The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-15
REVENUE BILL DEBATE ENDS
Mr.. Payne Moves the Previous
Question on It's Passage
Separate Vote Demanded on the
Amendment Taxing Express
Companies.

The House today on motion Of Mr. Payne
went into Committee Of the Whole.
with Mr.. Hepburn in the chair for further
consideration Of the War Revenue BILL
The reading of the bill was resumed at
section 9 of schedule B. exempting from
taxation bequests for charitable or educa-
tionaI uses
Mr.. Underwood offered an amendment TO
section %. reducing the limit of exemption
Of iegacies arising from personal property
from SO. eco to s5,0aa. He believed that-the
exemption provided in the bill is too great.
He thought small fnheritances should be
| exempted
Mr.. Payne opposed the amendment, say
ing that he was averse to a Federal tax on
| Iegacies, as most Of the States levied q
tax of this character. Mr. Underwoeti's
amendment proposed to make the tax
more severe. He did not believe that the
United States Treasury was driven to the
necessity Of taxing 1egaeies-
Mr. Underwood said the accumulated
wealth of the country was not bearing,
and had never borne. its proper and just
share OF the taxes required to support the
Government.
The amendment; on a division, was lost
SO to 45.
Mr. Powers offered an amendment that
the inheritance tax should not apply TO
estates left prior to June IS, 1888
Mr. Underwood said that the amendment
was designed TO still further extend the
limitation of the exemption of esta ties.
Mr.. Powers amendment was on dtFIs-
ion agreed TO by vote OF 50 to IS.
Mr.. NewIands presented an amendment
providing a tax of one-twentieth of / per
cent on the gross receipts of Industrial
corporations when the receipts exceed
$500, ,00e year. Mr. Newlands in support
of his amendment charged thar taxation
was not equitahiy distributed upon the ae-
tfvitfes of the country
Mr. DalzelI wanted to know why Mr.
Newiands singled out Industrial corpora
tons. Mr.. Newlands replied that ur1ter
the pending bill banks, express companies,
and legacieS are taxed
Mr. Grosyenor opposed the amendment
on the ground that If corporations we're
to be taxed Congress should proceed in
the matter Systematically.
Mr. Siifzer supported the amendment
and again criticised the majority Tor It's
failure to keep its faith with the people
by repeating the War Revenue act. He
believed IN a graduated tax on corpora
tions and inheritances. Nine-tenths Of
the accumulated wealth Of the country he
said, escaped taxation, and failed TO bear
its burden in the maintenance Of the Gov
ernment He believed, he said. in grad
uated tax on the capital stock of corpo-
rations. It would, he said, squeeze some
of the water out of these corporations.
Mr. Nswlands, replying 10 Mr. GrosYe-
nor, said It was true that the proposition
to lax corporations had not received ade-
quatt consideration from the majority
members of the WAYS and Means Commit
-
had not given dug attention to the ques-
ton. He deplored that tax bills we're
made the occasion for drawing partisan
lines. He said there are two classes II
wealth in The country. The larger class
was iaw-afiding and willing 10 pay Just
taxes. The other class was predatory and
laUIess.
The amendment WIS defeated on a di-
vision, 80 to Il. it being strictly q party
vote. Tellers we're called FOR and ordered
and the result was 70 for the amendment
and 10J against it.
Mr. Fitzgerald Of Massachusetts, moved
an amendment to repeal the tax or tea.
Mr. Payne said the removal Of the tax on
tea would ent- down the revenues about
s10e00, ,oAa. The tea tax, he said, pro-
tected tea drinkers from tea DIST, the
sweepings OF foors in tea centres and
coarse. overgrogE tea which contained an
undue proportion Of poison.
Mr. Glynn supported the amendment.
saying that millions OF Americans believed
iE purifying their wafer by boiling 1t and
putting q little Tea in it.
The amendment was lost on a division,
by IS TO 55-
At 2:07 the committee arose. the bin was
reported to the House, and Mr. Payne
moved the previous question on its final
passage.
Mr. Payne demanded a separate vote on
the amendment adopted IN Committee OF
the Whole compelling express companies
to pay q tax Of 1 cent on express receipts.
The amendment was defeated by vote OF
80 to 81. yea and nay vote was called
Fer and ordered.
The express tax amendment was defeat I
ed, the vote being 139 TO 1z5