The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-11-21
PLAN The CUT
IN WAR TAXES
Ways and Means Committee
Members Confer.
M'KINLEY GIVES
ADVICE ON SUBJECT
The Tariff on Tea Is to Remain
High.

Washington, Nov. 20.-The Republi-
can members OF the ways and means
committee met today 10 consider a
measure for the reduction of the war
revenue tax. The most important &C
ton taken was a decision not TO remove
the tax OF 10 cents a pound on tea The
committee viii not take up or disturb
the tariff on imports. as the members
claim it would open Up the whole sub
iect OF tariff revision.
The commission viii not grant any
bearings while framing the bill, as full
hearings We're given during the last
session of congress, and since then
briefs and statements of various inter
ests have been received. Parties who
are interested can file briefs or state
ments with the committee.
Secretary Gage and Commissioner
Wilson OF the internal revenue bureau
We're before the committee for some
time during the afternoon. The sec
rotary told the committee that in his
opinion there might be a reduction in
revenues of $4,000, 900. The war reve-
nue. act now raises about $100,000.000.
Medicine Tax to Be Cut.
Commissioner Wilson went over the
schedules with the members of the
committee and both he and Secretary
Gage were questioned as to where re-
auctions could be made to the best ad-
vantage from the treasury view point.
Considerable of the discussion was CEN
tered in schedule 3, which taxes mCdi-
cinal and proprietary articles and prep
aratiOns, perfumery, cosmetics, chew
ing gum, wines, etc, There was also
discussion of stamp taxes,
The discussion indicated that the
committee favored 4 change in this
feature of the law and reductions
xyharax-avs rlcgG5EIa The committee a ISD
desires to eliminate the taxes on con-
Veyance, of which there has been a
great deal Of complaint.
1t can be stated that it will be the
aim OF the committee to abolish the
most burdensOme taxes and to grant
relief from stamp taxes as far as pos
sible.
McKinley's View Asked.
The committee, late in the day,
called on the president to obtain his
views on the proposed reduction. The
committee viii meet again tomorrow.
The committees conference with the
president lasted less than an hour. The
committee and the president agreed on
the desirability of the reduction or
abolition of the war taxes where they
have proved annoying and irritating
10 interests involved and have not pro-
duced much revenue. The president
believes the surplus in The treasury IS
accommodating too rapidly and that
conservative reductions may be made
safely or the taxes entirely removed
in some instances. The Republican
members believe they will be able to
agree in q few days on the general line
OF changes 10 be made.
After there mas been d general inter
change of opinion on the proposed re-
duction, il is quite likely that a sub
committee viii be appointed TO draft a
measure.
1t is not believed the bill can be pre-
pared and ready for the full commit
tee until the session begins. The
measure, after it is agreed upon by the
Republicans VIII be submitted 10 the
demand of the committee.
Suggestion has been made that the
OleOmaTgerine bill now on the house
calendar and made a special order for
Dec. 8, might be made a part of the
war revenue reduction bill Represen-
tative TaWney, the father Of the OleO-
margarine bill, when asked about this,
said that the OleOmargarine bill would
be passed by the house early in the
session, so that an opportunity Will be
given 10 ascertain if there is a DISPOSE
tiOn to defeat the measure by any un-
usual delay In such case, he intimated
the OleOmargarine bill might be made
q part OF the revenue reduction bill in
the senate.