The Oakes times. [volume] (Oakes, N.D.) 1906-current, 1912-08-01
SECOND DAYS VICTORY FOR THE
DEMocRATic.PRoGREssivE
COMBINATION.
REPEAL OF RECIPROCITY.
Provision for This Act is Included
Third Tariff Document, the
Sugar Bill Considered
Next.


senate and by vote of &c to 18 pass.
ed the Democratic excise tax bill, ex-
tending the present tax on corpora
t1ons 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 a
81 per ton tariff on print paper; and
for the establishment of permanent
non-partisan tariff commission. {
The second days victory for the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 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 a
tight to have his income tax bill sub
stituted for the tax on business"
lost by a vote Of 33 to 23, 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 it's
defeat. They declared the tax on
business" was clearly constitutional,
while an income tax law had once
been held unconstitutional by the su-
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 lshr-
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 perfected measure
can be laid before the president for
his approval.
The excise measure would levy up.
on all persons, firms or copartnerships
an annual tax equal to one per cent
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 when
the La Toilette bill passed, was at
tached to the excise bill by vote of
3S to 80. All of Democrats except
Pomerene of Ohio voted against the
tariff board, while all of the Repub.
licans except Hepburn of Idaho sup.
ported it.
The chief fight, aside from that cen.
tering about Senator Borah's income
tax measure, came upon the Candian
reciprocity amendment offered by Sen.
ator Gronna of North Dakota.
The amendment adopted by the sen.
ate 81 to rs, provides for the complete
repeal of the reciprocity law and for
the establishment of a rate of 81
per ton on print paper imported from
Canada, in place Of the present duty
of $3.75.
The senate made change in the ex.
else bill so that the tax would not an.
ply to labor organization, agricultural
associations or fraternal organizations
OF an insurance character. This amend.
ment was offered by Senator Fletcher.
A plan to check the tobacco mo.
nopoly by special excise tax on pro.
duction above certain amount, offer.
ed by Senator Hitchcock was defeated,
The Hitchcock proposal was a spe.
cial tax on the production of more
than 20,000,000 pounds of tobacco, 400.
100000 cigars, the same number of
cigarets, and 100000 pounds of snuff
by any one company. For an annual
production above this quantity the tax
would rises rapidly, SO that it would
soon become prohibitive. Senator
Hitchcock declared such a taxing sys.
tenn would curb a tobacco monopoly,
which the government had failed to do
through mistake, lack of judg.
ment, connivance or in some other
way
The third Of the Dem ocratic tariff
measures, the sugar bill, will come up
next, under the agreement in the sen.
ate.