Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1914-10-10
HIGHER TAX ON
BEER & WHISKY
Proposal TO Tax Gasoline and
Horse Power Of AutOnlO-
biIeS Is Rejected.

rum Hbbl toidt uUlll ldtt utSutS
night the Democratic members OF the
Senate were in caucus endeavoring TO
reach harmonious agreement on the
terms of the War Revenue bill. which
has been passed by the House and is
now before the Senate Committee on
Finance. Important changes in the
provisions of the measure were made
at the night session of the caucus.
The caucus decided on amendments to
the War Revenue bill that will provide
for increased taxes on beer and whisky
The provisions for taxes on gasoline and
horse power of automobiles were re-
jected by the caucus while the provis-
ion fora tax on bank stock was changed
so AS to reduce the amount of the tax.
The additional tax on beer will increase
the estimated amount of revenue from
this sonrce by $4,000. 100, while an adj
ditional 81. 0n0, 900 will be obtained from
Il tax on rectiiicd spirits The re lection
of the amendment proposing to tax
gasoline and horsepower of automobiles
viii reduce the estimated revenues to
be derived from the bill by $50 900. 600
The reduction in tax on bank stock will
amount 10 a loss of 81 700. 600
After considerable debate il was de-
cided to retain the House provision
placing a tax OF > cents on Pullman car
tickets
The amendment offered by Senator
Williams OF Mississippi, for increasing
the House tax on beer, which was ST. 80
per barrel. to $l775 per barrel was
adopted BY vote Of - to H. This will
give additional revenue Of Sl6, 00O. 000.
less discounts of about s.. 0Oo. 900. that
i, net increase Of $li, 600 900 The
total revenue expected 10 be produced
by the tan of 81 = on beer will be Si6.
900. 0Du
The amendment for placing a tax Of
: cents gallon on rcctitied spirits was
also introduced by Senator Williams
This was adopted after speeches in ad
vocacy of it by Senators Williams and
Hollis Of New Hampshire There was
no provision in the War Revenue bill as
il pissed the House for taxing spirits,
and this gave rise to considerable crit
icism The settlement in favor of the
Williams amendment was so strong that
il was adopted without roll call.
Senator Stone Of Missouri offered an
amendment aimed at the Standard Oil
Company providing for graded tax on
gasoline ranging from one fourth Of one
cent per gallon for manufacturers pro
Quoting limited supplies of the product
to one cent per gallon for large manu-
facturers. This amendment was de-
feated. and then motion of Senator
White of Alabama the caucus by a vote
Of ~ 10 II struck out the entire provis
ion relating To "A tan on gasoline. thus
reducing the amount of revenue To be
derived from this source by $lo. 600. 900
By vote OF p To II the caucus
amended the provision for a tax on bank
stock so as to reduce the amount Of the
tax from - TO 81 per 81, 600. This
means cut in the revenue estimated
10 be derived from the bill from 50.
40o. 900 to 81, 100000.
The proposed tax advocated by the
Democratic members of the Committee
ON Finance Of 80 cents per horse power
on sales of automobiles was voted down.
making an additional revenue reduction
Of $40. 900, 900.
There was good deal of a contest
in regard to the provision in the House
bill providing for a tax of > cents on
Pullman car tickets Senator Williams
thought this tax should be increased.
and advocated an amendment fixing ii
at cents. The other side of the ques-
ton was taken by Senator Lewis. of Hi
nois, who contended that the House pro
vision should be changed so as TO reduce
the tax to ! cent. The upshot of the
discussion was the decision of the eau
Gus To retain the House tax Had Sen
ator Williams proposal prevailed the
revenue to be derived from this source
would have been increased from $3.50
900 TO 81. 80. 600