel
on beer and thought that that woull re-
move the financial difficulties of the gov
eminent In the course of his remarks Mr..
Hear adverted to that part of the Wilson
law which dealt with the question Of use
OF alcohol in the arts.
In reply, Mr.. Vest (Mo) said that il was
well understood that part of the Wilson
law was not put into the bill except under
the dire extremites experienced by the
friends of the measure.
I'VE were appealed to-" said he ito let it
go into the bill without opposition, and we
consented in order that a vote might be
had upon the measure"
In response to an inquiry from Mr.. Vest
MIR. Platt said that he was not certain that
10 radtr irr~n Of no <,lo-
revenue point would increase the receipts
of the government. He thought it was an
open question. The first effect of such re-
duction he was assured would be large
reduction in the revenue.
Mr.. Hale (Maine) briefly replied to the
suggestion of Mr.. Hoar that the tax on
alcohol used in the arts ought to be re-
duced. He was not opposed, he said, to an
additional tax of a dollar per barrel on
beer, but he was opposed to any PROPOSE
ton that would result in a reduction of the
revenues of the government s1O,0OO,JO per
year.
The Administration and Gold.
At this juncture Mr. Stewart of Nevada
to a question of personal privilege
to reply to a charge which he said had
been made against him by Mr.. Chandler,
charge which he characterized as very
grave one. He referred to the assertion
of the New Hampshire senator he (StewarO
ministration on the finance question.
He had extracts read from the state
ment made yesterday by Secretary Gage
before the House committee on banking
and currency to show that the admin
istration was committed to the gold stand
ard. He contended that this statement
fully confirmed all that he had said and
further, that it manifested a determine
ton to place the control of the currency
in the hands of the banks, giving them all
the advantages and exacting from them
no security.
Mr. Gallinger On. HI, chairman of the
committee on pensions. requested that at
the conclusion of the morning business the
time until o'clock be devoted to the con- /
sideration of unobjected pension bills
The order was adopted.
Bills providing for the erection of pub
lie building at Tacoma. Wash. and appro-
priating $4,000 for that purpose and pro-
viding American register for the steam
er Jacksonville was passed.
Mr.. Thurston secured the passage of a
resolution calling upon the librarian of
Congress to send statement to the Senate
giving the names of all employees of the
library, their salaries and the state from
which they came and whether they have
had any previous library experiences.
International Fisheries.
favorable report being made upon the
joint resolution accepting the invitation of
the government of Norway to take part in
an international fisheries exposition. to be
held at Bergen, Norway, from May to Sep
TENDER, 1898, MIR. Nelson, Mimi, the author
of the resolution. asked for its immediate
consideration and secured its passage.
The resolution accepts the invitation and
directs the commissioner of fish and fish
cries, in person or by a deputy to be ap-
pointed by the President, to represent the
United States at the exposition, and to
make suitable display of the food fishes
of the United States, the methods of CATCH
ing. sailing, curing and preserving them,
and of the implements and appliances used
in carrying on the fishery indust ries of the
United States Any portion of the collec-
ton in the National Museum may be used
for exhibit at the exposition at the COM
missioners discretion.
The resolution provides $4,000, to be i'm
mediately available. to defray the necessary
expenses of the display of the United States
at the exposition.
The commission is directed to make a full
report to the Department of State of the
participation of the United States in the
exposition and the information and results
acquired.
The consideration of pension cases was
then begun.