Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-21
WAR REVENUE BILL
WHITE HOUSE TOPIC
Differences Between House
and Senate Explained to
the President.
RELIEF OF COTTON MEN
ALSO CAUSE OF WORRY
Prospect of the Adjournment Of Con-
gress Saturday Regarded
as Rather Remote.

For nearly an hour this morning
President Wilson conferred with SEN
ator Simmons and Representative I'm
derwood. heading, respectively. the
Senate and House conferees on the
war tax bill. Each explained the diff
ferences between the two bodies on
the items upon which it is proposed to
raise more than $1O0.OO0.O00 additional
revenue. The President, according to
trustworthy information, did not oner
suggestions. but was satisfied to re-
ceive all the facts they had to tmpart
as to the reasons back of the differ
ences over the items. The President
has explained to callers that he has not
put forth any ideas of his own, but
naturally wants to know the opinions
of the House and Senate on the sub
jects being fought over.
Mr.. Underwood said that until he re-
ported to the House conferees he did
not wish to discuss what took place
In the conference with the President.
Senator Simmons held the same view.
but it was learned that no definite
agreement had been reached. and that
gress Saturday is growing mighty dim
not only because of the war tax, but
because of differences over handling
pending cotton crop propositions.
1t was admitted that the fight be-
tween the House and Senate as to war
taxes is over beer, rectiiied spirits and
gasoline. The House placed an addi-
tional tax of SO cents per barrel on
beer and taxed gasoline cents a gal
lon. but did not put anything extra
Is cents additional on beer. making
a total of rs cents a barrel on tina,
drink; added 5 cents per gallon to
rectif1ed spirits and did not tax gaso-
line.
Crux Of the Controversy.
The main fight appears to be whethe,
gasoline is to be taxed 2 cents a gallon
and beer IS cents a barrel. II the
rate on beer is reduced to $1.50 a bar
rel, which the brewers are willing te
stand for. then gasoline will have to be
taxed cents a gallon to make up the
loss. But the brewers are protesting
against having to pay practically al
the tax, claiming that it is an unfair
imposition on one industry; that It will
close down many breweries and greatly
reduce in quantity the workingman',
glass of beer. Against this argumen,
is the one that the taxation of gasoline
will be unfair to automobile and othel
gasoline users who, as class, are
already paying their share of taxei
through the income tax and in othel
| ways.
To the complication of the war ia,
are added the differences over the cot
ton relief measures pending. Thu
administration is willing that the cot
ton warehouse bill shall be passed ant
probably will not object to the Glasi
amendment to the federal reserv'
act authorizing the acceptance of 10,
for federal reserve currency, but viii
not accept a number of other PROPOSE.
lions that are being offered.
Disapproves Federal Loan Plan.
Plans looking to the issue of fedora
notes to be loaned to the southern
banks for use in handling the cottol
crop would not be accepted by tn,
President and no bill providing fol
federal relief except through the ait
of a warehouse bill would be signed b.
him.
1t was expected today, according t
White House callers, that some of the
advocates of semi-governmental rellel
for the cotton situation would offel
warehouse or Glass bills and thus pre-.
cipitate a fight over cotton in the
House.
The Senate has passed the warehouse
and Glass measures.
Neither Senator Simmons nor Mr.. I'm
derwood would make statement re-
garding their conference with the
President when they reached the Cap
itol.
Hopeful of Agreement.
IT think that We are a little nearer
ator Simmons, but 1 cannot say what
that agreement will be. l hope we will
be able to finish up our work by tonight
and make our report tomorrow"
1t as unofticially reported that an at
tempt would be made to strike out the
increased tax on beer and place a tax
of / cent or a half a cent a gallon on
gasoline.
Should the conferees report back the
bill to the Senate carrying a tax on
gasoline, there would be strong effort
made to reject the report, it is said.
Three Points of Difference.
At the conference on the war tax
bill last night. the disagreement be-
tween the two Houses simmered down
to three important particulars: The
House conferees stood out steadfastly
against the Senate amendment which
added rs cents a barrel to the addition
al tax of fifty cents which the House
bill originally levied on beer. They
also vigorously opposed the Senate i'm
position of a tax of S cents a gallon
on rectihed spirits. Instead OF these
provisions. Representative Underwood
and his colleagues insisted that the
tax of cents a gallon on gasoline,
written into the bill by the House.
which the Senate eliminated. should be
restored.
Several hours of conference failed to
bring about an agreement on any of
these points, and the conference com
mittee recessed until today.
When the Senate met today Demo-
o.atic I eader Kern announced that he