The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-08-02
PASS EXCISE BILL.
SECOND DAYS VICTORY FOR THE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
COMBINATION.
REPEAL OF RECIPROCITY.
Provision for This Act 10 Included
Third Tariff Document, the
Sugar Bill Considered
,-sf Next.

Washington, d. c. Democrats
and Progressives united again in the
Senate and by a vote Of &c to is pass
ed the Democratic excise tax bill, ex-
tending the present tax on corpora
lions to the business of individuals,
private firms and copartnerships. At
tached to the measure. also by the aid
Of Republican votes, were amend
ments for the repeal Of the Canadian
reciprocity law, and the fixing of
~ per ton tariff on print paper; and
Tor the establishment Of a permanent
aon-partisan tariff commission.
The second days victory for the
tic-Pregressive combination
came after debate lacking In In
terest.
The passage Of the excise bill be-
came certain early in the day; and
the Republican leaders offered little
opposition to It, Senator Borah In q
light to have his income tax bill sub
stttuted for the tax on business"
lost by a vote Of 33 to 20. although
he mustered to his support many Of
the regular Republicans and four Dem
ocrats-Ashurst. Culberson. Hitchcock
and MARITIME.
The Democratic majority stood al
most solidly against any change in
theh ouse bill that would threaten its
defeat. They declared the tax on
business" was clearly constitutional.
while an income tax law had once
haan baId pnnop ot,tutyonar h., H. s,,
preme court, and might again suffer
that fate. until the states ratify the
amendment to the federal constitu-
ton.
On the passage of the excise bill
the bills were supported by the fol-
lowing Progressives and insurgent Re-
publicans: Bourne. Bristow, Clapp.
Crawford. Cummins. Gronna, Jones.
Kenyon. La Toilette. Nelson. Poindex.
ter. Townsend and Works.
The measure was changed from the
original house bill only in minor par
ticulars, except for the addition of
the Canadian reciprocity repeal, and
the permanent tariff commission pro.
vision.
1t will go back to the house for the
approval Of that body and It is be-
lieved an agreement soon will be
reached, so that a perfected measure
can be laid before tho presidsn mt for
his approval.
The excise measure wor Navy up
on all persons. firms or coGsx4- erships
an annual tax equal to oN ger cen,
OF net income in excess OF $4,000.
Senator Cummins' permanent tariff
board amendment. which was carried
once Thursday In the wool fight and
then lost in the final upheaval wher
the La Toilette bill passed, was at
tached to the excise bill by q vote o.
3S to 20. All of Democrats except
Pomerene Of Ohio voted against the
tariff board, while all of the Repub
licans except Hepburn Of Idaho sup
ported II.
The chief fight, aside from that cen
tering about Senator Borahs incom,
tax measure. came upon the Candiar
reciprocity amendment offered by Sen
ator Gronna Of North Dakota.
The amendment adopted by the sen
ate 81 to 26, provides for the complet,
repeal OF the reciprocity law and TO
the establishment Of a rate of 5.
per ton on print paper imported from
Canada. in place of the present dut.
OF s3.75.
The senate made a change In the ex
else bill so that the tax would not ap
ply to labor organization. agriculture
associations or fraternal organization
OF an insurance character. This amend
ment was offered by Senator Fletcher
A plan to check the tobacco me
nopoly by a special excise tax on pro
duction above a certain amount, Offer
ed by Senator Hitchcock was defeated
The Hitchcock proposal was a spe
cial tax on the production Of NOR
than 100000 pounds of tobacco, 400
100000 cigars, the same number O
cigarets. and 100000 pounds of smut
by any one company. For an annua
production above this quantity the Ia,
would rises rapidly, so that 1t woul
soon become prohibitive. Senate
Hitchcock declared such a taxing sys
tenn would curb a tobacco monopoly
which the government had failed to d.
through q mistake. a lack of juds
ment, connivance or in some othe
way"
The third of the Democratic tarii
measures. the sugar bill, win come u
next. under the agreement in the ser
ate.
Washington. ID. c. - Ten Progress
sive Republicans overthrow the regu
lar Republicans In the senate an
Joined with the Democrats In passin