The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-18
Senator Hoar Says if Congress S
Would Act Honestly
There Would Be No Trouble
About the Revenue.
ONE DOLLARA BARREL
Additional ON Beer Would Be
About the Right Thing.
Gen. Cassius NJ. Clay Voted a
Pension of $50 Per Month.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-A spirited de-
bate was precipitated in the senate yes
terday by the admission by Mr.. P1att
(Conn) of the report of the special
joint committee of the senate and house
appointed to investigate the use Of al
cohol in the arts.
It developed that wide divergence
of opinion exists among senators as to
the practicabiIity from the point OF
view Of government revenue, of reduc-
ing the present tax upon alcohol used
in the arts. Mr.. Hoar (Mass), who
favOrs such a reduction, expressed the
opinion that if congress would lay
aside political considerations and deal
with the liquor question courageously
and honestly, by the imposition of an
additional tax of a dollar a barrel on
beer the question of the government S
revenue would take care of itself.
Mr.. Vest (Mo.), strenuously opposed
any additional tax on beer.
A joint resolution accepting the invi-
tatiOn of Norway to participate in an
international fisheries exposition next
year was passed.
Under a special order 1873 private pen
sion bills were passed.
At the suggestion of Mr.. Hawley,
chairman of the military affairs COM
mittee the bill which passed the house
for the relief of the miners in the KlOn-
dixie region was taken up at once. The
senate bill was substituted for that Of
the house and a conference was or
dered, with Messrs. Hawley, Carter
and COckrell conferees.
During the day Mr. Stewart (Nev.),
arose to question of personal privi-
lege to reply to a charge which he said
had been made against him by Mr..
Chandler a charge which he character
lied as very grave one. He referred
to the assertion of the New Hampshire
senator that he (Stewart) had misrep-
resented the attitude of the adminlstra-
ton on the financial question. He had
extracts read from the statement made
ESeaf11 at a FeAfT Ia.a
committee on currency and banking to
show that the administration was COM
mitted to the gold standard. He con
tended that this statement fully con-
hrmed all that he had said and fur
thermOre it manifested a determination
to place the control of the currency in
the hands of the banks, giving them all
the advantages and eXacting from them
no security.
After the alcohol used in the arts
had run some time, Mr.. Allison depre-
Gated any attempt to raise the question
at present. He said it was not per-
tinent and that it had not been made
clear that alcohol used in the arts
could be exempted from taxation with
out lmpiring the revenue beyond what
they could stand He added that the
interest of American manufacturers
using alcohol had been carefully
guarded otherwise in the new tariff
law He thought also that recent
events had gone to show that the S110
tax on alcohol could be collected and
expressed the nope Ihat an earnest ef-
fort in that direction would be made
Mr.. Platt expressed regret that upon
the presentation of the report a desul-
tory discussion should have sprung up
He suggested that after the commit
tees report had been made the sena-.
tors peruse it carefully.
Bills providing for the erection of a
public building at Tacoma, Wash, and
appropriating $3.50. 900 for that purpose
and providing an American register
for the steamer Jacksonville were
passed.
one of the pension bills passed grant
ed pension of $50 a month to Cassius
NJ. Clay, senior of Kentucky, a major
general in the United States army dur
ing the war of the rebellion
Mr.. Turpie Qnd.), then presented the
regular order of business, the consid-
Grafton Of resolutions on the death of
William Steele Holman, late a repre-
sentative from Indiana. Tributes to
his memory were paid in eloquent eu-
1ogies by Mr.. Fairbanks Ond) Mr..
Mills CTex)' Mr.. CoekreI Mo), Mr.
Frye (Me), and Mr. Turpie Ond0.
The resolutions of coincidence were
passed and as a further mark of re-
spect the senate at 4:05 D. m. ad-
jOurned.