The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-18
NOT USED AS BOOZE
SENATORS GRAPPLE WITH AL00-
HOL USED IN THE ARTS

4 0uco 10 tnc Rev0oo0 Sf00 OF tue sS8ses
Mr.. Hoar Being Earnest In Urging ~
Compensatory the Imposition of .
Doliar-a- Barrel Tax on Beer, Which
| Touches Mr.. Vest in q Tender Spot
Kiondike Relief Measures Sent to Con-
ference-Gaee aud the Siiverites.
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
of representatives appointed 10 invesii-
gate the use OF alcohol in the arts.
1t developed that wide divergence
OF opinion exists among members as 10
the practicabiTty. from the point OF
view Of government revenue, OF reduc-
ing the present tax upon alcohol used in
the arts. Mr.. Hoar OF Massachusetts.
VINO favors such a reduction. expressed
the opinion that IL congress would lay
aside political considerations and deal
with the liquor quertion courageously
and honestly, by the imposition of an
| beer, the question of the governments
revenue would be able to take care OF
itself.
Mr.. Vest OF Missouri strenuously op-
! posed any additional tax on beer.
a joint resolution accepting the fnvi-
tetion of Norway to participate in an
international fisheries exposition next
year was passed.
Under a special order 13S private PEN
sion bills were passed.
At the suggestion OF Mr.. Hawiey,
chairman of the military affairs COM
mittee, the bill which passed the house
for the relief of the miners in the kBofl-
dixie region, was taken up at once. The
senate bill was substituted for that OF
the house and conference was or
dered, with Messrs. Hawley, Carter and
Cockrell conferees
During the day Mr.. Stewart Of Ne
vada rose to question of personal priv
ilege to reply TO a charge which he said
had been made against him by Mr..
Chandler, a charge which he character
lied as a very grave one. He referred
to the assertion of the New Hampshire
senator that ne CStewart) had misrepre-
sented the attitude of the administra-
ton on the financial question. He nad
extracts read from the statement made
yesterday by Secretary Gage before the
house committee on banking and cur
rency 10 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 it manifested a determination
10 place the control Of the currency in
the hands Of banks, giving them all the
advantages and exacting from them no
security.
After the debate on the question or
alcohol used in the arts had run some
time, Mr.. Allison deprecated any at
tempt to raise the question at present
He said Ii was not pertinent and that
II had not been made clear that alcohol
used in the arts could be exempted from
taxation without impairing the revenues
beyond what they should stand. He
added that the interests OF American
manufacturers usirg alcohol had been
guarded otherwise in the new tariff law
He thought also that recent events hao
gone to show that the sl.1O tax on alco--
| hol could be collected, and expressed
| the hope that an earnest effort IN mat
! direction would be made.
| Mr.. Platt expressed repret that upon
| the presentation OF the report des-
ultory discussion should have sprung up.
He suggested that after the committee
report had been reported the senators
peruse ii carefully.
| Bills providing for the erection or a
public building at Tacoma, Wash, ana
| appropriating s250,00 for that purpose.
and providing an American register for
the steamer Jacksonville, were passed.
One Of the pension bills passed grant
| ed a pension OF $50 a month 10 Cassius
NJ. Clay. Sr, of Kentucky, a major gen.
eral in the United States army during
| the war OF the rebellion.
Mr.. Turpie Qnd) then presented the
regular order OF business. the conridera-
ton OF resolutions on fhe death OF VIII
| lam Steele Holman. late a representa-
tive from Indiana. Tributes TO his MEM
ory were paid in eloquent eulogies by
Mr.. Fairbanks 0nd.), Mr.. Mills CTexss).
ur .Cockreli (Mo). Mr. Frye tMaine)
and Mr.. Turpie Qnd). The resolutions
! Of coincidence were passed and as a fur
/ ther mark of respect the senate, at 40
/ - m adjourned until tomorrow.