The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-11-23
BEING CONSIDERED BY REPUBLICANS
OF THE HOUSE
NOT To DISTURB THE TARIFF
Secretary of the Treasury and Inter-
nal Revenue Commissioner Before
the Ways and Means Committee.
Give Their Views-Room for $780,
O0O, 900 Reduction-To be n Reduc-
ton I'm Tax On Medicines, Proprfe-
tary Articles, Stamp Tax, Etc.

Washington, November 20.-The re-
publican members of the ways and
means committee met today to consider
a measure for the reduction OF the war
revenue tax The most important ac-
ton was a decision not to remove the
tax of 10 cents a pound on tea. The
committee will not take up or disturb
the tariff on imports, as the members
claim it would open up the whole sub
ject of tariff revision. The committee
Will not grant any hearings while franz
ing h bill, as full hearings We're given
during the last session of congress and
since then briefs and statements of
various interests have been received.
Parties who are interested, however,
can file briefs or statements with the
committee.
Secretary Gage, and Commissioner
Wilson, of the internal evenue bureau,
before the committee for some
time during the afternoon. The secre-
tary told the committee that in his
opinion there might be "a reduction in
revenues of $50, 900, 900. The war reve-
nue. act now raises about 500, 600, 900:
Commissioner Wilson went over the
schedules with the members of the
committee and both he and Secretary
Gage were questioned as to where re-
auctions could be made to the best adj
vantage from the treasury view point.
A considerable part OF the discussion
was confined to schedule iB., which
taxes medicinal and proprietary arti-
Giles and preparations, perfumery, cos
metIcS, chewing gum, wines, ETC. There
was also discussion of stamp taxes.
The discussion indicated that the COM
mittee favored quite a change in his
feature of the law and reductions
wherever possible. The committee also
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 1T will be the aim of the commit
tee to abolish the mos burdensome
taxes and to grant relief from stamp
taxes as far aus possible.
The committee late in the day called
on the president to obtain his views
on the proposed reduction. The COM
mlttee will meet again tomorrow.
After there has been a general inter-
chang of opinion on the proposed re-
ductiOn it is quite likely that a sub
committee will be appointed to draft
a measure. 1t is not believed the bill
CdII Ue pIepdItu anu ready IOr the Iull
committee until the session begins. The
measure, after it is agreed upon by the
republicans, will be submitted to the
democrats of the committee.
Suggestion a been mad that the
oleomargarine bill, now ON the house
calendar and made a special order for
December 9th, might be made a part of
the war revenue bill.
Representative Tawney, father of the
oleomargarine bill, when asked about
this, said that the oleomargarine bill
would be passed by the house early in
the session, so that an opportunity
would be given to ascertain if there
was a disposition to defeat the meas
ure in the senate by any unusual delay.
In such case, he intimated that the
oleomargarine bill might be made d
part of the revenue reduction bill in
| the senate.