The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-15
A Determined But Futile Effort Was
Made to Further Reduce it.
COMMITTEE HAD TWO DEFEATS.
The Tax on Express Receipts Was
<,uirin. the Company to Pay
the Tax Instead of the
Shipper Debate
Was Lively.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE House to-
day adjourned without disposins of more
than half the war revenue bill
General debate closed at O'Clock, after
which the bill was opened to amendment
under the fve-minute rule. y determined
effort was made to reduce still further
the tax on beer, but the Ways and Means
Committee overwhelmed the opposition.
Originally the tax had been fixed in the
bill at 50 per barrel, with a rebate Of twen-
jy per cent. This was changed by the
committee to Sl.fo flat.
Mr. Newlands, of Nevada, offered an
amendment to reduce it to $1.20, and Mr..
Bartholdt, of Missouri. to s50. but both
propositions were badly beaten. The com-
mtttee, however, sustained two signal de-
feats.
In connection with the beer tax, Mr.
Payne offered an amendment in the Ian
suage Of the bill prepared b; the House
at the last session. designed TO abolish
the use of small beer rpackages-oHe-siXth
and one-eighti oarrels-but it was defeated
by s. TO 81, after charges that its purpose
was to crush out the small brewers.
Another defeat occurred in connection
with the amendment offered oy MI. Henfy
c. Smith, of Michigan. The bill abolished
the one cent stamp tax on express re-
cepts and telegraph messages, but re-
tained the tax on railroad and steamship
freight receipts. Mr.. Smiths amendment
restored the tax on express receipts but
altered the form OF the section so as 10
provide that the companies should make
r-r-+ lOa sTNJT
ages carried, and pay thereon tax OF
one cent per package. The object was
to compel the company instead Of shipper
to pay the tax. The amendment Drecipl-
tated q lively debate, in the course OF
which dr. Smith made personal ala
sion t. a United States Senator who Is
connected with one of the express COM
panies.
Mr. Payne vigorously fought the amend
ment, but it was carried, l23 TO lG6.
Mr.. Barney, of Wisconsin, from the
Committee on Appropriations, reported
the pension appropriation nill-
Mr.. Maddox, OF Georgia, sought to re-
flute statements made by Mr. Grosvenor
regarding the preparation of plates for
the issue of bonds just prior to the advent
of the Cleveland administration II 1Sa2
He produced figures to show that the
$SS,00O0 0G0 surplus which existed when Nh
Harrison came into office in 1889 was dis
srcted during the latter's term and Il de-
ticit confronted the Cleveland admins
tration when it resumed control in 1893.
Mr. Otey, of Virginia, appealed for
further reduction OF the Oppressive tax
on TOBACCO" He said that 100000 0)J peo0le
used tooacco: 4o000,00D used coffee: 800
O00,O00 used opium, and 100, 10000 used tea.
Exact statistics on the users of whskey,
he said, he did not have. but it was be-
yond controversy that tobacco was the
solace of the world. Nothing. he said,
STAYED off hunger and thirst like "a chew
of tobacco"
Mr. Lewis. of Georgia. said he approved
OF the bill, but protested that it d not
go far enough.
An amendment was adopted 123 to %, to
require the cancellation of stamps by per-
forltion.
Mr. Kitchen Of North Carolina. offered
an amendment TO reduce the tax on man
ufactured tobacco and snuff from y to 6
cents per pound. The amendment was
lost I9 to 1O6.
Without c0c.pleting the bill the House
at 5:25 P. VI. adjourned
En1h senate.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 1t.-Througllout
nearly the entire legislative day the
Senate was in secret session. discussing
the Hay-Fauncef0te treaty. No business
OF importance was transacted in the brief
open session. except the adoption of the
House resolution providing for a holiday
recess to extend rrom Friday, December.
q, to Thursday January >
The president protein. Mr.. Frye, an
nounced the appointment OF Senators
Hanna, OF Ohio; Spoonec. OF Wisconsin.
and Jones. OF Arkansas. to make the
necessary artaneements for the inausu-
ration of The President of the United
StlteS the foUYt.l1 nf