The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-01
Democrats Will Have Final
Caucus on Subject Today
or Tomorrow
LAST BIG FIGHT PRIOR
TO PASSAGE OF BILL
Preparations Under Way For Opening
Up Currency Reform Fight in the
Senate--Leaders in Senate Will
Support the Bill in Essentials

Washington. August s1.-The burst OF
democratic Insurgency which lifted the
tariff revision struggle out of the routine
channels in the Senate during the last
week, is to have its final hearing In a
caucus of Senate democrats tomorrow or
Tuesday. The democratic members of the
finance committee. who have undertaken
to compose the differences in the party
ranks. and devise compromise income lax
provisions to meet the demands of the
'insui gents" worked throughout today
over those and other features of the tariff
bill
Heavier Tax on Large Incomes
As a result OF the fight. led by Sem
ators Reed, vardaman, Ashurst. Thomp-
son and others, of the so-called ..insur-
gent forces the bin viii he revised as
to its income tax provisions and heav-
ier tax levied on large incomes. This
change will be against the Judgment of
many of the party leaders, who poInt out
that the per cent tax on incomes over
Slc0,0oe, as provided In the, bill. is as high
as the tax in other countries: but the
Insurgents held enough votes TO con-
troll the situation, and to force conces-
sions embracing some of the radicals OPP
posed to Senator I.aFollette, Brstow.
Borah and others. II IS expected that
the caucus will adopt a rate graduated
up to per cent additional tax ON in
comes above 100000, with graduations
from per cent up to per cent on those
above 100000 As this latter tax would
strike only a few incomes In this coun-
try, many of the insurgents insist upon
q greater increase after the 100000 figure
Is reached, so that the tax would he 10
per cent or even more on incomes above
$5oo,o00 To this additional tax would
be added the regular normal tax of /
per cent.
Last Big Contest Before Passage
The income tax fight is the last big
contest before the final passage OF the
tariff bill. Many items still are to be con-
sidercd, including the proposed tax on
trades in cotton futures but with the set
lis7ff sift 1f ~ sa@sstl1 ~. gtes . isfs--~-
pected the tariff bill Will proceed rapidly
to its final passage. Its first reading WAS
completed late yesterday aud some of the
Senate leaders predict its final passage
Saturday
Meantime preparations are under way
for opening up the currency reform fight
in the Senate at an early date While
consideration of the new bill has not Yet
started IN the House, the Senate COM
mittee on banking and currency will be-
gin hearings Tuesday. Bankers who Joined
In the recent conference at Chicago. and
who adopted resolutions demanding many
changes in the currency bill, are To be
heard.
The democratic committee members.
after more than a weeks preliminary
work on the administration bill, have not
yet attempted an agreement as to all It's
provisions. 1t is expected that full COM
mttee meetings with the republican inen-
bers present will be undertaken soon, for
the discussion Of all features of she cur
rency reform problem.
Leaders to Support Bill
The Senate leaders expect to support the
bill now before the House In it's essential
details. House leaders expect considers
alton OF the currency reform measure to
begin late in the week.
The bin as recently approved by the
democratic House caucus will be laid be-
fore the House as the administration
measure. and with the Endorsement OF
the democratic House membership behind
it. While ample time will be given for
debate House leaders hope thar its pass
age viii be accomplished within short
time.
When the Senate finance conirittee
adjourned late tonight 1t was said tho
maximum rates on incomes of sJao,CoO
and over had been liked at & per cent.
1T is also understood the committed
agreed upon a graduated TAX on in
comes from s10o, ,0o0 ap to s50o,pDo.
The committee also was said TO have
decided TO stand by the restriction on
the Importation of bird plumase into
this country