The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1913-09-13
.VARDAMAN MAKES BOLT
Says Put Burden Of Taxation on
Backs That Can Best Bear It.
Wealthy Must be Taxed More.

WedItHy must Dc ldAeu more.
Washington. Aug. 28.-Open re-
bellion broke out today among Sem
ate Democrats over the finance
committee provisions on the income
tax in the tariff bill.
This rebellion was indicated first
when Senator VardamanAof Miss
issippi. broke away from the caucus
rule and voted in favor Of an
amendment by Senator LaFollette.
which would graduate the tax un
incomes up to 10 per cent On in
comes of 500, 600 or over.
Not only Senator Vardaman, but
a number of other Democrats object
to the finance committee provisions
of the income tax measure. They
do not regard them as sufficiently
drastic. They are insisting on
tax graduated high enough to reach
swollen fortunes in this country.
and tend to curtail them.
YIELD TO REBELLION.
So strong has the rebellion be-
come that the finance committee
leaders have been obliged to yield
to pressure. and have consented to
revise the existing income tax pro-
visions of the bill. A Democratic
caucus will be held soon, not later
than next Monday. for the purpose
of adopting provisions which will
impose heavy graduated tax on
large incomes.
The exact percentage of tax
which will be imposed is not yet
disclosed. But Democratic sena-
tors said it would have to be high
enough reasonably to meet the de-
mands of ProgressIve-R Republicans
in the Senate, and also demands
from the country of the heavy taxa
tion of big incomes.
AS the bill stands, the tax is
graduated to per cent on incomes
above 100000. This does not
meet the wishes of many of the
more radical Democrats, including
Senator Vardaman, and about half
the Republicans, including all the
Progressive Republicans.
REVOLT CAUSES PANIC.
Senator LaFoIlette demands tax
of 10 per cent on incomes above
500, 900, and presented an amend
ment to that effect, which was vot-
ed on today.
1t was defeated by 43 to II, but
Senator Vardaman left the Demo-
Gratis and voted for it. and Senators
Ashurst, Reed and Thompson said
they voted against it on the assur-
ance from the finance committee
leaders that, the measure would be
revised to meet the demands of the
country for graduated tax higher
than the bill provides. Twelve Re-
publicans joined the Democrats in
voting down the La Toilette amend
ment.
Conservative Democratic leaders
we're thrown into something like a
panic when they found out the
strength of the rebellion on their
hands and realized they would have
to yield to it.
CHAMPIONS POOR MAN.
The fact that Senator Vardaman
had the courage to break away
from caucus action caused the lead
ers much uneasiness. 1t was point
ed out that the action of Senator
Vardaman would make trouble in
Mississippi for. Senator John Sharp
Williams. who has been standing
out for low rate.
Mr.. Vardaman's action, it Isl
understood here. will meet approval
Of a vast majority of the people of |
Mississippi.
Senator Vardaman said: IL
favor putting the burden of taxa
tion on the backs that can best bear
it, not on the poor people who have
to toll for their living. The great
fortunes in this country should pay
their proportionate share of the
expense of government.
EXTRA TAX ON WEALTHY.
1t is understood that Democratic
leaders have agreed to a revision of
the income tax section. so that the
extra tax on incomes of more than
500 900 will be 5 per cent, with an
increase reaching 10 per cent on
incomes of half million dollars.
The dill as it now stands provides
only 3 per cent tax above 500, 600. |
The present rates on incomes be-
tween $40. 1000 and 500. 600 also will
be increased.
Senator McCumber's amendment |
to start the tax at incomes of 81, 900 |
and increasing to 7 IL per cent On
100000 and over was defeated |
without roll call. as was similar
one by Senator Poindexter.
Senator Bristow at once intro.
duced another amendment which he
explained was calculated to fall |
heavier on incomes of more than
$50. 900. but it was defeated strict
Iy on party lines.
ATTACKS INCOME CLAUSE.