The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1914-10-29
ESTIMATED ANNUAL INCREASE
OF S1o5, ooo,ooo IN ORIGINAL
MEASURE DROPS TO $780,
100000 ON AGREEMENT.
INCREASE IN LIQUOR TAX
REJECTED AT LAST MOMENT
Cotton Issue Is Lost and Relief Meas,
ures Are Held to Be Unsound-
Theater Taxes Changed, Beer
Kept at $3.50 Per Barrel
Gasoline Exempt.

Washington, Oct. 23.-Agreement
on the war revenue bill was reported
by senate and house %conferees at a
sacrifice of from $15,000,00 to 500.
100000 in revenue proposed to be de-
rived. At the last moment the con-
ferees eliminated the proposed
amendments ITO the liquor taxes, re-
jecting the senate amendments to in
crease the tax on beer from $3.50 to
$1.75 a barrel and to impose a tax Of
. cents a gallon on rectified spirits.
In sacrificing these amendments the
conferees made no substitution, Rep
resentative U~nderwood's proposal to
restore the tax Of 2 cents a gallon
on gasoline, as contained in the house
ate conferees. This action fixed the
estimated annual revenue at approx
mately 500, 900, 900 instead of $685..
O00, 900 as contemplated in the senate
bill.
Throughout the conferees fought
over the liquor tax and gasoline
amendment, the compromise proposal
having been carried to the president
by Senator Simmons and Representa-
tive Underwood. Final agreement,
however, paved the way for early ad.
~journment, and leaders in both houses
planned to expedite adoption of the
report 30 that the session might be
ended at once.
Cotton Legislation Lost.
Cotton legislation met defeat in the
house, while the war revenue confer
ence was in progress, the measure to
provide for a quarter of a billion ad-
ditional currency through the issu-
ance Of United States notes or Panama
canal bonds being rejected by a vote
Of 123 to 90. Lack of a quorum pre-
vented action on the bill to permit
national banks to issue circulating
notes based on commercial paper up
to 100 per cent of unimpaired capital
and surplus and also on the measure
to license cotton warehouses. Indi.
cations were that both these measures
would be 'pocketed" in the rush for
adjournment today.
$3.50 Tax on Beer.
The war revenue bill agreement fix.
ed the tax on beer at $3.50 a barrel,
with the senate amendment for a 5
per CEN rebate for prompt payment
eliminated.
The senate amendment reducing the
proposed tax on bank capital and sur
plus from So to 81 a thousand was re-
tanned. The senate proposal to tax
domestic sweet and dry wines s
cents a gallon with a tax of 55 cents
a gallon on brandies used in the forth
fication of wines also was retained.
The senate a%mencment increasing the
tax on tobacco manufacturers and
dealers was agreed to with few excep.
tons and the stamp taxes were not
disturbed. Stock brokers will be
taxed $50 a year instead of $50.
The graduated tax on theaters also
was charged slightly, the final rates
being as follows: Theaters with a
seating capacity of $50 or less will
pay $25 a year; 500 capacity, $50;
500 capacity, SIS; more than 500 cap
acity, 800 a year.
Called Cotton Plan Unsound.
Chairman Glass of the banking and
currency committee, Republican Lead.
er Mann, and others in opposition on
both sides, declared the cotton plan
was utterly unsound," and would
contract the credit of the country
rather than expand it.
The cotton belt members, led by
Representative Henry and Hardwick,
insisted that the plan followed past
treasury policies and that the treas
ury often made large deposits of gov
eminent funds to avert financial
stress in the various section of the
country.