The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-01
DOOM THE WAR TAX.
Republicans in Committee Vote to
 Abolish.

From Washington to Chicago Chronicle. The Republican members of the Ways and Means Committee at a secret caucus late this afternoon voted unanimously | for the repeal of all the war taxes and authorized Chairman Payne to call a meeting of the full Committee tomorrow morning so that a repeal bill may De re ported to the House at the earliest pos sible moment It is not unlikely that the bill will be agreed upon at the called session and reported to the House to- morrow afternoon. There will be no op- position to 1t, inasmuch as the six Dem- 0cratic members of the Ways and Means war taxes
 The decision of the Republican mem- bers was reached at the conclusion of O conference which lasted nearly two hours. The leaders of the Committee who pro posed the repeal were undoubtedly driven into this extreme position not alone by the goading of their Democratic col- leagues. but by a desire to create di- version which will at least temporarily distract public attention from Cuban re- ciprocity, It Is possible also that they had In mind desire to employ the war taxes as a club which might be used eff fectively in their future dealings with the President.
 It will be recalled that Secretary Gage In his annual report recommended a further reduction of war taxes aggre- | timates then in possession of the Secre- tary, would leave about $50,000,000 for treasury purposes In round numbers the war taxes for the current fiscal year will aggregate $100, 100000. It Is known that the recommendation of the Secre- tary of the Treasury received the h. dorsement of President Roosevelt. who Is in favor of a surplus. If the Ways and Means Committee should report a bill for the repeal of all the war taxes the surplus would be practically wiped out. On figures presented now by the Treasury Department it Is estimated that the surplus ,n so6 for the year will
 stances therefore. it Is probable that to any proposition looking to the repeal of all the war taxes. The Republican members of the com mittee have been looking forward to a quarrel with the President. They have admitted in their private conversations with fellow members that if they can
 not bring the President to their way of viewing Cuban reciprocity they will find themselves in the undesirable position of antagonizing the administration. They de- sire to avoid this complication. They evidently believe that 1t will be easier to effect a compromise if they are pro- vided with a weapon of offense than If they merely attempt to fight the Pres ident. upon the narrow ground of party expediency.
 In some quarters 1t Is believed that the Republican members of the Ways and Means Committee are not sincere. Tn fact, one of the leading Republicans said that the program agreed upon might not be carried out in all of its details. He said that the plan would be submitted
 to the committee for discussion, but he intimated that the Committee might amend it.
 The receipts from war taxes during the last year were obtained from the follow. ing sources: Legacles M and distriouteo shares of estates, $5, PIP, 900; stamp taxes under schedules and B. which include Stock Exchange. Board of Trade and va rious other forms of business. $39. l,OOo; distilled spirits at the rate of ofo go cents mt
 The last Congress reduced the war taxes $40, ,O00, 900, but the reduction made a difference in receipts of less than
 The official head of Secretary of Az riculture Wilson Is in jeopardy as the result of his action in permitting Fro lessor Wiley of the Agricultural Depart, ,, Ways and Means to furnish the reasons why Cuba should not be granted tarln concessions The, President and the War Department have bent all their energies toward securing concessions for Cuba. They have expected the cooperation or all other executive departments or gov ernment. Secretary Wilson has espe- ciaIly understood the Presidents desires. because the President has given expres- sion to them at Cabinet meetings.
 The President has known for some time that Secretary Wilson was not III sympathy with his Cuban program. but that. on the other hand. he was dis posed to give aid to the beet sugar grow CTS and manufacturers. He was not pre-. pared. however. for the appearance or one of the Secretary's ablest ana pest known assistants before the Committee on Ways and Means publicly to plead the cause of the beet sugar growers and at the same time denounce cuoas po- sition.
 The President is understood u1;'.dm to be and ex ceedingly angry at Secretary wilson @ anu anu cessor will be appointed as soon as the President can pick out the right man, It has been an open secret ever since Governor Shaw was selected for seere- tary of the Treasury that Secretary VII. VII. sons position has been in jeopardy. He might. however. have stayed in the Cab met until after the present session oI Congress if he had kept out or the Cuban tariff fight.