The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-08
And May Abandon the Scheme to In
crease Taxes on Beer and Tobacco
and Levy a Duty on Tea.
ANOTHER SUGAR SCHEDULE
LIKELY TO BE THE OUTCOME OF THE
CONFERENCE THIS MORNING.
Mr.. Vests Motion to Put White Pine
Lumber on the Free List Defeated
Lively Debate in the Senate.
srecial to the indianapolis Journal.

Srecial to the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, June THE Senate is
getting ready to abandon the tariff amend
ments taxing beer and tobacco and in do
ing this the way is beirg paved for con-
cessions to the House which in the end will
amount to practically the adoption of the
Dingley bin, for with the internal revenue
feature knocked out the Senate measure
will fall short as a revenue producer. AT
a meeting of the Republican end of the
finance committee this evening a retreat
was planned with regard to the sugar
schedule and in the caucus of the full Re
publican Senate tomorrow it is understood
that the compound sugar taxing scheme
will be abandoned and a specific duty
agreed on. 1t is believed that the rates will
range from u cent up and that the differ
entail will be fixed at 3-16 of cent. The
present law provides for a. The Dingley
bill makes it 1s. In conference further con-
cessons to the House will probably be
made.
Chairman Allison, of the Republican SEN
atorial caucus, an Associated Press dis
patch says, decided to-day to call the
caucus together at 10 o'clock tomorrow.
The meeting has been under contemplation
for several days, owing to the fact that
there are various articles on which it had
been found desirable to have the party in
the Senate agree in its assembled capacity,
but the calling Of the caucus was precipi
tated by the fact that the sugar schedule
had been practically reached in its order
and it became necessary to decide what
position the party should take on this ques-
ton. There has been very pronounced op-
position among many Republican senator's
to the schedule as prepared by the Senate
committee on finance, some of them going
so far as to declare they would not vote
for it unless altered. Some of these sena-
tors declare they will not obey even the
behest in caucus in case 1t declares for
the finance committee schedule Members
of the committee admit this state Of affairs
and also admit that change will be made
which will make the schedule acceptable to
the entire party in the Senate. There are
various suggestions TO what change will
be made, but the matter is as yet in such
chaotic Shape as to render it impossible
for even the Republican leaders TO state
what may be done.
Senator Aldrich is expected to be present
at the caucus. He is conyalescnt and his
friends say he wAl be able to attend to-
morrow's meeting. 1t is probable that the
caucus would not be held in his Absence.
There are various other questions which
Will be taken up in the caucus If the sugar
question does not occupy the entire time.
These include the tea duty, the agitation
for an increase on wool, the beer tax, the
proposition to tax bank checks, deeds, etc,
the hide duty, the lead ores rates, ETC. The
indications now are very strong that beer
and tea will both go out of the bill. This
is practically decided on by the committee
unless they are found to be absolutely nee
essary for revenue. 1t is also quite GER
tain that there will be an increase in the
woolen duty. The supporters of the hide
duty and of the Senate rate on lead ore
express confidence that these will remain
untouched Senator Nelson's antitrust
amendment will also be brought to the at
tention of the caucus IL opportunity offers.
Senator Quay gave notice to-day of sew
eral amendments he proposed to offer to
the tariff bill One of these provides for
striking out the provision for a duty on
tea and another for striking out the in
crease of the beer tax. The tree admission
of iron ore imported from mines owned
abroad by citizens of the United States for
their own use is also provided for. Another
amendment imposes a duty of 10 per cent
on all articles on the free list until 1901 and
a fourth strikes out Sections 4, g. and l.
These relate to the internal revenue feat
ures Of the BILL including beer, tobacco
cigars ETC. The effect would be to leave
the last amendment would be to leave the
present internal revenue law in effect.