The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-12-18
ALCOHOL IN THE ARTS
1t Precipitated q Lively Debate in
the Senate.
is COMMITTED TO GOLD
Stewart Asserts That Cages Statements
Bear Out the Senator's Recent AS
sertions = Revenues Cannot
Stand the Exemption.

| Washington, Dec. IA spirited de-
| bate was precipitated in the senate to-
| day by the submission by Mr. Platt of
| Connecticut of the report of the special
! joint committee of the senate and house
appointed to investigate the use of alco-
hol in the arts.
| 1t developed that a wide divergence
of opinion exists among senators as to
| the practicability, from the point of
view of government revenue of reduc-
ing the present tax upon alcohol used in
the arts. Mr.. 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 ourageously
and honestly by the imposition of an
additional tax of a dollar a barrel on
beer the question of the governments S
revenue would take care of itself. Mr.
Vest of Missouri strenuously opposed
any additional tax on beer.
A joint resolution, accepting the invi-
tation of Norway TO participate in an
international fisheries exposition next
year, was passed
Under a special order 1SS private PEN
sion bills were passed. AT the sugges-
tion of Mr.. Hawley, chairman of the
military affairs committee. the bill pass
ed by the house for the relief of the min
ers in the klondyke region, was taken up
at once. The senate bill was substituted
for that of the house and a conference
was ordered. with Messrs. Hawley, Car
ter and Cockrell as conferees.
During the day Mr.. Stewart of Ne
Nada rose to a point of personal privil-
ege to reply to a charge which he said
had been made against him by Mr.
Chandler charge which he character
lied as very grave. He referred to the
assertion of the New Hampshire sena-
tor that he (StewarD had misrepre-
sented the attitude of the administration
on the financial question. He had ex-
tracts read from the statement made
yesterday by Secretary Gage before the
house committee on banking and cur
rency to show that the administration
was committed to the gold standard.
He contended that this statement fully
confirmed all that he had said and fur
ther that ii manifested determination
to place the control of the currency in
the hands of the banks. giving them all
the advantages and exacting from them
no security.
After the debate on alcohol used in
the arts had run sometime, Mr.. Alli-
son deprecated any attempt to raise the
question at present. He said ii was not
pertinent and that it had not been made
clear that alcohol used in the arts could
be exempted from taxation without i'm
pairing the revenues beyond what they
Npai' Stshd- tlC dddSd iiidl lNt Interests
of American manufacturers using alco-
hol had been carefully guarded other.
wise in the new tariff law. He thought
also that recent events had gone to
show that the $l.10 tax on alcohol could
be collected and expressed the hope that
an earnest effort in that direction
would be made
Mr.. Platt expressed regret that upon
the presentation of the report a desul-
tory discussion should have sprung up
He suggested that after the committees
report had been had the senators pe-
ruSe IL carefully.
Bills providing for the erection of a
public building at Tacoma Wash, and
appropriating $3.50 900 for that purpose
and providing an American register for
the steamer Jacksonville were passed
One of the pension bills passed grant
ed pension of $50 a month to Cassius
M. Clay, sr.. of Kentucky, a major gen
eral in the United States army during
the war of the rebellion
Mr. Turpie of Indiana then presented
the regular order of business, the CON
sideration of resolutions on the death
of William Steele Holman late a repre-
sentative from Indiana
, Tributes to his memory were paid in
eloquent eulogies by Fairbanks, Mills
Cockrell, Frye and Turpie. The resolu-
tions of coincidence We're passed. and az
a further mark of respect the senate. ar
4:25 p. M, adjourned until tomorrow.