The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1912-08-01
PASS EXCISE BILL
SECOND DAYS VICTORY FOX THE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
COMBINATION.
REPEAL OF
Provision for This Act is Included
Third Tariff Document, the
Sugar Bill Considered
Next.

Washington, ID. c. Democrats
and Progressives united again in the
senate and by a vote of SO to Is pass
ed the Democratic excise tax bill, ex
tending the present tax on corpora
tons 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
w per ton tariff ON print paper; and
for the establishment of a permanent
non-partisan tariff commission.
The second days victory for the
Democratic Progressive combination
came after o 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 1t. Senator Borah in a
light to have his income tax bill sub.
stituted for the tax on business
lost by a vote of 33 to 90, 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" a 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
p%ublicans: Bourne, Bristow, Clapp,
Crawford. Cummins. Gronna. Jones,
Kenyon, La Toilette, Nelson, Poindex.
ter. Townsend and Works.
The a 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 1t Is be
lieved an agreement o will be
reached. SO that a perfected measure
can be laid before the president fol-
his approval.
The excise measure would levy up
on all persons. firms or copartnerships
a annual tax equal to one per cent
of net income In excess of $4,000.
Senator Cummins' permanent tariff
board amendment, which was carried
nee 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 a 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 1t.
The chief fight, aside from that cen
tering about Senator Borah's income
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 complete
repeal Of the reciprocity law and fol
the establishment of a rate of 81
per ton on print paper imported from
Canada, in place Of the present duty
of 1915.
The senate made a change in the ex
else bill so that the tax would not ap
ply to labor organization, agricultural
associations or f~raternai organizations
of an insurance character. This amend
ment was offered by Senator Fletcher
A plan to check the tobacco mo.
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 more
than 10000. 900 pounds of tobacco, AGO.
600, 900 cigars. the same number of
cigarets. and 1000. 900 pounds of snuff
by any one company. For an annual
above this quantity the tax
would rises rapidly, SO that II would
become prohibitive. Senator
declared such a taxing sys-
tenn would curb a tobacco monopoly,
the government had failed to do
through a mistake, a lack of judg.
ment. connivance or in some other
The third of the Democratic tariff
measures. the sugar bill. will come up
next. under the agreement in the sen.
Washington, ID. C. - Ten Progress
sive Republicans overthrow the regu
lar Republicans In the senate and
joined with the Democrats in passing
wywr Ar ~ YO WTrH cyknKE