The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-21
WAR REVENUES
TO Be REDUCED.
Ways and Means COMMITTEES
Considering Thirty Per
Cent Cut.

II
publican members of the ways and
means committee met todsy to con.
slider measure for tho reduction oil
the war revenue tax. The most i'm.
portant action tsken vas Q decision
not to remove the tax of 10 cents q
Posnd on tee The committee will
not take up or disturb the tariff on
imports. 90 the members claim il
would open up the whole subject Of
tariff revision.
The committee will not grant any
hesrings while framing the bill. %
foil bearings were given during the
last session Of congress. and siuce
then briefs and statements of vsrious
Interests have bsen received Par.
sies who are interested, however, can
die briefs or statements with the
committee. =
Secretary Gage aud Commissioner
Wilson Of the internal revenue
bureau we're before the committee
for some time during the afternoon.
The Secretary told the committee
thst 10 bic opinion there might be .
rsduotion in revenues Of $40. 1000, 900.
The war revenue act now raises about
$780, .O00.00 Commissioner viii.
son went over the schedules with the
members Of the committee and both
he and Secretary Gage were ques
toned % to where reductions could
be msde to the best advantage from
the treasury view point.
A considerable part of the discus.
sion was confined to the schedule
which taxes medicinal and proprie.
tsry articles and perfumsry. cosme
eics. chewing gum. wines. ETC.
There was also . discussion of stamp
taxes The discussion indicated
that the committee favored quite .
change in this feature of the law
and reductions wherever possible.
The committee also desires to elimi
nate the taxes on conveyance, of
which there has been q great deal of
complaint
II Can be stated that in q general
wsy il will be the aim of the commit
lee to sbolish the most burdeusome
lakes and to grant relief from stamp
lsxes % fer % possible
The committee late in the day
called on the president to obtain bis
views on the proposed reduction.
The committee will meet again TO.
After there has been . general
Interchange of opinion on the pro
posed reduction it 10 quite likely that
, sub committee will be appointed
to daft . measure.
II is not believed the bill can be
aud ready for the foil com
mi.tee until the session begins,
The measure. after il 10 agreed
upon by the Republicans. will be
submitted to the Democrats of the
committee Suggestion has been
made that the oleomsrgarine bill now
on the house calendar aud made
special order for December 9th.
might be made . part Of the war re
venue bill. Representative Tawney.
the father of the oleomargarine bill,
when ssked about this, said that the
oieomsrgarins bill would be passed
by the house early in the session 90
that On opportunity will be given to
ascertain II there was q disposition
to defeat the measure in the senate
by any unusual delay In such q
case be intimated that the oleomar.
gsrine bill might be made a part of
the revenue reduction bill in the
senate
The committee later held q confer.
ence with the president lasting an
hour. The committee and the presi.
dent agreed on the desirability Of the
reduction or abolition Of the war
taxes whore they proved annoying
and irritating to the interests involv-
ed and yet have not produced very
much revenue The nreaident he