The times., 1898-05-11
NOT READY This WEEK
Symptoms of Dilatoriness in the
Senate Finance Committee.
SLOW WORK ON TAX BILL
Republicans Have Occupied All the
Time So Far and Democrats VIII
Not Have Their Amendments Rail
rOnded-Yesterdny's Progress-BiIl
VIII He Delayed Till Monday.

The Senate Committee on Finance made
but little progress yesterday in the con-
sideration of disputed points. 1t was late
in assembling. and adjourned rather
earlier than usual Many of the matters
in the war revenue bill, however. that
have been tentative in character were
put into shape and ordered inserted in
the revised print. Chief among the
amendments of this class is the inheri-
tance tax, proposed by Mr.. Wocott and
which 1t is believed, will in a short time
bring in a large and constantly y-increas-
ing revenue. 1t is understood that all in
herttances under $500 are exempt from
the tax. and that, above that sum. the
tax is 10 cents on each Si00, running up
TO s. on each Si00 as the degree OF re-
lationship is further removed. In the
case OF unusually large inheritances, a
sliding scale has been provided increas-
ing the tax very materially. In the case
of inheritances or bequests amounting to-
more than a million dollars the lax Is
said to have been liked at sum about
three times as great as in ordinary
cases.
Much of the time of the committee yes
terday was consumed in a fruitless eff
iOEl 10 ESdCH d tOUSluStOn III the QuCS-
fion of taxing stocks on hand. 1t is
known positively that manufactured to-
bacco on hand is not to be taxed and il
is generally believed that beer on hand
VIII be treated in the same generous
fashion. The committee. however, is de
cided with respect to other taxable
stocks but it is believed that in the end
the committee will suecumb to the great
pressure that is being brought 70 bear
ton.
The trend of sentiment in the commit
tee on the subject of the tobacco tax
seems to be in favor of increasing the
House rate of L cents a pound to Is
cents.
The Democratic Amendments.
The Democratic amendments will be
submitted today. They were not quite
ready yesterday All of them Will be an
tagonized in committee. but none more 50
than tha. which imposes a tax on the
gross receipts of corporations. This tax
has been reduced by the Democratic
members to 1-2 of ! per cent. and has
has been so expanded that il will take IN
any and all kinds of corporations. Those
in favor of II assert that it win yield
many millions annually. The ReDubli-
cans oppose it on general principles. but
contend that corporations have been
hard hit as 1t is, in the other provt-
sions Of the bill.
The amendment will doubtless prevail
in the committee. as will those for the
coinage of the seigniorage and the issue
OF $50 900. .0o0 of greeabacks. but all Of
them viii probably be defeated in the
Senate.
The COMMITTEES Yesterday dealt with the
stamp taxes in proprietary articles, per-
fumery and cosmetics by inserting an
amendment beginning the classification at
a lower figures and making the rates
equal in both cases, so that II matters not
II there is an apparent duplication of ar
ticles in the two schedules. Provision is
made for articles that sell sor 5 cents. an
! omission in the House biz.
The dealers and importers in mineral
waters appear TO have won their fight
and will escape taxation.
Tonnage Tax Stricken Out.
Official action is taken on the tonnage
| tax. II was stricken from the bill. as has
been predicted by The Times.
In amending the stamp tax provisions
with respect to proprietary articles the
committee has provided that the tax
/ shall be paid on any and all articles made
or sold under patent right or trade
mark" 1t is believed that this will take
1 in manufactured articles of all kinds
| and If this construction be true the scope
| of this part of the act will be far-reach-
| ing in the extreme This is certainly the
! intent of the committee but this appiica-
/ tion of the law would doubtless be con-
/ tested in the courts by such manufac-
! turers.
There is little hope that the bill can be
! reported before the end of the week The
Republicans have occupied almost all the
/ time end the Democrats said last night
/ that they intended that their amendments
/ should be fully considered and discussed.
They viii not permit them to be railroad
/ ed through. 1t should not occasion sur
prise, therefore, if the bill is not ready
{ before the end of the week, and is not re-
/ ported until next Monday. There appear
! ed yesterday strong symptoms of dila-
! toriness.
rurv yuEDE rEAnv no n1E