The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-11-23

President Mckinley'S determi-
nation to ask Congress for an
army of 100000 men, the in
creased naval expenditure and
the prospects Of the passage of
the Nicaraguan Canal bill, the
Ship Subsidy bill and the Pa
ciic Gable bill were all taken
into consideration by the Bepub-
lican members Of the House Com.
mittee on Ways and Means when
they met on Tuesday, November
Goth, to consider the problem of
reducing the war revenue tax.
Secretary Gage and Commits
missioner Of Internal Revenue
Wilson were before the commit,
tee and the Secretary presented
the financial system Of the gov
eminent in rather better light
than had been expected by most
of the members of the committee.
He predicted that the surplus
of receipts over current eXpendi-
lures for the present fiscal year,
would amount to about $50. 900,
GOO, and this in spite Of the fact
that it is only IA little more than
IS, 600, 600, up to date The Sec
Rotary pointed out that at the
same time last year the surplus
amounted to about the same fig
ure and yet by the end of the
year it had increased to nearly
$50, 600. 600. This estimate is
said to be justified by the fact
that the heaviest receipts and
the lighteSt expenditures usually
fall within the latter part Of the
fiscal year.
Commissioner wilson pre-
scented estimates showing the
amount of revenue that could be
expected from the various items
of internal taxation. The Com
miSSioner'S figures were prepared
so as TO show what taxes could
he repealed to reduce the reye.
nueS i'll various sums ranging
from minimum of $4,000. 900
to a maximum of $50, goo, 600.
The favorable showing made by
the Secretary and the Commits
sioner may lead to a more sub
Stantial reduction than had been
contemplated by conservative
members Of the committee, as it
indicates that IA considerable re
duction can be made and that
there will still be enough money
to maintain the army Of 100, 900
men and meet the contemplated
increased expenditures.
The committee was in session
most of the day, but no definite
determination was reached as t.
the amount of the reduction TO
be aimed at or the features of the
taxes to be repealed. Chairman
Payne made but two definite
statements - one, that there
would be no change in any tariff
taxes, and the other, that no
hearings would be given to per
sons urging changes i'll taxation.
y considerable part of the dis
cuSSiOn was confined to Schedule
b, which taxes medicinal and
proprietary articles and prepare.
tons, perfumes, cosmetics, chew
ing gum, wines, etc. There was
also discussion on stamp taxes.
The discussion indicated that
the committee favored quite a
change in this feature of the law
and reductions wherever possible.
The committee also desires to
eliminate the taxes OH convey
ances, of which there has been a
great deal of complaint.
1t can be stated that in a gen
eral 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.
After the adjournment of the
committee the members in body
went to the White House, where
they conferred with President
Mckinley on the probable reye-
nue. needs of the government and
the proposed reduction in taxa,
ton. The President had been
over the same ground earlier in
the day, when Secretary Gage
explained at the Cabinet meeting
his estimate of revenues and eX-
pendituTes and the desirability
of a material reduction i'll taxa.
ton. The President, in talking
with the committee, Endorsed
what Secretary Gage had said at
the Capitol.
The drift Of opinion among
members of the committee after
the session was strongly in favor
of repeating the stamp tax on
proprietary articles, on notes and
mortgages, deeds and convey
ances where the consideration is
less than $1,000, kilograms eX-
press receipts and some other
commercial and legal papers, but
not including checks and drafts.
The proposition to reduce the tax
on beer aroused decided opposi-
ton.