The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-01-11
Ajax ON INCOMES.
Final Action OF the wnys and Means Conn
mittee.

|
mittee.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "A per cent
tax on incomes above $4,000; an ad
ditional tax of 10 cents gallon or
whiskey; and tax of 2 cents pack on
playing cards, was the decision reached
| by the Democratic members of the ways
and means committee today. This con
clusiOn was not unexpected inasmuch
as the committee have been known fol
some time to be evenly divided on the
proposition to tax incomes, with Turn
er or Georgia, occupying the only posi-
tion of doubt.
The committee met at the Treasury
Department this afternoon at o'clock
determined to settle the question of
an income tax before adjournment. 1t
was represented by such Of the gen.
tleman as favored the proposition, that
a general income tax would yield the
government an annual revenue Of $780,
ON0,C0O; that making the exemptions
include those incomes ltss than $4,000
would limit 1t to a class amply able to
afford it, and that In view Of the large
deficit that will be caused by the re-
duction in customs duties there was no
alternative but to adopt it. Some Of
the gentlemen who opposed the tax
argued at length that the political eff
feet would be fatal to the Democratic
party, and that it would be better to
limit the tax to corporations only and
raise the additional revenue necessary
from other sources. Mr.. Cochran of
New ork, insisted that an income tax
ought to be laid upon all incomes
whether large or small, and that any
other course was unwise and undemO-
cratic in that it did not fall on all
alike.
When Chairman Wilson put the pro-
position to vote, six Of the eleven re-
presentativeS present voted aye. These
were McMillin, Bynum, Tarsney, Whit
ing, Bryan and Turner, and it was car
ried. The tax applies to the net earn
ings OF corporations as well as to priv
ate Incomes. 1t does not, however,
apply to inheritances, although that
suggestion was one of the earliest adj
vanced when the matter first came up
for consideration in the committee a
month ago. The additional tax of ten
cents gallon on whiskey includes
whiSkey now In bond. With view to
make the tax fall as lightly as possible
| upon the owners Of this WhiSl<ey, it was
decided to extend the bonded period to
eight years. 1t is now three years. 1t
was decided that the allowance for "Out-
age shall be limited to six years. The
term "outage' is technically used to ex-
press the liquor that is lost by eVapo-
ration and other causes after its manu-
| facture.
| Inc large revenue arising from the
income tax caused the com mmittee to re.
cede from tax Of six cents pack on
playing cards and reduce it to two cents
the more especially as it was felt that
the maximum tax would prove an en-
Darrassment to the manufacturers.
The tax of 81 80 per thousand on cigar
cites. upon which the committee
| argreed several weeks ago, was allowed
| to stand.
Mr.. Wilson, the chairman of the
ways and means committee. will not
present these revenue features, agreed
upon today, formally to the House
l. lie Will announce Tomorrow the con-
clusions reached by the committee, and
VIII o1ler the items as an amendment
to the tariff bill at the conclusion of
the morning hour on Wednesday, and
Will make short speech in explanation
me chairman Is so exhausted with the
iaDor which the preparati on Of the bill
mas imposed upon hun, thai be is In no
condition OF body or mind, us he ex- !
pressed it tonight, to do the subject
Justice. He is unwilling that the dis |
cuSsion should be delayed, however. and |
1T Is for this reason that he will bring It |
up tomorrow with view to dlSpOSing |
OF it az quickly as possible. While there |
is no disposition on the part of either
MIR. Wilson or the Democratic majority
to prevent the Republicans from de-
batting the matter fully, it Is the chair
mans intention to reach a vote on the
bill January II. Deducting SUNDAYS,
this Will leave the bill before the House
thirteen legislative days. 1t Is Mr..
Wilson'S intention to limit general de.
bate to tive days. The remainder of
the time will be occupied in considering
the measure under the live-minute rule.
Night sessions will be held in order
that members who desire may have an
opportunity TO speak, but unless the
present programme IS changed, all de-
bate will be closed on the 7th inst.
At the conclusion Of Wilson's re-
marks Tomorrow Burroughs of Mich
igan, one of the leading Republic mem
berS of the committee Will speak in
opposition to the bill,