Washington sentinel., 1900-11-17

Is Beer Tax Re- It's truly
peal Possible7 and ,1'STs'91ps, ma
even be profitable, to follow the
course OF the Republican promises
with regard to the beer tax, from
its levy down to the present day.
When first imposed, we believe,
the promise was made by the late
Mr.. DinglsY, Republican chair
man of the House Ways and
Means Committee, that it would
be repealed when the war with
Spain was concluded. Pending
that event we entered upon a war
With the Filipinos which precluded
the carrying out oi Mr.. Dingley's
promise. Some dissatisfaction was
expressed at the postponement,
and in order to quiet it second
promise was given-by Mr..
Hanna, it is understood-that
when the condition ofthe Treasury
justified IT, relief would come. This
stage, according to Secretary
Gage, was reached last June, and
yet nothing was done.
Dissatisfaction still continued,
and its expression became so loud
and threatening, just before elec-
ton. that it was necessary to put
on the screws and let the brewers
know what was what. This duty
devolved on Speaker Henderson,
and in fulfilling it there was moth
ing whatever mealy mouthed
about the gentleman. In speech |
at Milwaukee, few weeks ago,
he said that the beer tax @ould be
removed only In case Of McKin
ley's reelection
The Speakers blunt declaration
was not taken with good grace by !
those who had been living in hope |
since the conclusion OF the Spanish
war and there was tear that the
effect would be disastrous in some
quarters. To counteract this the
Administration, through it's organ
in this city, the EVFNtng Star, an
nounced few days before election
that the sub committee OF the
Ways and Means Committee
which had been authorized by the
House to sat during the recess to
consider the question Of tax Teduc-
ton, would meet after the elections
and formulate q scheme which
might include a decrease Of the
beer tax to SI.4a a barrel instead
oi SI.8s as at present.
This programme, il carried out,
would not be one-half OF what had
been promised all the way through.
Il was a square backdown from
what Mr.. Dingley, Mr.. Hanna and
Mr.. Henderson had promised.
Such as it was, it would have prob
ably been accepted by the brewers
on the principle that a halt loaf IS
better than no bread, although
it was doubtful whether they would
have had the enjoyment OF even
the half loaf, as assuredly the re.
tailers would set up a claim to part
Il not all OF il.
The elections are over. McKin-
lev is elected. OF that there is no
doubt. But there is doubt oil even
a reduction to SI.4a. The pro-
gramme is changed. The sub
committee is slated to meet Nov.
aoth. Mr.. Payne, chairman oil the
Ways and Means, has had a con-
ference with the President the out.
come OF which was a statement
that a scheme will probably be
formulated by which the extraor.
dinary levy will be reduced to the
extent of about SIS, 900 annu-
ally. There are, he says, some
taxable items which can be easily
restored tn their status before the
Spanish War. Does this include
beer1 Plainly beer does not enter
into the calculations at all The
extraordinary levy on beer costs
the brewers about $50. 200, 900 a
year. II the levy is to be reduced
only SI5,ooo,oOo it is plain that
beer IL not one Of the items that is |