Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1897-07-15

form a graded license law for brew
cries and distiIleries. The object sought
by the trainers Of this law was TO tax
the little fellows and let the big
fish escape. 1t was also sought TO in
crease the tax on retail licenses, and
thus save the breweries. The object of
this will be apparent when II is known
that some Of the big machine politi
clans IN the state have organized a beer
trust, the object OF which is to con-
solidate the beer interests, increase
prices, increase production. and ulti-
mately 20 drive out of the trade all Of
the smaller concerns.
wanamaker Men Active.
But the Wanamaker men were active
and vigilant. No finer example Of po-
litical harmony and unity of purpose
has ever been seen than has been dis
played by the "Seventy-six' in this
Legislature from beginning to end. They
knew what was intended to be ac-
complished in the beer tax bill. and so
when the measure was brought out an
instant fight was made upon it.
This fight upon what is known as the
beer revenue bill was not for the pur-
pose of defeating 1t, because all along
the anti-Quay. or Wanamaker men.
have insisted that the revenue neces-
- u' '''e So =, 49, -
existing -gGcit. should come from beer.
They ths.aSore fought the bill because
IL did ~.t impose heavy enough tax.
- -
-, -. ..--sff..,. f.,-.....,.,i... - H.,
,.-.- t.,., ,.,t.,.. 49,. .,,-. -. ,.y,,
Germs II II.t.guEr an i-nii-i-lphid,
~,
-.
ii+,t-, - -. ,-. .-......-t ,...,,-rii.,,
t-ra - ......... ,..,....,,.,. r.-,,g..-
II re an III. ..- .-s......... Ia, rr.t..l.t-
i,,, ,ts,., -,. g-I.t ... ..,.f.,.,..,, lie.
terly and -f.. f....-e refused p. agree.
in tha -.rat, .i.ir..Fi.ei.,s T., the bill.
This 1,e. a.. lii! ,r....us..,, ~ ed the
house Sat.,., IL enc Il HE B..ss beer
bills. but TIE -ena,. amended II as de-
scribed. As a result Of .he refusal of
the house To a..:.,. the bill was sent
bacl, to the een.,fe ard . conference
committee was arpciuted. This com
rnittee Iro,,e,bt o,,t some nov amend
uents yyhich sIirbtlv incr.esed tho tax
ON brewe,Ies. sin this did not satisfy
the valiant "S,.,anty-sIx Thov do
manded thar an adequate tax he
nllrGH 4.
shift.
1t was now the last day of the session.
The telephone line between Harrisburg
and Washington was kept hot with mes
sages between Senator Quay and his
leaders. Word was conveyed to the
senior senator that the "Seventy-six"
could not be whipped. and unless the
beer bill was amended or some agree
ment was reached the state would los.
$l,50O,0OO OF revenue, and the Republi-
can party would be irretrievably
ruined By reason of its attitude in
closing the public schools and opening
the breweries.
The seventy-sIx Wins.
Again was the bill amended on the
demand OF the "Seycnty-six." and this
time the Quay people. finding that moth
ing could be done. included the big
breweries In the graded tax list The
bill had now reached point where the
"Seyenty-siN" leaders could discuss II
with the Quay men. on the last night
OF the session there was conference.
Mr.. Il. a. Van Vaikenburg. the able
and skillful leader OF the "Sevcnty-six, a"
represented that body. while Speaker
Boyer and Senator w. IL Andrews rep
rssented Senator Quay. The Seventy
six proposition was submitted, that
they would now vote for the beer tax
blu with the distinct understanding
that the public qchool appropriation
Was not 10 be cut. Second. That the
item Of $3.50. 900 for normal schools was
to b. rcinserted In the general ap-
preparation bill II was also part OF the
agreement that as AN evidence ol Bood
f&lih speaker Boyer wouId come no"h
out Of his seat, make speech upon ths
subject, and give his personal word
that the Echool appropriation would
not be cut and that the normal schoois
would be protected.
Thus In one night all Mr. Quays pet
plans were swept away. He was com
PEELED 10 tax beer. he was compelled 10
agree not to reduce the school fund.
and ne was compelled TO make an ap-
preparation Tor the norman SCHOOLS
The 'SeVenty-slx cofnes out OF thls
legislative ilght crowned as the bllis
champions. they fought the bosses ana
az IN" c"ihHh"a machinery Oh th' w.
publican leader" successfully
III" LeNoW Licked
There were more notable features In
connection with TINS legislature other
than those quoted above The LeHoW
committee was never brought iorth' II
was Wen known that IL couId not ~
passed, ana u was defned wiser 10 let
1t lie over until more kindly leglsia-
ture would pay It's expenses IL huch
a legislature was ever elected.
The various inveBtigating commit
tees, which had piled UP numerous ex-
pense bills. were all compelled to cut
them down nearly one-haf Few
greater raids on the treasury had been
organized than these expense Bills, but
the house, not the senate, voted against
paying them until, at last, rather than
lose all. the men who demanded the
extortionatc sums were compelled to
come down 10 actual Items OF expense,
and then the bills passed.
In an Interview, following the close
OF the Legislature on Thursday. Mr.. f..
a Van Valkenburg. OF the Seventy
six" had this to say concerning it's
WORK:
THE legislature OF '97 IL Senator
Ouav's Frankenstein. Its record. like
n nightmare viii pursue IT'S creator
even 10 the goIitudes Of BrIgantine and
81 IucIe Helulcssly nan-acted the
do,nInant facttnn could do no better,
.,rbe baIf ba. ,ot bccn told vet the
r,e.cn, ieo,.i,ture ,yaa not worse than
o,bcra NJ INC pa., obedIcnt Ia the same
,o,.,cr M, ,c,..r In thc history ~
pen,svIyart, bsa ouch dcterroIned and
,,..,...,t,,,, -. 80, ,,,,,,..d ,,,.t,s, tho
t',,,e. a,.t,.I.,,.. nj. ,,.,,to
's .gc, -. fatt.,, -,
80 .gc. -, ,az
-, ,.. .,,,