The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-15

additional tax with the distinct under
standing that when the war was over the
additional tax would be repealed. Now.
and hereafter will do all in my power
to repeal this additional war tax on the
industry which is Disseminated against at
the present time. and which is paying more
than its just share Of the burdens of Gov
ernment."
MIR. Gaines closed the general debate for
the minority, demanding not only fur
ther reduction of the war revenue taxes.
but of the Dingley tariff rates as well.
Mr.. Gaines attracted attention in the
| course of his brief remarks by referring
to the Ship Subsidy bill as "an offspring
of the fertile tenderloin of the brain" of
Chairman Payne.
The last hour of the time allotted for
general debate was occupied by Mr.. Dali
zell in review of the conditions which
led to the Inauguration of the Spanish
war, OF the necessity for the enactment
of the War Revenue bill. and of the reduc-
tion proposed by the committee in the
present bill.
Mr.. DnlzclI Reviews Conditions.
Mr.. Dalzell said that in the preparation
of the bill the majority of the committee
had made concessions to representatives
of certain interests who demanded con-
sideration for them. Now some conces-
sions were due to the members of the
committee. Let u.s. he said. pass the
bill as it came from the committee and
not put in jeopardy the condition Of the
Uaited States Treasury
The bill being then open for amendment,
Mr.. Payne moved the change in the beer
tax section ordered by the Committee on
Ways and Means to make the tax SLIGO a
barrel fiat
Mr.. Newlands offered an amendment fix
ing the rate at sl.20 a barrel.
Mr.. Payne called attention to the fact
that MIR. Newlands' amendment would cut
S2s.o00,0o of the beer tax. and added to
the other provisions Of the bill would
make the total reduction $ .6,o0e.t0o. The
amendment was rejected-60 to 12i.
Mr.. Bartholdt moved to make the lax
$3.50 barrel. Upon this Mr.. Allen of
Mississippi entertained the COMMITTEES
with semi-serious speech against any
reduction of the beer tax. He was about
closing he said. great legislative career
of sixteen years. The first twelve years
of that had been devoted to attempts to
restrain public extravaganza: he had
about despaired Of accomplishing that OBJ
ject and had given over his efforts. Re-
Gently he had engaged in the effort to
place the burdens of taxation where th.y
would lie the easiest. Some complaint
had been made against the law by the
rich, but Mr.. Allen said he had borne his
proportion of it uncomplainingly. His
heart had been touched. he continued, by
the appeals OF the brewers for a reduc-
tion of the tax on beer. They said in he
literature so lavishly distributed, that
they had been even driven to combination.
But combination was a feature of other
industries not oppressed by the war tax.
SO that it was possible. MIR. Allen said,
that the brewers did not understand their
complaint. When one visited the fashion-
able residence portion Of any city. and
asked the guide the owner of the finest,
most elegant. costliest mansion In the
district. the answer was That belongs to
a brewer"
The Democratic members. Mr.. Allen
went on to say, in disposing of this ques-
tion, were brought face to face with the
old democratic doctrine of laying taxes
upon the objects that could best and
easiest bear them. The brewers acted as
IL the war revenue law fixed the price at
which they could sell their product. They
say they can't make money at the prize
they are receiving for beer. II that is SO,
let them increase It,"
Here the gavel fell, and Mr.. Allen re-
sumed his seat amid applause remarking
in conclusion, well that is about what
wanted to say"
Mr. Bartholdts amendment was lost
6s to 139.
Advocates OF Reduction.
Reduction Of the beer tax was advocated
by Messrs Fitzgerald of New York, Sui
zer. Richardson. and Fitzgerald of Massa-
chusetts
The committee amendment making the
tax $3.50 a barrel was agreed to without
division.
amendment providing that the beer sold
under Government stamps shall be of pure
malt and hops. to be determined by Gov
ernment inspectors; a violation to be
punished by fine not exceeding 81, ,0GO
a2d imprisonment not exceeding one
year and a tax of 81 barrel.
Speaking to the amendment Mr.. Fitz-
gerald CT Massachusetts said that a re-
Guirement to make pure beer to be sold
at s. a barrel with tax of SLIGO would
tax the ingenuity and capacity of the
brewers.
Mr. steele made the point that the |
was out OF order. not being
germane to tax measure. Nine-tenths !
of the brewers in the country. he said, |
did not make beer purely OF hops and |
malt.
Chairman Hepburn ruled that the |
was in order. II was de- |
featcd
An amendment offered by Mr.. Corliss |
was agreed 10 requiring beer stamps 10 |
be cancelled by perforation-102 to 20.
Mr.. Payne offered a new section, so as |
to abolish one-sixth and one-eighth bar
rels as packages to be used in the .rade. |
The amendment. he said. had been unani-
mousiy recommended by the Committee
lr Ways and Means, and as an independ- |
tnt measure. and had passed the House.
The amendment was opposed by Messrs.
Barney. Davidson. and Green
On the ground that it was intended to
crush out the small brewers for the ad-
vantage Of the large brewers and the
lealers in bottled beer. Mr.. Davidson
said that nine-ten.hs of the business of
he small brewers was done in packages
Of less than one-qrarter barrel size.
Mr.. Payne said that the amendment
would interfere no more with the business
u small brewers than of the larger ones.
lost-S5 to 81.
H. cred by Mr. Fitzgerald
llsh the tax on bowling
.tl. ... rooms was defeated
Mr n. .fn 1r0posed a tax OF one
.s VI Il mt OF the gross receipts
3. 81 HaIHit ng concerns In excess
uum, and requiring the
Iake full returns to the
of Internal Revenue of the
ie;ails of their business
Mr. Payne said the proposition was pre-
oosterous. The gentleman from Nevada.
ne said had Sgned a report which said
axes ought to be reduced by this bill !