The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-01
THE WAR TAX REDUCTION
Brewers Fight the House Committee
For Reduction on Beer.
TIE COMMITTEE ALREADY WEAKENING
No Legislation Likely Soon Along the Lines Of
the Spooner Bill. This viii Leave the
Philippine Question in McKinIey's
Hands Indefinitely.
(By the Associated Press. }


Washington. Nov. SO.-There were a
number of Republican Senator'S at the
Capitol today, and they were in informal
conference during the greater part of the
time concerning the business likely to
come before Congress during the APP
preaching session. Among those who par
ticipated in these meetings were Senators
Allison, Chairman of the Committee on
Finance; Frye, President pro tenn of the
Senate; Lodge, a leading member of the
Foreign Relations committee; Platt, of
Connecticut, a member of the Finance
committee, and Hale, Chairman of the
Committee on Naval Affairs.
Prominent in their deliberations was
the contemplated amendments to the War
Revenue law Senators Aldrich, Allison
and Platt were together for some time
on this latter subject and had with them
Representatives Payne and Dalzell of the
House Committee on Ways and Means 1t
was stated al the close OF this talk that
the discussion had been on very general
lines, and that as the House people had
not completed their measure and the
Treasury estimates had nos been received.
no conclusion had been reached. So far
as the Senators expressed themselves
their expression were favorable to making
the revision so thorough as to relieve the
work entirely of the possibility of having
it considered of temporary character
They expressed the opinion that what
ever changes are to be made should be
made at the present session in order
TO prevent the re-opening of the subject
at the next session of Congress, as they
think that if the question should be en-,
tered upon at the beginning of a long
session an entire revision of the tariff
might be attempted. This they would
avoid. They also gave some indication
of their views OF the changes to be made,
in a general way favoring the removal
of the extra tax from articles not re-
turning a large revenue and leaving it
on the more productive articles. The
tendency seemed to be against any re-
moval of the beer or tobacco taxes and
also against the removal of the tax
on exchange transactions.
There was also considerable discussion
of the shipping subsidy BILL and il was
made evident that there will be siren
uous effort to have this measure made
the unfinished business in place of the
Spooner bill for the regulation of public
administration in the Philippines. There
is said to be no doubt now that this sub
stitution will be attempted at the first
meeting of the Committee on Order of
Business, which probably will occur Mon
day next after the adjournment of the
Senate. Senator Frye is giving his es-
pecial attention to this subject and ex-
presses his determination to crowd the
bill as fast as possible. All Senators seen
spoke of the inutility of the Spooner bill
and said that for the present at least no
effort will be made to legislate along the
lines suggested by that measure. The
effect of this decision will be to leave the
Philippine question entirely in the hands
OF the President.
If. this programme can be carried into
execution the Nicaragua Canal Bill will
be displaced at least temporarily. The
canal bill is only a special order and could
not be used'to displace unfinished bust
ness except upon a vote or by general
consent. With reference to the canal bill
there was manifest in the various talks
some disposition to have it await action
on the Hay -Pauncefote treaty and the
suggestion was made on the part of at
least one Republican leader that the canal
legislation of this session should be con-
fined to an authorization to acquire a
property right of way for the canal Sen
ator Frye during the day was in consul
tation concerning the shipping bill with
representatives Of the Merchants Associa-
lion, OF New York, who urged that as the
bill stands it will be injurious to the
export trade, while representatives of the
New York and Pacific Steamship Com
pany who were also with the Senator, ex-
pressed the opinion that unless full sub
sides were granted to foreign built ships
they would be operated at a loss. Senator
Frye said that the bill was now in as
perfect shape as seemed possible to get
it and that he did not see the advisability
of making any amendment A meeting
of friends of the measure will be held
in this city tomorrow to consider these
and other objections to the bill.
THE BREWERS NOW OBJECT.