The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-22
REDUCTION OF REVENUE
A Removal Of Thirty Million Dol
lars in War Taxes Favored.
Meeting Of the Ways and Means
Committee Mt the Capitol - An
nounccmcnt by Chairman Payne
Petitions From the Retail Drug
gfsts. Grain Shippers, ard Millers.

The announcement was made by Repre-
sentative Payne Chairman of the Com
mittse on Ways and Means. at the cen
clusion of meeting of that committe.
yesterday. that it was the opinion of the
members present at the meeting that a
reduction of the war tax to the amount
of about 100000 could and should be
made.
Mr.. Payne said it had not been decided
what taxes would be reduced or in what
schedules the deepest cuts would be made
He said also that ii was not decided
whether the Republican members of the
committee would Immediately take up the
separate schedules and decide what reduc-
tions in taxation shall be made or whether
they will wait until the reassembling of
Congress and confer with the Democratic
memcers of the committee.
The decision announced by Representa-
tive Payne shows, it is said, that there
will be larger reduction in the taxation
imposed on account of the war than was
supposed.
A few days ago Secretary Gage express
ed the opinion after meeting of the Cab
met that reduction of about 100000
should be made. Yesterday the President
expressed the intention of recommending
q reduction of s20.000,000.
The committee at yesterdays session
gave consideration to a petition from The
grain shippers and flour millers of Chi
cago. through the secretary of their or
ganization. B. a. Eckart, asking for re-
duction of the tax which weighs upon
them.
The section on mixed flour, which is in
Schedule b is one of the longest sections
in the revenue law.
Ii is provided that every person, firm,
or corporation before engaging in the
business Of making, packing, or repack-
Ing mixed -four shall pay special tax
ct the rate of So per annum. the same
to be paid and posted in accordance with
tie provisions of sections 3242 and S259 of
the Revised Statutes. and subjsct to the
fines and penalties therein imposed.
1t is also provided that barrels or
other packages in which mixed flour may
be packed shall contain not to exceed
1876 pounds; that upon the manufacture
and sale of mixed -four there shall be
levied tax Of cents per barrel OF other
package containing lse pounds or more
than IS pounds; cents on every half tar
rel or other package containing rs pounds
or more than ~ pounds; cent on every
quarter barrel or other package contain
ing ss pounds or more than "a l-2 pounds:
and one-half cent on every one-eishth
barrel. or other package containing q 1-2
pounds or less, TO be paid by the person,
firm, or corporation making or packing
said -four. The tax levied by this section
shall be represented by coupon STAMPS,
and the provisions of existing laws gov
e-ning the engraving. issue. sale. ac-
countability. efacement, and destruction
of stamps relating to tobacco and snuff
ehall SO far as applicable be made to
apply to stamps provided in this section"
A petition is on file from the Retail
Druggists Association complaining OF the
tax on patent medicines and drugs. This
association which represents about IS 900
retail druggists firms, declares that The
retailers have had to pay three-fifths of
the war tax. 1t is contended that II has
been impracticable to increase the price
of taxed articles to the consumer.
In petitions filed by cigar and cheroot
manufacturers the claim is set up that
during the year 1899. in addition 10 the
$l6,000.0G0 internal revenue tax. the war
tax amounted to s2,699,S2 1t is further
urged that the greatest proportion of the
tax falls upon the small concerns and the
makers of cheap goods.
Merchants aDd shippers have presented
petitions asking for relief from the stamp
taxes imposed upon them. 1t is set forth
that the tax on bank checks. drafts. and
certificates Of deposit, inland bills Of ex-
change, promissory notes, bills of lading.
bonds, contracts, conveyances, etc, are
heavy and irksome.