Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-02-23
HOUSE WANTS TO KNOW.
Adopted a Resolution Requesting
Information Regarding Charges
Made by Macrum.
when the BIZ Came Up to Abolish One
Sixth and One Eighth Barrels of Beer.
the New York Democrat. Declared 1t
Was Only Sop to%the Bfewers-The
Puerto Rico Tariff Debate


Washington, Feb. 2O.-The house
adopted the Wheeler resolution calling
upon the secretary of the state for
information regarding the charges of
Mr.. Macrum, eX-consul to Pretoria.
The galleries of the house were
filled Monday in anticipation of the
opening of the debate upon the Puerto
Rican tariff bill. Before the bill was
called up, Mr.. Dolliver 0a.), from the
committee on ways and means, moved
the passage under suspension of the
rules of the bill reported from that
committee, to amend sections 1899
and 3341 of the revised statutes, re-
lating to internal revenue tax on fer
mented liquors. The purpose of the
bill, Mr.. Dolliver said, was to abolish
the smaller packages of beer, one
sixth and one-eighth barrels The
I bill, he said, was asked for by the
brewing interests of the country. 1t
would in no wise affect the revenue
Mr.. Fletcher (rep. Mimi offered an
amendment providing that the bill
shall not go into effect until July 1,
1900. The amendment was agreed to.
Mr.. Sulzer (dem. N. W said he ia
vored the bill, but that it was merely
a sop to the brewers. What they
really wanted was the abolition of the
war taxes. He thought the war rev
enue law should be repealed. The re-
publicans, he said, had promised to do
that when the war was over, but they
had made no move in that direction.
Mr.. Terry (dem. Ark.) declared that
the republicans were using the war
taxes to make out the deficiencies
caused by the Dingley law, which he
said had proved a most lamentable
failure. The republicans jeered this
remark and continued to jeer when
Mr.. Terry said that the republicans
dare not abolish their policy of Grim
inal aggression in the Philippines be-
cause of the secret understanding
with Great Britain, and that for the
same reason they dare not offer a
word of sympathy to the twosrepub-
lies struggling for liberty in South
Africa.
Mr.. Often (Wis.); Mr.. Bartholdt
'(Mo) and Mr.. Babcook (Wis.) urged
the passage of the bill in justice to
the brewers. The latter said that
the brewers were carrying the great
est tax burden in this country (pay-
ing $72,000,O0O) and were entitled to
consideration. Mr.. Bartlett '(Ga.) said
the humble poor asked relief from
the war taxes and they should be
listened to as well as the rich associa-
ton of brewers who paid heavy cam
paign contributions. The bill was
passed without division.
Congressman Payne, of New York.
opened the debate on the Puerto
Rican tariff bill, supporting the prop
osition to levy tax of 25 per cent.
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.) followed
Mr.. Payne. He spoke against the bill,
saying the measure was more danger
Gus to the liberties of the people than
any measure ever very seriously con-
sidered in the American congress.
Chairman Hull, of the house COM
mittee on military affairs, introduced
bill prepared by the war department.
authorities to improve the efficiency
of the army. 1t practically reorgan'
ICES the army.