Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1900-12-14
TO REWARD BREWERS
AND TRUSTS
SECRET OF CUT In REVENUE TAX.
REPUBLICAN LEADERS PLACE A BILL BEFORE
CONGRESS TIC, REMOVE $40, 900, 900 FROM
THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. GIVING
REDUCTIONS.

The following special dispatch to the Chica-
go Record appeared in that paper on the 9th
inst:
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec 5.-By the bill
introduced in the house this afternoon by Chair
man Payne, of the committee on ways and
means, the burden of the war taxes will be re-
duced by $40, 900 900, or $40 900, 900 more than
the reduction advised by the president and
Secretary of the Treasury Gage.
This is brought about by taking off nearly
SIC, ,ooo, 900 per year of the tax on beer, which
the Republican members of the ways and near
committee had agreed to leave untouched when
they first drew their bill. This reduction is not
now proposed so much for the purpose OF cut
ting down taxation as FOR THE PAYMENT OF
THE CAMPAIGN DEBDTS OF THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY. Speaker Henderson and Representa-.
tive Babcock, the newly-apponted member of
the ways and means committee, practically
forced this action on the committee as politi-
cal measure. Mr.. Babcock, as chairman OF
the Republican congressional committee, ksows
exactly how much the brewers contributed to
the Republican campaign fund, and they are
to get their money back in this way.
Following is another special to the Record,
from William F. Curtis (who, by the way, is
a Republican,, which appeared in the Record
of the 9TH inst:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 6.--The Republi-
can members of the committee of ways and
means are severely criticised by some of their
colleagues on account of the items in the bill
which they reported yesterday for reduction
of the war-revenue taxes. 1t is claimed to be
SO much in the interest of corporations and
trusts as to justify the charges made against the
Republican party during the last campaign.
Out of the $40, 900 900 reduction at least
$27, 900 is directly in the interests of people
who we'll afford to pay taxes. Nearly
$40, 900, 900 is taken off beer, although Mr..
Payne himself, chairman of the committee, has
stated that 80 per cent of the breweries of this
country are owned by European capitalists, and
most of the brewers are united in a trust. The
tax on bank checks is claimed to be less onelous
to the public and more easily collected than any
other, without any one asking for its removal.
The same is true of the stamps on drafts, GER
ti6cates of deposit, foreign bills of exchange,
conveyances insurance policies and express re-
ceipts, which combined amount to nearly one
half of the full amount of the reduction. If any
one can afford to pay taxes, it is the people who
write drafts, bank checks and certificates OF de-
posit, and those who convey property and have
buildings to insure. There is serious objection
to the taxation of evidences of debt, like bonds,
mortgages and promissory notes, but leases, con-
veyances, contracts, warehouse receipts and
similar papers are evidences of wealth, and the
people who make them find the slight tax no
burden and very slight Inconvenience. I'm.
are required to pay for the stamps which are
placed on express receipts.
The Democrats say that this bill is reported
in compensation for the services rendered the
Republican party during the last campaign by
the bankers and brewers 1t is true that sever
al of these items were not in the bill as origin
ally prepared. In fact, before Mr. Hanna ar
rived in washington and Mr.. Babcock, chairman
of the Republican congressional committee, was
appointed member of the ways and means,
the members of that committee stoutly repudi-
ated all intention of reducing the taxes on beer
and banks. Mr.. Hopkins, of Illinois, has been
opposed to the proposition since the beginning,
but majority of the committee have voted him
down. Speaker Henderson is credited with
using his influence in favor of the proposed re-.
duction,