The Washington weekly post., 1900-12-18
Saturdays Proceedings.


revenue reduction bill. The opposition
sought TO reeOmmlt the bill with instTuc-
tions 70 report back measure reducing
the revenue at least $50 900 90. and includ-
Ing a provision for an income tax so
drawn as 20 escape an adverse decision
OF the Supreme Court. The motion failed
III 10 80 Thereup0n the bin was pass
ed without the concurrence Of the minor
ity, who refrained from voting. The
amendments placed in the bin Friday to
tax express receipts was defeated on an
aye and nay vote in the House-125 to 159.
As soon as consideration OF the bill be-
gan. Mr.. Underwood. OF Alabama. moved
10 reduce the amount OF property exempt
under the inheritance tax from $1,000 To
$500. Mr., Payne. OF New York. in charge
Of the bill. said that personally he thought
the inheritance tax should not have gone
In the original act, as the States gener-
ally, especially the Eastern States, levied
heavy Inheritance taxes. But If Il was
10 remain, he was opposed to reducing the
exemption to 8 900. The amendment was
lOst-45 10 Sc.
Powers Amendment Adopted.
Mr.. Powers. OF Vermont. offered an
tance tax should not be levied on the es-
tates OF persons who died prior to June
3, 1898. He said the amendment should
be adopted 10 clear up and TO prevent
false construction Of the language Of the
present law. The amendment was adopt
ed-S0 10 IS.
Mr.. Newlands, OF Nevada, offered a
modification Of the amendment ne pre-
sented Friday 10 tax Industrial cornora-
uons whose gross receipts exceed $500 OOC
one-twentieth Of per cent. upon such re-
ceipts and requiring such corporations ia
ME complete statements as to their re-
ceiDts. taxes, wages paid. &c. His DIR
pose, he said. was to reach the great ae-
gregati0ns of wealth.
The real purpose of this amendment Is
10 apply an inquisition 10 corporations e
II noty' demanded Mr.. Pearce, of Mis-.
souri,
It's purpose" replied Mr.. Newlands 'as
both to raise revenue and TO secure infor-
nation upon which to base reguIatiye leg
islation."
Gen. Grosvenor. Of Ohio. opposed the
amendment. He expressed the hope that
the House would not attempt to make in.
roads upon industrial corporations with.
out investigation by the proper COMMITTEE
OF the House. Why attack industrial cor.
rorations? The amendment was lost, 7s
10 l05. "
Tax on Tea Sustained.
Mr.. Fitzgerald. Of Massachusetts ,rovof
to strike out the tax Of 10 cents ner NOM
on tea. He characterized the tax as nm.
Just and ext1rtionate. and appealed to tbt
members TO support the amendment in IN,
interest of the breakfast table, and tn,
70 o'clock tea
Mr.. Payne opposed the amendment The
tax on tea, he said, raised about 50 600 co
OF revenue. and for ten years had beer
asked for by the tea trade. Some Of The
/ importers who had large supplies of tea ir
bond, he said, were naturally in favor ot
repeating the tea tax.
Mr.. Glynn, of New York. made a witt,
speech in favor Of the amendment. 1t wa.
defeated, IS to 76.
After the bin had been read Mr. Levy
| OF New York, offered as a substitute 10,
the blll a bill fixing the tax on beer nj
$4-OJ per barrel, cents upon tobacco anl
snuH, and repeating all the other section.
OF the war revenue act The substitut.
was defeated without division. :
After the bill had been reported to In,
House, Mr.. Payne demanded a separat.
vote on the Smith amendment, placing ;
/ tax OF l cent on each express package
and Mr.. Underwood, Of Alabama. de
/ manded separate vote on the bowers in
/ Eerltance tax amendment, which specific
/ aily exempted the estates Of persons VIII,
died prior to June IS, 1895.
/ On an aye and no vote the House re-
Versed ITS action of yesterday and defeat
/ ed the Smith express receipt tax amend
ment-l2o 10 l29. The Powers amendmen
was adopted-S4 TO 81
Richardson OGrrs Substitute.
Mr.. Richardson, Of Tennessee, on behal
of the minority, then moved TO recomui
the bill with Instructions Ito Forthwith!
report a bin reducing the revenues unde
the war revenue act, at least the sum o
! SIC 0O0, ,000-the taxes remaining 10 be an
pOrtioned as 10 more equally and iustl-
distribute the taxes, and to remove then
from the articles most nearly the neces
saries of life, and which enter most gen
erally into consumption The commit
tee also win include i'm tie bill provision
so framed as TO accomplish the Just END
of an income tax, and yet escape the de
cision of the Supreme Court of the Unit
ed States in the cases growing out of III
Wilson tariff law.
Mr. Hopkins, of Illinois. observed face
tiously that the motion was subject 10
point of order. 1t instructs the cor:
mittee TO report back an income tax pro
vision that viii circumvent the decision
of the Supreme Court" said he. PLAINLY
that is requiring the committee TO per
fern an impossibility."
The motion to recommit was lost-15l [
lls5 The bill was then passed, the Demo
Gratis refrainlng from voting.
IL was agreed that Monday. after sus
pension business was out OF the way, b
devoted 10 the consideration Of privat
persion bills.
AMENDING BANKRUPTCY LAW.