The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-07-02
Republican Caucus Decides Il to he
Incspedient at this Time.
Last Meeting on the Tariff
Was Spirited.
sond and Stock Transactions 10 Be Taxed.
Beer Rate increased

WssninBtOn, July Z.-IaSt night the
Republican senators held what was
probably their last caucus on the tariff.
The meeting was more spirited than any
held during the session. The chief topic
was trusts, and after three hours Of de-
bate, IL was decided not TO insert an anti
trust poryision In the pending bill. De-
cisions reached by the caucus were as
follows:
To report no antitrust amendmenty
to withdraw the original finance COM
mittee provisions for duty on tea and
an increase OF A cents per barrel In the
tax on beer, and to provide for a tax on
bond and stock transactions.
The greater part Of the time was given
to the proposition for provision against
trusts.
The discussion on this question was
opened upon the basis OF a report by the
judiciary committee In opposition to any
effort to attach trust provision to the
tariff bill.
The committee had held a meeting
during the afternoon, at which the whole
question was gone over at length with
other Republican senator's, including
Messrs. Hanna and Chandler. 1t was
then decided that II would be extremely
difficult to secure legislation that would
be effective, and that upon the whole
1t was fmpolitic and unwise to under
take 1t. A report was made accordingly
to the caucus and a resolution adopted
authorizing the presentation Of an
amendment providing in express terms
for the continuance In effect of the terms
OF the Wilson law, which makes II un
lawful to form a trust In imported
articles.
This report called out some vigorous
protests, especially on the part of the
Western senators, but they were re-
piled to with spirit. 1t was asserted
among other things that the presenta-
tion of new antitrust provision would
lead to long debate. which could not be
afforded at the present time.
The success of the proposition to re-
cede from the increased tax on beer and
the temporary duty on tea led to quite a
prolonged discussion of the amount of
revenue the bill would yield. Many
senators expressed the opinion that the
volume would not be equal to the de-
mands of the government. 1t was in
response to this view that a determina-
tion was reached to provide for tax on
stock and bond transactions. The de-
tails of this scheme were not agreed
upon, but were left to the finance COM
mittee to perfect. There was decided
opposition to a tax on either ordinary
bank checks or mortgages.
1t appeared during the discussion of
this branch of the subject that the COM
mittee had been supplied with estimates
Of the revenue the bill would produce,
made by Worthington G. Ford who has
given the opinion that with an equal
volume Of imports the bill would pro-
duce during the first year Of its opera
tion more than $100,00O.0 900 in excess of
the returns under the Wilson law for
the first year it was In existence. Sena.
tor Allison said, however, that these
figures were misleading. as the imports
would not be expected to be so large, and
advised his fellow senators on this &C.
count not to accept them as any indica-
tion of the possibilities Of the bill.
Senator Wellington Kicks.
Washington, July 2.-The senate COM
mittee on commerce yesterday listened
In the protest Of Senator Wellington of
Maryland against the appointment Of
B. H. Warner, Jr., as consul to Leipsic.
The senator had indorsed Mr.. Warner
for the consulship at Southampton, but
he desired the appointment of another
man to the position in Germany. He
therefore took exceptions to Mr.. Warmers
transfer as In conflict with his plans,
claiming that his Endorsement did not
extend to any other position and that
the president had not dealt fairly with
him in making the change. He al o
asserted that Mr.. Warner was not quail
fed to properly discharge the duties of
the office and claiming that under the
circumstances the nomination should
be rejected by the senate as a matter
Of senatorial courtesy.
After the Comm encement.