The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-23
ON BEER and TOBACCO
:Wll| thesDemoeratlc Fight on the Pro-
posed Tariff Bill be Based.
THE TAX ON BEER is uRJUsTIflABLE
Condemned rs Il War Tax-Senntor
German Urges substitutc-O on.
posed 40 Amy Policy Of Delay--So
Oppositton 10 he Mnde to Inlinc
dinte consideration OF Tariff Bill.
Washington, May 23. 1897.

Washington, May 23. 1897.
The Democratic Senator'S held a eau
* Gus to-day nand decided to inaugurate
81 their fight upon the tariff bill as soon
y as the bill is taken up in the Senate by
81 by q motion to strike out the internal
revenue features of the bill relating to
Il beer and tobacco.
}sfS This result was reached after discus
EeGion in which practically all the Sena-
5Stors present participated. The conclu-
3ssion was unanimous that this was the
wise and polite course to pursue.
-5s TAX ON BEER TO BE OPPOSED.
,5& The talk was based largely upon the
proposition to increase the tax upon beer
which was generally criticised rs an ef-
. fort to Increase the price Of the poor
mans beverage which was pronounc-
edl#wholly unjustifiable In time of
peace.and with Sl20,0 ,0G0 600 Of idle money
in the Treasury. The proposed beer tax
was8condemned as war tax.
The discussion of other features of
the tariff bill was only desultory and
no conclusion beyond that stated was
reached. The sugar schedule was the
subject Of frequent remark. and there
was discussion of the advisability Of
Offering substitute for it, but no con
ciuSion to that effect was arrived. It
was made apparent tina, every Demo-
cratic senator present would probably
vote asaist it.
GORMAN URGES 4 SUBSTITUTE
Senator German urged the advisabili
" OF the Introduction Of q substitute
for the entire bill, and made neat
speech IN support of the proposition.
but II was soon made apparent that the
sentiment Of the caucus was almost
unanimous in opposition 10 this course
and the proposition was not pressed to
vote. Mr.. German gave only q brief
outline OF a substitute. He said he
thought a bill could be prepared which
would levy revenue duty on tea and
coffee and other articles which would
increase the government customs re-
ce!pts sufficiently 10 make the Wilson
blil satisfactory, and thus score q point
OF Importance. N
The general sentiment Iof the caucus
was opposed TO any policy Of delay. No
set speeches will be made in opening the
debate, 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 con-
cluded.
The Democrats expect that disagree
ment Will develop among the Republl-
cans, and for this reason no general
h opinion was expressed in the caucus as
h 10 the time that Will be consumed by the
debate
At the conclusion Of the caucus Sena-
b
lowing statement concerning It:
TO ACT SPEEDILY.
The conference of Democratic Sena-
tors was held to-day, and It was unan-
1mousiy agreed by them that, notwith-
standing the delay in furnishing the
comparative statements which would
enable them inteligently to consider
me plii, there would be no opposition to
l.lhnediateiy proceeding with the consd-
co ~,
recognized the business in terests of the
country require as speedy disposition
VI tne question as is conS.Ste ent with
an intelligent consideration of the mea-
sure I>hey were further unanimously
OF the opinion that the excessive In
creases In rates on imported articles
provided for by the Dtngley bill and as
reported to the Senate, should no an
tagonized only to the extent OF exposing
lheir enorlnihes Recognizing, how
ever. that the Republican party is com
mitted 10 these increases, the Democrats
will be content with only fair discus
sion upon these propositions.
The Democrats were further unanf-
nously of the opinion that they would
oppose the increased tax on beer, to-
Dacco. and cigars, and other items en-
braceG in he internal revenue sched-
nles. Neither party was committed to
such increases. and there is no govern
mental necessity for such Increased bur-
dens upon these articles
Senator Aidrich, of the Republican
side Of the Senate Finance Committee
expressed the opinion when Informed Of
the decision OF the Democrats to move
10 strike out the internal revenue part
or the bill that the motion would fail
lie said 1T was most unusual not to say
unprecedented' to attack the last part
or the oil first. He said he had heard
no criticism from any source Of the pro-
vision to increase the beer tax