The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-18

The shelving of the Ship Subsidy bill,
through the action Of the Senate Steering
Committee. is said 10 be only the begin
ming OF Mr. Hanna's troubles. and it de-
Teloped today that the Republican leaders
of the Senate have come out in open re-
volt against the ohioar.
The Chairman of the Republican Ma
tienal Committee received a painful sur
prise this morning. il is said, during a
meeting of the Senate Committee or Fin-
ance when Mr. Aldrieh, the chairman of
that committee, openly announced tnat he
would fight Mr. Hanna's attempts to have
the tax on beer reduced aud that he did
not consider II proper on the Ohio Sena-
tors part that the latter should play the
lobbyist in the interest Of a combination
of brewers.
The Finance Committee met for the pur-
pose Of considering the War Revenue bill
as passed by The House. Mr.. Hanna, who
is not member Of the committee, appear
ed ard. it is said. informed the members
that they must send the bill into the Sem
ate with an amendment reducing the beer
tax TO 81, the House having fixed it at
st50 he is said to have taken the whip
hand IN the committee room and ordered
the Republican majority TO fix up the re-
duetion.
In statement. made in an impassioned
address, he Is said to have Informed the
Administration followers that The brewers
had cone 10 the fore manfuliy during the
recent campaign and had so materially
aided tie Republican Natiohal Committee
as 10 have taken no small part IL the re-
election OF Mr. Mckinley and the ''repH-
diation Of cheap money and PopuHsm." The
brewers. he is reported as saying. were in
return promised only what was due them.
a fair reduction Of the excessive tax on
beer.
He had pledged his word. he is said TO
have declared. to have Congress take IA
vorable action on the reduction of the
beer tax and each Republican present
could see that the reduction was only fair
and honest He had made this same plea
to the members Of the House Ways and
Means Committee and to the Republican
leaders in that body and they had done
their duty in reducing the tax By ten mil
lions. It was now the duty Of the Sen
ate. ne said, to make a further reduction
in justice to the brewers.
Mr. Hanna is said to have met with a
rebuff from Mr.. AldTich which surprised
the Ohio leader The former is reported
as declaring himself openly against any
further reduction, and is reported to have
informed Mr. Hanna that he would light
any such proposition. He added that he
saw no reason Why Mr.. Hanna should at
tempt TO influence the minds OF the con-
mittee members. and that It was hardly
the right thing to accept contributions
from brewers with the understanding that
this Congress should repay the debt. Mr
Aldrieh proposed increasing The tax on
beer in place Of lowering IT.
Mr.. Spooner stated that $50, ,090, 600 re-
duetion would be enough, while the action
Of the House in cutting the beer tax by
$40 oooe.ooo made the reduction $4,000. 900.
The Democratic members OF the com
mittee. headed by Mr.. Vest are averse to
the Hanna proposition. and hold that the
schsTae is merely an effort TO make
present to tae Brewers Trust. which
contributed Iiberaily during the Presidsn-
tial campaign.
1t is now almost certainty, say those
who know, that 8ir. Hanna's scheme viii
fail, and, worse than ali. the Senate FRO
poses TO restore the reduction made By
the House
BIr. Hanna is said to be greatly cha
grined. and it is reported that he viii
see the President this afternoon and
bring the revolt to Mr.. Mckinley's at
tention, in the hope that he may be pre-
vailed upon to force recaicitrane sena-
tors into line On the matter of reducing
the beer tax
No definite action was taken On the bill
in committee today and no conclusion was
reached as 10 the question of beer tax
ret:tction. It has been the understanding
that the committee would not begin the
actual consideration Of The bill until after
the holiday recess. but today's discussion
developed sentiment in the committee
for proceeding at once with the work.
A decision On the matter will be reach
ed dEring the next few days, but it is
probable subcommittee will be a,,-
pointed to work on the bill during fhe
holiday recess, so that when Congress
meets the first week in January. 1t viii
be ready for the action of She Senate.