The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-11-21
REDUCTION OF
WAR TAXES Will
BE ATTEMPTED. }!
Republican Members of Ways and
Means Committee Consider Ways
Of Removing Revenue.
ABOLISH BURDENSOME TAXES
Will be the Object Of Congress-Sec-
retary Gage Before the Body.
Some Suggestions.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Nov. 20. The
Republican members OF the ways and
means committee met to-day TO consid-
er a measure for the reduction OF the
war revenue tax. The most important
action taken was q decision not to re-
move the tax OF ten cents pound on
tea. The committee VIII not take up or
disturb the tariff on imports as the
members claim 1t would open up the
whole subject Of tariff revision.
The committee will not grant any
hearings while framing the bill, MS full
hearings were given during the last
session Of Congress and since then
briefs and statements of various inter-
ests have been received. Parties who
are Interested. however, can file briefs
or statements with the committee.
No decision was reached as to the
amount OF the reduction that is to be
made and Secretary Gage and Commits
sioner of Internal Revenue Wilson will
be heard on the subject. The secretary
appeared before the committee to-day.
A General Discussion.
The session of the committee was de-
voted mainly to general discussion and
no agreement has been reached upon
any OF the schedules.
Secretary Gage and Commissioner
Wilson. OF the internal revenue bu-
reau. were before the committee for
some time during the afternoon. The
secretary told the committee that in
his opinion there might be u reduc-
tlon In revenues Of sSo,o0O.o0O The war
revenue act now raises about 100000
900. Commissioner Wilson went over
the schedules with the members of
the committee and both he and Secre-
tary Gage were questioned as to where
reductions could be made.to. the best
advantage from the treasury view
point.
a considerable part Of the discussion
was confined to schedule B. which
taxes medicinal and proprietary articles
and preparations. perfumery. cosmct-
les. chewing gum, wines. etc. There
was also discussion OF stamp taxes.
Abolish Burdensome Taxes.
The discussion indicated that the
committee favored quite change In
this feature of the law and reductions
wherever possible. The committee nlso
desires to eliminate the taxes on con-
veyances, Of which there has been a
great deal Of complaint.
1t can be stated that In a general
way It will be the aim OF the committee
to abolish the most burdensome taxes
and to grant relief from stamp taxes as
far as possible.
This committee. late In the day, CALL
ed on the President to obtain his views
on the proposed reduction. The COM
mittee will meet again Tomorrow.
After there has been general inter
change OF opinion on the proposed re.
duction. It Is quite likely that sub
committee will be appointed to draft a
measure.
Submit 1t to Democrats.
1t is not believed the bill can be pre-.
pared and ready for the full commit.
tee until the session begins. The meas.
ure after 1t Is agreed upon by the Re-
publicans will be submitted to the
Democrats OF the committee.
Suggestion has been made that the
oleomargarlnc bill now on the public
calendar and made q special order for
December 6. might be made n part Of
the war revenue reduction bill. Rep
resentative Tawney the father Of the
oleomargarine bill. when asked abou.
this, said that the oleomargarine bill
would be passed by the house early in
the session. 40 that an opportunity
would be given to ascertain II there
was disposition to defeat the meas
IRE In the senate BY any unusual delay.
In such case. he intImated that the
oleomargarine bill might be made a
part Of the revenue reduction bill In
the senate.
The committees conference with the
President lasted less than IN hour. Tho
committee, and the President agreed on
the dcsirability OF the reduction or
abolition OF the war tuxcs where they
hnvc proved annoying and Irritating to
the interests involved and yet have no,
produced very much revenue. The
President believes the surplus In the
treasury isaccumulatins too rnpldly and
that conservative reductions may be
made safely or the taxes entirely re-
moved In some instances. The Rcpub-
lican members believe they Will DO able
to agree In very few days on the gen.
cral line of changes to be maue.
Navigation Mt n Stnndstill.
CLEVELAND o., Nov. 2O.-Nnvjrn.