Omaha daily bee., 1897-05-23
ASSAIL BEER TAX CLAUSE
Democrats Select Point of Attack on the
Tariff Bill.
WILL OFFER NO GENERAL SUBSTITUTE
Caucus Develops the Fact that the
Entire Democratic Vote In the
senate viii lie Against
the Measure.

WASHINGTON, May 22.-The democratic
senators held caucus today and decided to
inaugurate their fight upon the tarin bill as
soon as the bill Is taken up In the senate by
a motion to strike out the internal revenue
features Of the bill relating to beer and
tobacco. This result was reached after a
discussion. in which practically all the sena-
tors present participated. The conclusion
was unanimous that this was the wise and
polite course to pursue The talk was
based largely upon the proposition to in
crease the tax upon beer, which was gener-
ally criticised as an effort to increase the
price of "the poor mans beverage" which
was pronounced wholly unjustihabe in time
of peace and with s120, 1000, 900 of idle money
in the treasury. The proposed beer tax was
condemned as a war tax.
The discussion of other features OF the
tariff bill was only desultory and no conclu-
sion beyond that stated was reached Inc
sugar schedule was the subject OF frequent
remarks aud there was discussion OF the
advlsabity of offering a substitute Tor II,
but no conclusion to that effect was arrived
at. 1t was made apparent that every demo-
cratic senator present would proDaply vote
against the bill.
Senator German urged the advisability of
the introduction of substitute for the en-
tire bill and made a speech in support OF
the proposition, but 1t was soon made ap-
parent that the sentiment of the caucus
was almost unanimous in Opposition to TINS
course and the proposition was not pressed
to vote. Mr.. German gave only briet
outline of a substitute. He thought a
bill could be prepared which would levy
revenue duty on tea and coffee and other
articles which would increase the govern
ment revenues sufficiently to make the Will
son bill satisfactory and thus score point
of Importance.
The general sentiment of the caucus was
opposed to any policy of delay. No set
speeches will be made in opening the de-
bate. and there probably will be no effort
from the democratic side of the chamber
to prevent the taking up OF the schedules
Immediately after Mr. Aldrich's preliminary
statement is concluded.
The democrats express the hope that dis
agreements will develop among the repub-
licans and for this reason no general opinion
was expressed in the caucus as to the time
that will be consumed by the debate.
STATEMENT BY GORMAN.
With the conclusion of the caucus Senator
German, chairman, gave out the following
statement concerning 1t:
The conference of democratic senator's
was held today and it was unanimously
agreed by them that notwithstanding the
delay in furnishing the comparative state
ments. which would enable them intelli-
no opposition to Immediately proceeding
with the consideration of the same on Tues
day, as they recognized the business inter
ests of the country require as speedy a dis
position of the question as is consistent
with intelligent consideration of the
measure. They We're further unanimously
of the opinion that the excessive increases
in rates on imported articles, provided for
both in the Dinsley bill and as reported to
the senate, should be antagoniZed only to
the extent of exposing their enormities.
Recognizing, however, that the republican
party is commits ted to these increases, the
democrats will be content with only fair
discussion upon these propositions. The
democrats were further unanimously of the
opinion that they would oppose the in
other items embraced in the internal
revenue schedules. Neither party was
committed to such increases and there is
no governmental necessity for such in
creased burdens unon those articles.