The Washington times., 1914-09-13
DEMOCRATS FACE
WEEK OF TROUBLE
Revenue Bill and Caucus to
Cause Woes to Majority.
Adjournment Further Off.

A week of trouble confronts the
democrats OF the House. following tine
unexpected developments yester day
which checked the introduction of the
emergency revenue bill Chief inter
est Centers in the return to Washing
ION of the President for Mr.. Under
wood announces that the revenue bill.
proposing a special tax on beer, wines.
and freight shipments. will not he
introduced by him until it has the spe-
Cific and unreserved Endorsement Of the
Executive.
Meanwhile. Democratic Woes are on
:hc increase because OF the program
FOR a party caucus of House Demo-
Gratis Mondar or Tuesday night. This
"aucus is called by the opponents of
the proposal TO tax railroad freight and
unless the President brings ali his in
iluence TO bear the scheme may be
beaten out in the party council. Two
majority members of the Ways and
Means Committee. Messrs. Kitchin and
Garner. are at work on substitute
bill. and the opposition is said to have
quietly obtained a sufficient number of
signatures 10 call a caucus to pass on
vent an open fight.
The unexpected announcement by Mr.
Underwood that there would be a con-
siderable delay in the introduction OF
The revenue bill came following a con-
ference the majority leader had with
Secretary McAdOo and Postmaster Cen
eral Burleson. At this conference Mr..
Underwood apprised the Administra-
ton spokesmen OF the violent opposi
tiOn among the rank and Sie TO the
railroad freight taxa scheme which
the President informally approved in
conversation with Mr.. Underwood
The maiority leader is said TO have
taken the position that he did not pro-
nose to assume personal responsibility
for the bill and risk repudiation by the
House Democrats, and he would de-
cline to introduce it without more spe-
Cific Endorsement by the President.
Mr.. Underwood's friends say he
doesn't intend to be the goat in the
revenue legislation crisis. Fearing that
the opposition Democrats will get be-
vond control the majority leader will
insist that President Wilson assume un-
reserved responsibility for the entire
emergency revenue sCheme-for 1t is
known that Mr.. Underwood and 90 per
cent of the Democratic membership of
he House are against a taxation bill
at this time. Although opposing the
he President on the proposition TO tax
1reght-if anything must be taxed
and the strength of the revolt AGAINST
his item has caused panic among Ad
ainiStration leaders in the House.
when tho Democrats hold their eau
Crfs Congressman Kitchin and Garner
ill lead a fight to defeat the freight
an provision and to tax instead liquors.
Inheritance, incomes. automobiles. and
EaretteS. They claim that with tax
9 ~ beer and wines, ALREADY agreed upon,
the assessment of these additional arti-
lies will produce sufficient revenue and
freight may remain untouched. \ tax
Of ; per cent will be proposed on inher-
ttances. 10 to % per cent on automo-
hiles. a nominal tax on cigarettes. and
~ increase Of Z per cent in the normal
income tax rate. with a lowering of the
"-emptiOn.
Indirectly. this postponcs the date of
he adjournment of Congress and af-
ords additional time for the campaign
Ing of orDOsition Democrats who are
determined TO defeat the freight tax
ectlon or else make the President take
nitro responsibility therefor.