New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-18
ALCOHOL IN THE AXIS.
REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEES
PRESENTED BY SENATOR PLATT.
LONG DEBATE ON THE SUBJECT. IN WHICH
WIDE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AfNH
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES RELIEF BILL
SENT TO CONFERENCE.


sHowN-KLONDIKE RELIEF BILL
SENT TO CONFERENCE.
WASHINGTON Dec. IA spirited debate was pre-
cipitated in the Senate to-day D! TIE suo'hssio"
by Mr. Plat OF Connecticut. OF the report OF the
snecial ioint committee OF the Senate and House
OF Representatives appointed to investigate the
use of alcohol in the arts. 1t developed that Wlue
divergence OF opinion exists among Senators as 10
the practicabil from the point OF view
of reducing the resent tax on alcohol used in the
arts A Joint resolution accepting the invitation OF
Norway to take part in an international Fisheries
Exposition next year was passed. Under special
order l2s private pension bills passed. The
session closed with exercises In memory OF the
late William Steele Holman OF Indiana
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Hawey chairman OF
the Military Affairs Committee the bill passed by
the House for the relief OF miners in the Klondike
region was taken up. Mr. Hawley moved that all
after the enacting clause Of the House bill be
stricken out and the Senate bill substituted The
motion was carried and the bin as amended passed
Senators Hawey Carter and Cockrell were named
as conferrees on the part OF the Senate
Mr.. Plat (Rep.. Comm then presented the report
OF the special committee to investigate the use OF
alcohol in the arts Mr. Hoar Rep.. Mass) said
that he would take early opportunity to point
out the difference between those who produce
whiskey as beverage and those who manufact-
alcohol Cor use In the arts. 1T is time" said
he "for Congress to deal with this question with
little more courage and little more justice"
In response to inquiries from Mr.. Chandler (Rep
N HI and Mr.. Gray Dem. Del). Mr. Plat said
that the joint committee had not been able to
agree except on one proposition-that Congress
cannot at this time and In the present circum-
stances Of the Government legisate for a re-
moval Of the tax on alcohol used in the arts
Wether the conditions will later be such as to
enable Congress TO reduce the tax the committee
could not determine The committee had pre-
pared no bill bearing on the subject but Mr.
Platt expressed his intention Of preparing a bill
in due time.
Mr. Gray inquired what relief would come to the
industrial users Of alcohol II the tax were reduced
as suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury 10
what he calls the revenue point 70 cents a gallon
MT Piatt said that one suggestion 10
duce the tax to the revenue point in accordance
with the idea Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
but the committee had not dealt with that point
Mr. Chandler pointed out the fact that so long
as the internal revenue on alcohol was so
great in proportion to its enormous customs
duties on all articles containing alcohol were alb
solutey necessary
THE EFFECT ON THE REVENUES.
Mr.. Hale said that he could not give his ap-
proval to bill that would further reduce the
revenues Of the Government 100000 year.
M Hoar expressed the opinion that Congress
ought 10 have the courage to put aside politics
In the consideration Of this question Of taxing al
coho He believed It would be perfectly proper
TO place an additional tax Of 81 barrel on beer
and thought that that would remove the financial
difficulties Of the Government. In the of his
remarks Mr.. Hoar alluded to that part OF the
Wilson law which dealt with the question of alcohol
in the
In reply Mr.. Vest Dem. MOI said 1t was well
understood that this part Of the Wilson law
was not put into the bill except under the dire
extremites experienced by the friends Of the
measure. We were appealed to-" said he. ITO let
1t go into the bill without opposition. and
sented IN order that vote might be had on the
measure"
In reply to inquiry from Mr.. Vest Mr.. Platt
said that he certain that the reduction
Of the tax alcohol to the revenue point would
increase the receipts Of the Government. He
thought IT open question The first effect
OF such reduction. he assured. would be
lsrge reduction In the revenue.
Mr. Hale briefly replied to the suggestion Of Mr..
Hoar that the tax alcohol used In the arts ought
TO be reduced. He was not opposed he said. TO an
additional tax OF 81 barrel on beer, but he was
opposed to any proposition that would result in
reduction OF the revenues Of the Government slo.-
100000 year.
At this 1uncture Mr. Stewart pop. New rose to a
question of personal privilege to reply to a charge
which he said had been made against him by Mr.
very grave one Re referred TO the assertion Of the
New-Hampshire Senator that he had misrepIesented
the attitude Of the Administration on the financial
question. He had extracts read from the statement
committee on Banking and Currency to show that
the Administration was committed 10 the gold
eonalmed ali that he had said and further that
manifested a determnation to place tho control OF
all the advantages and exacting from them no
Returning to alcohol in the arts. Mr. Allison dep
recated any attempt 70 raise the question at the
time He said d was not ba s nd
In the arts could be exempted from taxation without
stand. He added that the interests of American
manufacturers using alcohol had been bee carefully
thought also that recent occurrences had gone to
show that the 8. 10 tax alcohol could be collected
s sna direction would f BE- made 81
Mr.. Plat expressed regret that on the presenta1;
have sprung up. He suggested that after the
peruse it carefully.
TO JOIN IN THE FISHERIES EXPOSITION.
A favorable report being made on the Joint reso-
luton accepting the Invitation Of the Government
of Norway 10 take part in an international Fish
cries Exposition to be held at Bergen. Norway.
MIMI the author OF the resolution secured It's i'm
mediate passage The resolution accepts the In,
Fisheries in person. by deputy to be appointed
by the President. TO represent the United States at
the food fish Of the United States the methods Of
epns anS In
the fishery Industries Any portion OF ne collec-
hibit at the Exposition at the Commissioners dis
erection. The resolution provides SO 900 to be i'm
mediately available to defray the necessary ex-
penses OF the display Of the United states at the
Exposition. The Commissioner is directed TO make
q full report to the Department of State
The consideration Of pension bills was then be-
gun One Of them granted a pension Of $50 a month
to Cassius NJ Clay ST., OF Kentucky, a ma tor-gen-
eral in the United States Army during the Civil
War
Tributes to the memory Of Mr. Holman were
paid by Mr. Fairbanks Rep.. Ind), Mr.. Mills
PROPERTY OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.