South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-17
VAR TAX BILL IS
PASSED BY HOUSE
Emergency Measure to be
Continued Another Year.
Republicans Lose.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE ad-
ministration Thursday took the first
step toward repairing the shattered
government finances when the house.
by vote Of 2O5 to 1s9. passed the
resolution continuing for one year
the emergency war tax law. A six
hour session OF the house opened the
general revenue and tariff battle be-
tween the republicans and demo-
Gratis. which will continue through
out the present session Of congress.
All the old tariff and direct taxa
ton arguments that congress has
heard for years were dragged out of
their hiding place and paraded on
the floor. A few new phases Of the
situation were developed. Repub-
licans painted gruesome picture of
woe and desOlatiOn. Of ruined in
dustry and starving women. OF a
people grooming under the heavy
burdens. and blamed it all on the
democratic Underwood tariff. The
democrats said that the Underwood
tariff was a just and equitable meas
ure and that II was working we'll.
They blamed the treasury deficit on
the disastrous effects Of the Euro
pean war on American commerce
and industry. on the whole both
sides made it a day OF political
record making.
Republicans Win Test Vote.
When the first skirmish began the
republicans won a temporary advan-
tage. On a test vote they defeated
the democrats, 164 10 173, but the
congratulations and democratic
whips rounded up the missing demo-
cratic members and the democrats
soon regained control. When the
lineup was complete the democrats
put the steam roller at work and
four amendments to the resolution
presented by Republican Leader
Mann. were fattened out by narrow
majorities ranging from six to 80
votes.
The republican amendments would
have continued the war tax for three
months, four months. six months. or
during the present session of con-
gress, respectively. A record vote
was taken on the proposal TO eX-
tend the measure for six months
or after its expiration, by limitation
on Dec 81, and the democrats de-
feated ii. 2O5 to 1917. Five demo-
Gratis. Wingo of Arkansas, Buchanan
of illinois. Hillyard and Galloway Of
Texas. and Heating Of Colorado,
voted with the republicans against
the administration resolution on both
final roll calls.
Says Deficit OF SS1. 100000.
Majority Leader Kitchin made the
principal argument for the resolu-
ton He said that without the ex-
tension Of the war tax and the con-
tinuance of the present duty Of one
cent a pound on sugar, which auto
matically disappears May 1, 1915,
the treasury would face a deficit of
$S1,OOO,OOO. During 1916 these two
sources OF revenue, if continued.
would yield about $50. 900, 900. When
the war tax was enacted he said it
was expected that the European war
would be over within a year, and
the continuance Of the war forced
the proposal to continue the tax.
I'VE democrats" he said. know
that this bill IS unpopular. We
know that no tax is popular in time
of peace. The deficits are there and
j believe we would be unworthy of
the record Of the democrats in this
congress if we did not have the cour-
age and the patriotism to do the un-
popular thing and arrange sufficient
revenues TO meet the absolute
necessities of the government. This
resolution is absolutely necessary, no
matter how unpopular it may be-"