The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-09-18
STAMP TAX WILL TAKE
PLACE OF FREIGHT TAX
Democrats Frame a Bill to Raise
the Emergency Revenue.
AS IN THE SPANISH WAR.
Follow Same Plan Followed i'm
1S9S-Figured System VIII
Raise S1O5, 100000

Washington, Sept. 15.-Abandon-
ing the proposed tax on freight trans
portation, Democrats OF the House
caucus tonight agreed to war reye-
nue. measure to include the Spanish
War stamp tax on commercial and
legal papers, the Spanish War tax on
bankers and brokers, a tax on the
atres and other amusement places,
tax of two cents a gallon on gasoline,
n special tax on tobacco manufacturers
and dealers and a tax on domestic
wines and beer.
The caucus adopted a resolution
directing the Ways and Means Com
mittte to draft a bill along these lines
President Wilson having approved
the plan at conference with Major
1ty Leader Underwood and Senator
Simmons late today. The committee
also was given authority to revise
details of the Spanish War tax in it's
discretion.
Expected wide Disbursements
which threaten to embarrass the ad-
ministration did not develop in the
caucus.
Representative Underwood an
nounced that the proposed bill would
yield an estimated revenue of $1O5-
100000; the stamp tax to yield $35,-
100000; special taxes on bankers
and brokers So. 100000; special tax
on tobacco dealers $4,000.OOO, an in
creased tax on beer Of so cents a bar
rel, S32,500,000; gasoline $1,000
900, dry wines at IL cents a gallon
and sweet wines at 20 cents q gallon
$S,000,00O.
Representative Page of North
Carolina opened the attack on the
proposed freight tax and submitted
a resolution designed to prevent it's
being included in any war revenue
bill.
Debate on the resolution was eN-
tended. Representative Underwood
related the substnce or a conference
held few hours before with Presi-
dent Wilson and Senator Simmons in
which the President had expressed
the opinion that action in the war
revenue should be quick and decisive
Mr.. Underwood told his colleagues
that a break with the President
over the pending issue would not be
we'll for the Democratic party nor
the country.
The leaders speech brought the
Democrats into an amicable franc of
mind, although the spirit OF antag-
onism to any war tax had been up
permost before the caucus met
Representative Page withdrew his
resolution of instructions to the ways
and means committee and Mr.. Under
wood outlined to the caucus the al
tentative plan, which was promptly
approved.
The Spanish war special taxes were
as follows:
Banks with capital and surplus
not exceeding S25, 900 to pay tax
OF $50 and 81 additional for each ad-
ditional $1,000 of capital; stock and
bond brokers $50; pawnbrokers $40;
commercial brokers $40; customs
house brokers SO; proprietors of
theatres, museums and concert halls
in cities OF more than $25 900 popu-
lation 500; circusses 500 in each
state where performances are given;
all other public amusement places
$40; bowling alleys and billiard halls
$5 table or alley. The tax on to-
bacco dealers and manufacturers
ranges from Sc to dealers in leaf 10
bacco doing an annual business not
exceeding $4,000 to $24 on cigar
dealers doing a business in excess of
100000 a year.
The proposed stamp tax will in
clude bills OF lading, telegraph and
long distance telephone messages.
resolution introduced by Rep
resentative Hobson to postpone con-
sideration OF a war tax until the De-
cember session was voted down.