The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-01
Secretary Gage VIII Ask It and Reduction
Of Distilled Spirits Tax,
MOONSHlNIRG HAS GREATLY INCREASED
The fncrense III The Whiskcy and
Brandy TAX Is Thought to be the
Cause.-The PreSent Fax OH Dis
tiIlei Spirits Isl Not Revenue Pro.
siucins-Ncws nnl Notes.
Washington, April 80, 1897.

s OF! the treasury VIII soon recommend to
Congress 8 material reduction Of the in
!: :ternal revenue tax on distilled spirits
and an.3increase III the tax on beer
This action will be taken On the ground
that the present tax of $110 per gal
lon Is above the revenue producing
point. Some days ago Senator Cullom
introduced resolution, which was
adopted. calling upon the Secretary for
his views on the subject, and the COM
missioner of internal revenue has now
In preparation Il report 10 the secretary
covering the facts involved..
This report will show that since the
increase OF the tax Oh spirits from 90
cents to Sl.10 a gallon, Illicit distilling
mas increased to Il point almost il
not quite, beyond control. This is the
case particularly IN the mountainous
districts Of the South. Recently evil
dence has been obtained OF the extern
sion Of Illicit distilling into the North.
~ ~ snort time ago a. large quantity Of
Illicit WhiSkey was captured in Montana
and an investigation disclosed the fact
that II was manufactured in Nebraska
Ihat 1t is rapidly increasing and cX-
tending In many directions internal
revenue officers say Is beyond doubt.
ana With only the $500o0 appropriated
by Congress for the detection and sup
preston Of Illicit Gistilling the internal
reVenue bureau is almost helpless to
stem the tide Just what reductions
Will be recommended is not known,
que there are reasons for believing that
ninety cents, the rate collected under
the Mckinley bill, will be fixed upon.
Under the lower rate it Is contended
that the inducements for viola ting the
law would be reduced and at the same
time the revenue would not suffer NO
definite conclusion has yet been rea CHI
1eu &as.1to What the reoornmendation as
70 the tax on beer shall be, but it is al
IOEGtHCr nrnba hla that n it,r.r Win
be advised.
GOLD EXPORTS.
To-day's withdrawals from the New
York sub-treasury Of 1000 600 in gold
coin and bullion for export. is not view
ed with apprehension at the Treasury
Department, old officials of the depart
ment calling attention to the fact that
curing the last twenty years and more
mere mas been an annual outward
movement Of gold from this country to
Europe. usually beginning in April or
May and ending in midsummer, and n
corresponding return movement during
the winter months The three last
years, however, have been marked by
abnormal gold movements, based on
abnormal conditions which, it is said
no longer exist
Se|eral movements are given for the
present gold export movement, OF
which reasons the heavy import tons
10 take advantage OF the proposed new
tariff law is regarded as the weight
lest.
Whatever the cause, no alarm Is felt
here as to the outcome, the present
STOCK or gold in the treasury, S153. 1854, :
5o5, being regarded as ample to meet
any emergency without the least i'm
pairing our credit at home or abroad.
IL was definitely announced today
mat w II. Calhoun, OF Danviic, ILL.,
IS TO so to Cuba to investigate the
President Mckinley has decided
not to interfere in the case
or Joseph Dunlop, proprietor OF the
Chicago Dispatch. who was sentenced
10 TWO years imprisonment for sending
obscene matter through the mails.
THE HONDURAS REVOLUTION.
The latest authentic news received n
the state Department from Honduras
IS that the revolutionists have captured
San Pedro and have possession or mo
railroad as far as Pimiento thc end of
the line). Santa Barbara and Santa
Rosa ere both said TO have declared
IN favor Of the revolution. Omoa still
holds out. Ceiba IS said to have been
taken, but the revolutionIsts are said
70 have been repulsed at Truxillo.
me United States cousul at Guade-
loupe Islands, West Indies, has tele-
graphed the State Department. under
date Of April Goth from Point Apitre, as
follows:
Severe earthquake; loss heavy: MANY
INJURIES
fourth class postmasters appointed in
Virginia to-day were: Chincoteague is
1and, J w. Field; Montreal, NJ. /.
THo TARIFF BILL.
Senators Allison and Aldrich spcnt the
uay IN pacing the finishing touches to
Ihe tariff bill. They were the only mem
Ders or the SUBJ committee in the city.
Ihe DIFF has been completed in ali es-
sentlai particulars and now only re-
mains to be put In shape for presen-
tation to the Democrats.
The Republican members of tbe COM
mittee are still negotiating With the
Democratic members to secure an under
standing as to the time to be consumed
IN considering the bill in full commit
zee. put nave not succeeded in securing
any definite agreement =
II ls understood to be one OF the mr.
poses Of the Democratic members of thc
Flnance Committee to offer several
amendments and force the vote on them.
SO as to put the Republicans on record.
ana they count upon having the co.
operation Of Senator Jones, Of Nevada.
on some Of their propositions
senator Jones position appears to be
a Z. E b" = G