The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-16
FIGHT FOR INCOME TAX
It's Inclusion in the Bill Defeated by
1855 to 131.
EXPRESS RECEIPTS ESCAPE TAXATION
Pension Appropriation Bill Passed. The Senate
Again Wrestles With the Hay.Paunce-
fote Treaty. Lodge Hopes For
Vote on II Before Holidays
(By the Associated Press.)


Washington, Dec. 15.-The House today
passed the War Revenue Reduction Bill
The opposition sought to re-commit The
bill with instructions to report back a
measure reducing the revenue at least
$70,000,000 and including a provision for
an income tax SO drawn as to escape an
adverse decision of the Supreme court.
The motion :ailed-131 to 155. Thereupon
the bill was passed without the concur
renee of the minority who refrained from
voting. The amendment placed in the bill
yesterday to tax express receipts was de-
feated on an aye and nay vote in the
House-125 to 139. The Pension Appro-
priation Bill carrying $145, ,23O was
passed in exactly 10 minutes.
Robert ". Wilcox. the delegate from
Hawaii was sworn in Immediately after
the approval of the journal.
After the oath had been administered
many members came forward to con-
graduate Mr. Wilcox. The consideration
of the War Revenue Reduction Bill was
then resumed.
Mr.. Powers (Vt.) offered an amend
ment which was adopted, providing that
the inheritance tax should not be levied
on the estates of persons who died prior
to June 18th. 1898.
Mr.. Newlands New offered a modifi-
cation of the amendment he presented
yesterday to tax Industrial corporations
whose gross receipts exceed 100000, one
twentieth of one per cent upon such re-
ceipts, and requiring such corporations
TO file complete statements as to their
receipts, taxes, wages paid, etc. His pur-
pose he said, was TO reach the great ag-
gregations of wealth.
THE real purpose of this amendment is
10 apply an inquisition to corporations,
is it," demanded Mr.. Pearce MOI
It's purpose" replied Mr.. Newlands,
"is to both raise revenue and to secure
information upon which to base regulative
legislation
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohio), opposed the
amendment He expressed the hope that
the House would not attempt to make in
roads upon industrial corporations without
investigation by the proper committee of
the House.
will reach every corporation or every
income l will" observed Mr.. Newlands
amid applause.
Mr.. Grosvenor said he might favor an
income tax if it were constitutional. but
he said it was futile to discuss an in
come tax after the decision of the SUI
preme court.
Mr.. Sulzer was in favor of compelling
The big corporations to bear their share
of tax burdens
The amendment was lost-75 to 105
Mr.. Fitzgerald (Mass.) moved to strike
out the tax of ten cents per pound on
tea. He characterized the tax as unjust
an extortionate.
Mr.. Payne opposed the amendment The
tax on tea, he said raised about 80, O00, 900
OF revenue and for ten years had been
asked for by the tea trade. The amend
ment was defeated-55 to rs.
After the bill had been read, Mr.. Levy
IN. W, offered as a substitute for the
bill bill fixing the tax on beer at 81. so
per barrel, six cents upon tobacco and
snuff and repeating all the other sections
of the War Revenue Act. The substitute
was defeated without division
After the bill had been reported to the
House, Mr.. Payne demanded a separate
vote on the Smith amendment, placing a
tax of one cent on each express package.
On an aye and no vote the House re-
versed its action of yesterday and de-
feated the Smith express receipts tax
amendmcnt--125 to 129
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.) on behalf of
the minority, then moved to re-commit
the bill with instructions to forthwith
report a bill reducing the revenues under
the war revenue act at least the sum
of $40, 900, 000-the taxes remaining to be
apportioned as to more equally and justly
distribute the taxes and to remove them
from the articles most nearly the neces-
earies of life and which enter most gem
orally into consumption
The committee also will include in the
bill provision so framed as to accomplish
the Just ends Of an income tax. and yet
escape the decision of the Supreme court
of the United States in the cases grow
ing out Of the Wilson tariff law.
The motion to recommit was lost--131
10 los. The bill was then passed, the
Democrats refraining from voting.
On motion of Mr.. Barney (Wis) the
House then went bsck into committee of
the whole and took up the consideration
of the Pension Appropriation Bill Mr.
Barney stated that there was no new
legislation in the BILL 1t was an exact
copy OF the bill for the current year, both