The evening times., 1897-07-05
STAMP TAX AGREED UPON
AIIiSon'S Amendment Adopted
Without Even a Roll Call.
CONSIDERABLE DEBATE ON IT
Proposition to Put Books on the
Free List Defeated Bibles Also
Must Pay Duty, No Matter IN
What La .g~-ge -.a~y Are frinted.
Long Session Probable.

The patriotic desire on the part of the
Senators was not strong enough To cause
them to desert their post OF duty while
the tariff bill Is pending, and so the Senate
o,tencd at ] i O'Clock this morning with AS
large an attendance of Senators as has
been present in many day.
A small amount of unimportant morning
business was quickly tran sacted, and
then the Senate again tackled the tariff
bill, with a good prospect that IL VIII not
pass hs body much, If any, before the last
OF the present week.
Mr.. Mills started the ball rolling by NOV
Ing an amendment to take book sof all kinds
from the dutiable list, and place them
on the freellst. The amendment Was lost
yeas Z, nays 2s, large number OF pairs
reducing the voting force OF the Senate.
Iii. Mills then scored d good point with
tie rcligiously inclined people of the coun-
try by moving to insert a new paragraph
placing on the free last Bibles in whatever
language pnnted" This proposition was
also voted down, only twenty-one Senators
voting ror it and twent Y five againstit.
Mr.. Jones then moved TO place on thefree
use THIS mutioa was voted down without
roll cal.
The Senate then entered upon the DIS
cussion OF the proposition Ia ii.corpurate
ia the bill a provision FOR the taxation
OF bonds, uebentuTes and certificates Of
sock and other indc!Iciness. The amend
ment proposed, a. recently modified hy
Mr.. Allison Tor the Finance Committee, is
very long, covering, as IL docs, twelve
large aud closely printed pages.
The discussion turned upon the legal
and technical questions involved ia the
proposed proposition. Nj. A lien argued
ihat Congress had not the power to pass
law TO regulate State courts andpractices,
while Mr.. Chiffon argued that he was partly
! right, bnt said that ID passed, the proposed
Law wodld be ignored by State courts
Mr.. Morgan, MI Teller, and others
! explained that the amendment contained
| no proposition giving State courts any
control over the question under considera-
uion. Law books were read from at great
/ length by Mr.. White, Mr.. Spooner, and MIR.
/ Teller, ia support OF the claim that the
amendment could not be construed to apply
at all TO any State court
After less than two hours debate on the
| question. the lawyers OF the Senate having
had their say for and against, the entire
stamp tax amendment proposed 10y Mr..
! Allison was agreed to without even a
! rCu caH
The Senate then proceeded to the Con-
sideratIon uf MT. Spooner's PROPOSED amend
nlent providing for a tarif IF commission TO
be appointed from among the United states
anDraisers VITO are supposed to be ex.
perts.
MI. Teller entered upon a criticism of the
bill Ia several particulars He had, he said
tned faithfully for some weeks to ascertain
! something of an estimate as TO the amount
OF Teyeaue the bill under con onsitIeration will
/ produce.
/ Il would be glad to hear statement
on that subject fIom Chairman Allison
If he is prepared 10 make one at the pres
4 ent time said Mr. Teller
Mr. Allison said he proposed before the
/ discussion closed to make such a statement
! H. detail He could say now however. tha at,
/ according 10 the best estimates to be had.
1 II was hit belief that the bill will weld
froia ST. 900. 900 to 81 80 .O0O. 900 for the
| first wear, probably at least the LATTER
amount, and not less than S2OO, 600 900
per year in the next and subsequent Years.
| These estimates could only be based upon
the probable conditions of the business in
teresIs OF tie country.
Mr. Teller replied dthat even 5000. 600 Ooo
per year would be insufficient. for the needs
/ or ne government and would still lea ye a
deficit He then entered upon a criticism
or the committee for abandoning the mo
! pOSed FAX on beer, the increase of the ta
on whisky andOfher amendments thai have
been from time to time proposed.
Ihe proposed tax on beer would not have
! COST The consumer a single mill. he said.
ana yet because great election is coming
| on IN one OF the States in which are manv
voters who do not want beer taxed. the
! committee promptly abandoned its amend
ment and deliberately throws away from
S2o, 100000 to $40, ,OOO. 900 ner vear oe
revenue from that one item alone.
They do this. Mr. Teller said, while tb.v
are sc"ming the country over for more
revenue. without Knowing from w hat so,:rce
enough is 20 be secured.
MI. Teller also argued at great Ienoth
against the rate agreed upon by the Sem
ate on whisky and all other distilled soir-
It's, thus materially cutting down the rerr.
nue. that might he collected from that
source
lt lis generally understood by all familiar
with the subject that a tax of 20 cents
per gallon, IL honestly and impar,ialIv on
forced, would give the Government moro
revenue than tax of S1.1O, as law is at
present enforced.