The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-01-03
INCOMES TO BIZ TAXED.
SO Vote the Democrats Of the Ways
and Means Committee.
MEN WITH MORE THAN $4,000 A
YEAR TO PAY TWO PER CENT.

The Democratic End of the Committee e
Was Not Unanimous in Favor of the
Scheme, Some Calling 1t Political Sui
cide-Corporation Incomes on the List
The Whiskey Tax Raised Ten Cents a
Gallon-Tariff Speeches Now in Order.
Washington, January PA two per
cent tax on incomes above $4,000; 10
cents additional ON whiskey and per
cent on playing cards was the decision
reached by the Democratic members of
the ways and means committee today.
The committee met at the Treasury De-
partment at o'clock this afternoon. 1t
was argued that an income ltax would
yield the government an annual revenue
of $50, 600, 900, and that making the ex-
limit it to class amply able to afford it.
With large deficit caused by the de-
crease in customs duties there was no al
Tentative but to adopt it. Some of the
gentlemen who opposed the tax argued
at length tnat the political effect would
OC ldGdl w UuO OCluOGld pdlG duu
that it would be better to limit the tax
to corporations only and raise the addi-
tional revenue necessary from other
sources. Mr.. Cochran of New York, in
sisted that the income tax ought to be
laid upon all incomes, whether large or
small, and that any other course was un-
wise and un-Democratic in that it did
not fall on all alike. When Chairman
Wilson put the proposition to note, six
of the eleven representatives present
voted aye, and it was carried Those
who voted in the affirmative were Messrs
McMillin, Bynum, Tarsney, Whiting,
Bryan and Turner The tax applies to
the net earnings of corporations as well
as to private incomes. 1t does not apply
to inheritances. The additional tax of
10 cents a gallon on whiskey includes
whiskey now in bond, but, with view
to making the tax fall as lightly as posi-
BILE upon the owners of this whiskey, it
was decided to extend the bonded period
to eight years. It is now three years. 1t
was decided that the allowance for ''out-
age'' be limited to six years. The term
'soutage" ia technically used to express
the liquor lost by evaporation and other
causes after manufacture. The large
revenue arising from the in
come tax has caused the committee
to recede from the tax of six cents a
pack on playing cards and rednce it to
two cents. more especially as it was felt
that the maximum tax would prove an
embarrassment to the manufacturers.
The tax of $3.50 thousand on cigar.
cites, upon which the committee agreed
several weeks ago, was allowed to stand.
Mr.. Wilson will not present the revenue
features agreed upon today formally to,
the House. He will announce tomorrow
the conclusions reached by the commit
tee and will offer the items as an amend
ment to the tariff bill when the latter
comes before the House.
Mr.. Wilson will call up the tariff bill
at the conclusion of the morning hour
Wednesday. While there is no disposi-
tion on the part of either Mr. Wilson or
the Democratic majority to prevent the
Republicans from debating the matter
fully, it is the chait mans intention to
reach vote ON the bill January II. De-
Quoting Sundays this will leave the bill
before the House 13 legislative days. 1t
is Mr.. Wilson's intention to limit the
general debate to five days. The re-
mainder of the time will be occupied in
considering the measure under the
f1ve-minute rule. Night sessions will be
held so that members who desire it may
have an opportunity to speak. At the
conclusion of Mr.. Wilson's remarks
tomorrow, Mr.. Burrows of Michigan,
one of the leading Republican members
of the committee, will speak in opposi-
tion to the bill.