The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-12-12
WILL NOT LOWER BEER TAN.
Republicans Decide to Abide by
GonImittee's RccOmmc nda ton.

EEPt i'ii' SPECIAL.
Washington. Dec. 1i.-From the state
msnt made 30 the House to-day by chair
man Payne of the Ways and Means Com
mittco it is quite clear that the Republican
managers do not intend mt present to give
the brewers any further reduction Of the
tax on beer than was covered in the report
of that committee namely. sl.G) net.
Mr. Payne devoted good part ur the
time used IN his presentation of the fr"vi-
Sinns of the hill to the House to au cx-
pdnatiou Of the committees positi"h in re-
gard To tn. beer tax. The effect &c his
statement was that he and other members
Of the committee did not credit the state
rcutS of tn" brewers thar their industry
has been lIngUi<hiE- and profitl"sS by ref-
SON of In" 81 tax imposed since the begin
ming OF the late war. III" quoted from
statements Of brewers in Philadelphia that
beer could he made for SIS = barrel; that
the hreweries were laying fair dividends
generally. and stated that III" record shows
an enormous Increase of $500 barrels In
the sales of beer In iS?a. despite the tax
of s.
The purport Of Mr.. Payne's statement
WIS that the committee regarded the r.
ducti"n OF 20 per cent agreed upon as am
pie. ami that demands for further r"duc-
tiOnS would he opposed strongly by the Re-
publican majority of the House.
II is expected that TN" bill reducing the
war revenue will he adopted as reported by
the committee. all radical amendments
failing. II is probable rnat a vote may h''
ndu before adjournment ON lntfSSiIy. ne
decision of the Republican conference that
the hill should he passed a. reported by IN"
Ways and Means Commute" viii prot.i bly,
he respected by the Republicans. though
few are much dissa tisiie1 because OF their
failure To secure changes in the beer and
other taxes
The attitude Of the minority of the House
is not such as tn threaten great delay, Tn"
expectation amorE Democrats is that Il
party they will vote for tn. hill on its fnll
Iassage. though they have no hope Of pro
curing any extension of the reduction pro
posed.
The minority propose To offer a substitute
in accordance with the recommendations in
the minority r"por: repcaling all of Il:
war reVcuU" tax and providing, for an in
CONF tax drawn Ia meet the supreme Court
decision. This substitute. of course. proha
bly, will not carry. ard. having mad" this
effort to amend. the Democrats expect final
ly To Voj" tor the hill aS reported.
The tariff being got out of the way in the
Hous, this week. there will he tim" for
other legislation before the holiday recess.
which Is expected 10 he taken from FRIDAY
tn" 2lst, until after New Year.
III" session has already been record
breaker. the olcoma-eagne hill. ;he army
hill and the Legislative appropriation bill
having been passed: but it is proposed 10
Il" still more after the passage Of the reyc-
EU.- hill.
Mr. Hopkins. chairman Of the Census
Committee. said this morning that he en-
uCcied to be able to report the TFappOrtion-
nent bill and 10 secure its passage by tn
horse before the holiday adjournment.
The River and Harbor Committee hopes
to report this bill in time for action before
the recess. and that about enc day in TN,
House will suffice for action upon il.
The Indian appropriation bill and the sun
dry civil hill Will probably lie reported be
fore the recess. but not actei on.