New-York tribune., 1900-04-16
NO MOVE TO REDUCE TAXES
CONGRESS NOT LIKELY TO CHANGE EN-
IsTING TARIFF AND REVENUE LAWS.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TR1BUNE.1


in the course of the last week does not justify |
or encourage the belief that any serious effort to
reduce taxation will be made at the present ses- |
sion 1t is barely possible that such an effort
might be made regards few articles OF taxa |
ton if it could be confined to them alone but
that would not be probable in view OF the
near approach of Presidential campaign and
election and the general desire of the leaders OF
both the great political parties to bring the ses
sion to end early practicable.
Statesmen and politicians OF exnerience are
nearly always inclined fight shy of such egis-
lation in a Presidential year. The year 1SSS
was an exception 1t is true. but the leaders OF
the party which forced the tariff issue to the
front and passed tariff bill through one oranch
Of Congress then will not soon forget the DIS
aster which overlook the party on that account,
and the leaders of the opposite party VIII long
remember and profit by 1t. Besides, the dis
position of the Treasury surplus has not yet be-
come SO urgent a question and one demanding so
speedy solution II was twelve or fourteen
years ago. The Secretary of the Treasury In
the statement he furnished to the House of Rep
resentatives last Tuesday estimated the sur
plus for the current year at $72OOO.OoO, ana
for next year at $S2, 900. This statement did
not contain any recommendation or suggestion
for a present reduction of revenue by means
of legislation, although such a suggestion would
resolution calling for the statement. AS mat
of fact, 1t is said on excellent authority that
the Secretary is not of the opinion that such
legislation Is either necessary or expedlent at
the present time. The same view is heid ana
expressed by members of the Finance Committee
of the Senate and the Ways and Means commit
tee of the House, who have recently given 10
this subject their attention. They estimate that
the Secretary of the Treasury will be required
| ~ he r.
plus for this year in carrying out the refunding
operations relating to the exchange OF the older
bonds for the new per cents, and So, 100000
more in the redemption OF the old bonds which
were continued at the rate of per cent, and
are redeemabe at the pleasure OF the United
States
1t is also pointed out by them that the ex-
pendtures incident to the war with Spain and
in consequence of It will be heavy for many
months to come, and that the appropriations by
Congress this will not fall far below the
estimates even If none should be made for
river and harbor improvements account
of the merchant marine. an interoceanic canal
Pacific submarine cable or for any other
object not included in the estimates sent to
Congress by the Secretary of the Treasury
MANY BILLS TO CHANGE REVENUE LAWS
OF course strong pressure Is being exerted
from different sources for modification or out
right repeal Of existing revenue laws the pas
sage of which would materially affect the rev.
enues both from customs and internal taxation |
More than hundred bills relating to these sub
jects have been introduced since the beginning |
of the session. dozen more of them pro- |
vide for the repeal of all the stamp taxes i'm |
posed by the War Revenue act of June 13, 1898 |
which yielded revenue amounting TO about S44- |
O30,0O0 in the fiscal year ended June 30 1899 |
and to about S31000000 in the first three |
quarters of the current fiscal year, at the |
rate of $42,000000 for the year. There are, be- !
sides a number of other bills to exempt vari- |
articles and documents from the payment of |
stamp taxes. Several of them provide for the re
peal of the stamp taxes medicinal proprietary |
articles and preparations and perfumery, cos |
metics and other similar articles, and represen-
tatives of the manufacturers of and dealers in !
these preparations are to appear before the |
Ways and Means Committee on Tuesday of this |
week to urge favorable action on the proposed |
legislation. Mr. Tawney. of that committee. and |
several other members of the House have in |
troduced bills providing for the repeal of the
stamp taxes on deeds mortgages, leases, prom
ssory notes. etc, and urging favorable ac- |
tion on them also
One bill proposes TO exempt from taxation |
under the War Revenue agricultural and |
horticultural societies; another provides for a
reduction of the tax tobacco, and others |
10 reduce the taxes on QlStllleQ spirits anu |
malt liquors There half dozen more |
bills to repeal the tax circulating notes of |
State banks. Some of the older Senator'S and !
Representatives appear to offer such bills Con- |
gress after Congress merely from force of |
habit. One bill proposes to repeal the on |
legacies to educational. religious and charitable
institutions There number of other bills |
to amend various provisions of the internal
revenue laws
PROPOSED TARIFF AMENDMENTS
More than a score of bills have been intro
duced 10 change, modify repeal the tariff
laws. The importers of tobacco have been before
the Ways and Means Committee and argued in
favor Of a proposition to have the duty on i'm
ported tobacco assessed on it's weight at the time
Of withdrawal from bonded warehouses instead
of at the time of entry Another bill provides for
the repeal of the duty of 10 cents pound on tea
imposed by the War Revenue act. Several bills
have been offered which provide for the repeal
of the duties wood pulp and printing paper
for newspapers, books, etc. Mr.. Richardson, the
Democratic leader in the House of Representa-
tives, has given evidence of his consideration for
the interests of the Sugar Trust by introducing
a joint resolution which provides that all raw
sugar and mOlasses imported from Cuba and
Porto Rico shall be exempt from payment of
duty. Mr. Roberts and several other members
of the House have introduced bills to repeal the
duties on hides Mr.. Rucker has introduced one
providing for the repeal of the duties wire
nails and horseshOes. Mr.. Clark of Missouri
has offered bill to place on the free list binding
twine and all materials used in the manufacture
thereof, and Mr.. Lloyd. Of the same State one TO |
place on the free list "all manufactured products
where the article may be controlled by trusts or
combinations of capital There are half a
dozen other bills for the object and Mr.
Gillett of Massachusetts. has offered one for the
admission free of duty CT antiquities.
DIFFICULTY OF LEGISLATION