New-York tribune., 1902-02-04
WAR TAX REDUCTION.
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEES BILL
REPORTED TO THE HOUSE.

Washington, Feb. 3.-The Ways and Means Com
nittee to-day ordered favorable report on the
War Tax Reduction bill. A surprise occurred when
Representative Babcock. Republican member Of
fered his bill largely reducing duties on the steel
schedule and placing some articles on the free
list as amendment to the tea repeal section.
The amendment was defeated-S TO T-N1essrs. Bah
cock and Tawney and all the Democrats voting in
the affirmative The Cuban reciprocity question
also came Up Unexpectedly, Representative Steele
OF InUlana, moving a % per cent concession on
Cuban sugar. The motion was withdrawn how
ever after brief exchange of comment
The closeness OF the vote on Mr.. Babcocks
amendment caused much comment Messrs. New
lands and Cooper. Democrats, and Long and Hop
kins. Republicans were absent. 1t was explained,
on behalf Of the absent members, that they were
either out of the city detained at importan
committee meetings elsewhere. and that the Bah
cock motion entirely unexpected.
The motion Of Mr.. Steele was regarded az re-
joinder to the unexpected motion the stee!
schedule. Representative Robertson. of Loulsl-
who is opposed to a reduction on Cuban sugar,
among those who voted for the Babcock
amendment Following this MIR. Steele made his
motion. and a sharp but good natured parley oc-
Cured between Mr.. Steele and Mr.. Robertson.
The latter suggested that If any motion on sugar
was 70 be made Mr.. Steele should broaden his
proposition. so as TO include and refined
sugars, placing them all th3 free list Mr.
Steele Gid press the motion however. and the
incident not regarded serious move
toward dealing with the Cuban question.
Both majority and minority reports were filed on
the bill. The majority report says the probability
Of early withdrawal Of troops from Cuba and the
reduction of the force in the Philippines will make
further reductions possible. and also reviews the
condition of the Treasury. In conclusion. ii says
1t cannot be denied that large surplus furnishes
temptation for eXtravagant expenditure. While
Congress may generally be relied upon to keep the
national expenditure within reasonable bounds, it
should be relieved from the pressure which comes
with plausible schemes from every quarter to raid
overiowng Treasury
The minority report says:
While approving in general the policy Of repeal
ing the war taxes, insist that certain taxes on
accumulated wealth should be allowed to remain.
We refer TO such taxes imposed on sugar
and petroleum refners The tax Of one-fOuTth OF !
per cent on the annual gross receipts OF sugar and
petroleum refners in of $50 900 yields about
81 600 annually This has been paid without
demur protest and there Is no reason why the
great COM 0inations which monopolZe these bust
3esses and from which colossal individual fortunes
have been built up, should not part of the
national expenses, as well as the masses Of the
people who and consume the various things
which the subject Of customs and internal
revenue taxation. AS the Supreme Court has de-
MED TO Congress the right 10 tax incomes for the
support Of the government, 1t is well to place accu
mulated wealth under some form of contribution
and know Of none more just or equitable than
such that imposed by the war revenue act
oil and sugar reflnerS