Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-04-18
HOUSE MEMBERS IN ROLE OF
STUDENTS, WITH HULL AS
INSTRUCTOR.
MANY DISAGREE As TO
$4,000 LIMIT FEATURE
constitut;onaiity Of Income Law is
ousstionsd- Several Amendments to
Underwood Tariff Bill to Be Pre-
ssnted to Caucus to
Tax Rubber Voted Down.

IuS TOlo Ol 9tuOSuto IO0oys 3sSPA SoSAAs~
tive Cordell Hull. Of Tennessee. con-
verted the tariff caucus into a class In
income taxation after the caucus had
disposed Of amendments to q few items
on the free list passed over from yes
terday. Several members sought to
have = -saaait duty levied on raw rub
Der. raw silk and tungsten ore.
Representative Hull wrote the In
come tax section Of the bill, In which
widespread interest has been aroused
members of congress particularly
eyincing desire for Information as TO
the effect Of the proposed tax before
opposing it. The Tennessean. mem
ber who has made a study OF the In
come tax problem for many years, e1-
plained his plan in q lengthy address
and on nearly every provision he was
asked q dozen questions.
$4,000 Limit Discussed.
How the ways and means committee
had arrived at $4,000 as the exemption
limit of the tax was the first subject
of inquiry. some members asking II
$4,000 would not be better and others
demonstrating an idea that the e1-
emption should be lower.
lower exemption. Mr.. Hull ex-
planned, would necessitate q bill with
SO many special exemptions. that II
would be difficult of enforcement, as
10 make 1t Improbable. BY fixing the
exemptions at $4,000, special exemp-
sions are not necessary and 1t was
stated that the operation Of the act and
collection of tax were made compare
lively simple.
Considerable. opposition to some OF
the features Of the act is developing,
tho the leaders declared many mem
bers were under apprehension as to the
exact working Of the act. To clear up
misunderstanding was the desire 1of
the committee and this task was un-
dertaken by Mr.. Hull.
Amendments to Be Offered.
Before the caucus met The ways and
means committee considered some
amendments, one of which was vital
but would not change rates on minor
commodities. They were to be offered
10 the caucus.
& The committee also framed an
amendment to the income tax section,
changing the phraseology in regard to
insurance policies. It was originally
Intended to exempt such policies, but
It was regarded as confusing.
1--WE will change the language to
make clear that insurance policies are
exempt" said Mr.. Underwood.
The constitutionality Of the income
tax, it became apparent today, was to be
the principal subject Of dehate when It's
DISCUSSION began in earnest Several
members were planning to attack 1t on
The ground that 1t was unconstitution-
n. The committee is ready to contend
that there is no ground for apprehen-
sion on that claim.
Rubber Men Lose.
The caucus rejected an amendment
nroposed by Representative Hardwick,
of Georgia, to take crude rubber off the
free list and to tax it at 10 per cent.
Representative Borland. of Missouri.
followed with an unsuccessful attempt
10 nut manufactured rubber on the free
list.
While the democrats We're in session
the house republicans met to settle
whether they should offer tariff plan
nj their own or follow the plan of Rep
resentative Fordney and Moore to
merely point out the peril in the demo-
cratic bill"
Republican members Of the ways and
means, committee had voted to to
direct the republican caucus to prepare
amendments to the democratic bill.
Shoes Stay on Free List.
The first vote Of the /, ay in the demo-
cratic caucus before the income tax
was taken up was motion OF Repre-
sentative Phelan, of Massachusetts. TO
fake boots and shoes from the free list
and make them dutiable at 10 per cent
a valorem. This defeated, he offered
Al amendment for per cent duty.
which also was lost by an overwhelm-
ing vote.