The San Francisco call., 1897-12-18
PREMATURE
DEBATE ON
ALCOHOL
Report Of a Special
Committee Causes
Much Talk.
REDUCED TAX NOW
OPPOSED.
S eWart ReSentS Assertions
Made by Chandler of New
Hampshire.
DEFENDS HIS UTTERANCES
ON CURRENCY.
BIZ for the Relief of Miners in the
Klondi<e Region Goes to
Conference.
S eWart ReSentS Assertions
Made by Chandler Of New
Hampshire.
DEFENDS HIS UTTERANCES
ON CURRENCY.
BIZ for the Relief of Miners in the
KlondIke Region Goes to
Conferences.
Special Dispatch to The CALL
CALL OFFICE. RIGGS House, }
WASHINGTON, Dec, II. (

CALL OFFICE, RIGGs HOUSE
WASHINGTON, Dec. II.
A spirited DEBATE was precipitated in
the Senate to-day by the submission by
Platt OF Connecticut of the report of the
special committee of the Senaae and
House, appointed to investigate the use
OF alcohol IN the arts. 1t developed that
a wise divergence Of opinion exists among
Senators as to the practibiliiy, from the
point of view OF gov rnment revenue, OF
reducing the present tax upon alcohol
used in the arts. Hoar of Massachusetts,
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 Gil ad-
ditional tax of q dollar barrel on beer,
the question OF the Government revenue
would take care of itself.
Vest of Missouri strenuously opposed
any additional tax on beer.
A joint resolution accepting the invita-
ton of Norway 10 participate III an inter
national hsherles exposition next year,
was passed.
Under special order 138 private pension
bills were passed.
At the suggestion OF Hawley, chairman OF
the Military Affairs Committee, the bin passed
by the House for the relief o. the miners III
the hlondike region was taken up at once.
The Senate bill was substituted for that OF the
House and a conference was ordered, with
HawIey Carter and Cockrell as conferees.
During the day Stewart of Nevada rose to a
point OF personal privilege to reply to g charge
which he aid had been made against him by
Chandler, charge which he char acter zed as
very grave. He referred TO the assertion OF
the New hampshire Senator, who said mat he
(SteWart) had mlsrepresen led the attitude OF
the administration on the financInl question.
He had extracts reId from the statement n 8 de
yesterday by Secretary Gage before the House
Committee on Banking and u rency, to snow
the admin stration was Committed " the gold
standard. He coutended that his statement
fully confirmed all that ne had sa ID ana tur.
iher that il manifested determination IL
place the control OF the currency in the hands
OF the banks, giving them all the ADVANTAGES
and eXGCtlng from them no security
After the debate on alcohol used in the arts
had run some time Allison deprecated auv
attempt to raise the question at present. He
said IL was not pertinent and that it had not
been made C ear that alcohol used in the arts
cou-d be exempted from taxation without i'm
pairing the revenues beyond what they could
stand.
He ADDED that the interests OF the American
manufacturers using alcohol had been care
fully guarded otherwise in the new tariff law.
He thought, also, that recent events had gone
TO show tnat the 81 10 tax on alcohol could
be collected, and expressed the hope that II
earnest effort In that direction would be
made
Platt expressed regret that pom the pre-
sentatlon OF The report a dasultory discussion
should have sprung up. He suggested thai
after the committees report had been report.
ed the Senators peruse IT Carefully.
Bills providing for the cree ion of pu bliC
building at Tacoma Wash, aud sppropristine
S250,OOO foI that purpose and providing al
American register lor the steamer Jackson
vile we're passed.
One OF the pension bills rassed granted
pension OF so & month TO Cassius NJ CLAY Sr
ot Kentucky, Major-General in the United
States army during the War of the Rebellion
Turple OF Indiana then presente the regular
order Of business, the consideration of res O.
lut1ons on the death of William Steele Ho4
man, late representative from Indiana
tributes TO rs memory were paid in elegan
eulogles by Fair banks OF Indiana, Mills O.
Texas, Cockreu OF Missouri, FRYE OF Maine
and Turpie OF Indiana. The resolutions o
coincidence were passed and as a further mari
OF respect the Senate a. :25 P. IL adjourne
until tomorrow.