The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1915-12-13
CAUCUS FIGHT.
IS LIKELY ON
WAR REVENUE
Democrats to Choose Between
Year of Life for Bill or In
definite Extension.

The Democrats Of the House will en-
gage tonight in a skirnhsh preliminary
to the session on the vital question of
revenue Indications today are the sit
uation will be met temporarily by the
extension of the war revenue bill for
another year and the main battle over
revenue will come after the Christmas
recess.
II is virtually imperative that before
the holiday recess Congress shall ex-
tend the war revenue bill. This meas
ure is to expire by limitation on De-
cember 81, and the failure virtually to
re-enact would cost about S1OO,OOO,OO
per year.
Secretary McAdoo is understood to
have suggested that the war revenue
act be extended indefinitely, instead
OF amended to read that 1t shall be-
come non-effective year hence.
Question Sent To Caucus.
when the suggestion Of the Secretary
was preached to Democratic members
of the Ways and Means Committee,
however there was no stampede In its
favor and q party caucus was deter
mined upon to talk over the revenue
situation.
There is a possibility that the pro-
poSal to retain q / cent per pound duty
on sugar-which lie to go on the free
list next May-will be considered TO-
night The chances are that the Demo
Gratis will postpone consideration OF the
matter of sugar until after the hoh-
days, although 1t is generally Admitted
that the sugar duty must be retained.
Two resolutions are likely to go pc
fore the caucus tonight-one that ire
war revenue bill be given an auul
tional year of life, the other that the
time limit clause be stricken out en-
tirely, which would put the law on the
statute books indefinitely.
Must Raise $1OO,OHO,OOO.
Neither proposition Is exactly pleas
ing to the Democrats. who have TO
cast about for a hundred millions %
SO even IL this bill is extended and ths
tar Is kept on sugar. The national de-
Tense program and the general needs
OF the Government, IL Is estimated.
will make IL necessary to raise at
least 100000, 900 by supplementary |
revenue legislation which must pc
undertaken soon after Congress re =
convenes in January.
OF the two propositions for the i'm |
mediate consideration of the caucus, |
the one year extension of the war
revenue bill seems in favor today. An
indefinite extension frightens the
Democrats.
Adoo has suggested to Mr., Kitchin.
the majority leader of the House, that
the latter course be pursued. When |
Mr.. Kitchin transmitted this sugge5-
tion to his colleagues on the Ways and |
Means Committee there Immediately |
arose opposition to any move which |
would give the war revenue bill the /
appearance of a permanent law.
Year of Life Predicted.
Democrats SHE'D at the probable po- |
litical effect of such action and 1t was
determined to present the issue
squarely to the caucus.
1t will be argued in the caucus that
the better policy will be to adopt n
resolution giving the war revenue bill
merely another year of life. Influ-
entail Democrats predicted today tina
the caucus would favor this plan.
rather than a proposal to give per-
manency to the law.
The Democratic leaders do not seek to
escape the fact that the revenue bill
must be extended and that supplement
tary revenue legislation must come
early in the present session. Neverthe-
less. the political effect of a resolution
extending indefinitely the war revenue
act-which produces about 800. 900. 900 an
nually by stamp taxes and special in
ternal revenue taXation-is feared by
the party leaders. and one of them pre-
dicted that the caucus would vote for
an amendment providing the act shall
be given another year of operation.
Filibuster Not Expected.
It is not intended that the caucus
shall consider national defense and the
supplementary revenue legislation
which must be enacted to meet pre-
paredness appropriations and to restore
a safe balance In the Treasury. There is
a probability. however. that prepared
ness and revenues will be given discus
sion as both Issues will become acute
Immediately after Congress reconvenes
following the holiday recess.
Democrats do not expect any great
amount of Republican filibustering
against proposal to extend the war
revenue bill for one year 1t is hoped
to get a resolution through both the
Senate and House during the week,
which will permit of an adjournment
over the holidays on next Saturday.
Congress is not disposed to work after
that date. as the President will be
married December IS, and his forth
coming absence from washington will
preclude the signing of any bills. even
were Congress to pass them after that
date.