The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-04-23
INCOME TAX IN CAUCUS.
DEMOCRATS ADHERE TO WAYS
AND MEANS BILL.
Republicans Hold Conference TO
Agree on Plan TO Fight Democratic
Measure But Differences OF Opinion
Arise at Outset and No Agreement
Was Reached.

Washington, April 1S.--The tariff
revision bill made rapid progress in
the Democratic caucus Of the house
today, was considered systematicall,
by conference Of Republican re-
resentatives who agreed to prop, !;
amendments; and Mr.. Underw >,
predicted that the bill would Z,
brought up in the house next
nesday )
In the Democratic caucus I iys
and means majority was sus at
every point during a series lights
over proposed amendments to ne in
come tax, the only important change
being a decision to strengthen the
provision exempting life insurance
policies. The $4,000 exemption and
graduated scheme of income taxa
ton running up to per cent on
100000 or more were retained in
tact.
The house Republicans in an open
conference indOrsed the proposed
amendment to the bill that would
provide for a tariff commission,
changed 80 as to require the commits
sion to report annually and deferred
until Monday action on a proposition
to introduce as a Republican amend
ment the Payne wool bill that was
offered two years ago. Meantime the
Democrats of the ways and means
committee met and agreed upon q
number Of minor changes in their
bill which ill be offered probably
late tomorrow TO correct defects dis
closed in the caucus proceedings, in
telegrams and letters to the commit
tee and in renewed study of the bill.
The Democrats have been bonn
barded with inquiries regarding a
clause of the income tax provision
intended to exempt life insurance
policies
To avoid complications the caucus
changed the language SO as to read
provided the proceeds of life insur-
dnce policies paid upon the death of
the person insured shall not be in
cluded as incomes"
Representative Sherley Of Kentucky
proposed to reduce the income exemp-
ton from $4,000 to $4,000 and to
make incomes of more than 100000
pay per cent on the ground that
the bill made too small a minority Of
the people subject to the tax. Repre-
sentative HObsOn Of Alabama wanted
to make the minimum $4,000. with a
rate of One-half OF l per cent between
$4,000 and $4,000 and per cent
surtaX on incomes between 500, 5000
and $4,000: s per cent surtaX above
$250,000. Representative Thatcher Of
Massachusetts, figured the minimum
at $1,000. All these amendments
were voted down.
1t is thought that the caucus would
finish with the bill by tomorrow night
or Monday and that the house would
take up the bill the middle of the
week, with prospects of passage there
before May /.
The Republican caucus opened with
a livly fight over the party tariff pol
icy in prospect. Representative Moore
of Pennsylvania and Fordney Of Mich
igan, members of the Republican rep
resentation on the ways and means
committee, were on hand with q res
olution which would prevent the Re-
publicans taking any constructive
steps in the making of the tariff
Mr.. Mann, Republican leader, and
his lieutenants prevented a vote on
the resolutions, although Representa-
tives Moore and Forncy endeavored
to force action.
II do not wish to find myself two
years from now when the Democrats
have made their Mistakes" said Mr.
Moore, bound by some fool action
taken here today"
Representative Payne discussed his
proposed substitute wool bill at length
declaring 1t was the most equitable
arrangement of duties on wool that
could be devised. lie said the bill had
the Endorsement of the tariff board.
Representative Fordncy attacked
the rates as too low and objected to
the conference indorsing any bin. Il
am opposed he said, to the Repub-
leans presenting any substitute for
the rates in the Democratic tariff bill.
Leaves for Extended Tour