The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-01
TARIFF BILL PROGRAM.
Senate Expected to Take Up Measure
About the Fifteenth Inst.
Subcommittee Will Report
Early Next Week.
Democrats Do Not Intend to Pursue Fibuster.
Ing Tactics

Washington, May Inlay Is is the day
OH which IL is now expected that the
tariff bill will be taken up in the senate
for serious consideration. 1t Will be re-
ported TO the finance committee by the
Republican subcommittee, which has
been revising it, early next week, per-
haps on Monday, and will not be kept in
the finance committee until the 18th, but
will be promptly reported, with the un-
derstanding. however, that II shall not
be brought up for consideration in the
senate before the following week.
Next week the Democrats Of the finance
committee can be making their examina-
ton OF the bill, with the aid of experts,
and can be preparing for their criticisms
oil it and attempts to amend 1t In the SEN
ate. They have no purpose to filibuster
against II, nor has any of the other ele-
ments of the opposition In the senate.
The expectation Of the opposition lead
ers Is that the bill will be out of the SEN
ate in six weeks from May Is, and per-
haps that by that time ii may be sent to
the White House. There is no expecta-
ton that the extra session will last into
the fall, Aug. being regarded as the
latest date at which congress Is likely to
adjourn. Speaker Reed shows no dispo-
sition to change his program In the house.
and Il will continue to adjourn three days
at time and to remain without commit
tees and without doing general business.
Next week tho senate - expected TO
pass the sundry civil appropriation bill
with amendments. which may send 1t
back to the house. and Speaker Reed
will then have it considered there under
q special order as In the case Of the
Indian appropriation bill. So sure are
members Of the house that Mr.. Reeds
program ls not to be changed, that they
are arranging in many cases for pro-
longed absence from the city.
whisky Tax Increases "MOonshi ining."
Washington, May Lit Is very prob
able that the secretary OF the treasury
will soon recommend to congress a ma
terial reduction Of the internal revenue
tax on distilled spirits and an increase in
the tax on beer. This action will be
taken on the ground that the present
tax Of $1.10 per gallon is about the reve-
nue. producing point. Some days ago
Senator cullom introduced resolution,
which was adopted, calling upon the
secretary, for his Views on the subject,
and the commissioner of internal reve-
nue has now in preparation a report to
the secretary covering the facts in
volvd. This report will show that
since the increase of the tax on spirits
from 80 cents To $1.10 a gallon, Illicit
distilling has Increased to a point al
most. If not quite, beyond control This
Is the case particularly In the mountain
Gus districts In the South. Recently
evidence has been obtained of the ex-
tension of Illicit distilling into the North
A short time ago a large quantity Of
Illicit whisky was captured in Montana
and an investigation disclosed the fact
that it was manufactured i'm Nebraska
That it is rapidly increasing and ex-
tending In many directions, internal rev.
enue officers say. is beyond doubt, and
with only the $4,000 appropriated by
congress for the detection and suppress
sion Of Illicit distilling. the internal rev.
cnue bureau is almost helpless to stem
the tide. Just what reduction will be
recommended is not known, but there
are reasons for believing that 30 cents,
the rate collected under the Mckinley
law, will be fixed upon.
Decision on Duties.