South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-07
ARE WAITING
FOR WORD FROM
OVER COUNTRY
Democrats Anxious to Get
Opinions Regarding Pro-
posed Change in Income
Tax Exemptions.

WASHINGTON. Aug. - Demo-
Gratis VI the senate finance commit
tee who voted yesterday TO lower
the income tax exemptions in the
revenue bill are anxiousiy waiting
to hear from the country on the
recon mendation. which viii be sub
mitted to a party caucus some time
this week for approval. Protests
against it already have been heard
Ie party. The amendment
prevailed in the committee by
majority o but one vote.
The amendment would lower the
exemption for persons with families
from $4,000 to $4,000 and for sin
gle persons from $4,000 TO $4,000.
Democrats who oppose the reduc-
ton say the amount of revenue to
be gained would not be sufficient to
warrant risking popular disapproval
that might be aroused. The treas
ury department has estimated that
the new tax. which would be at the
rate Of one per cent instead Of the
proposed normal tax of two per
per cent on other incomes, would
yield about 100000. This, OPP
ponents of the plan insist, is too
small an amount to consider, partic-
ularly because it might be seized
upon as a political issue in the ma
tional campaign. What the caucus
will do is problematical.
Work on Report.
Today mem bers of the sub-com-
mittee considering the munitions tax
section OF the revenue bill were at
work on their report which will be
ready for the full democratic mem
bership Of the committee within a
few days Protests against the pro-
posed tax on copper products have
resulted in a compromise, the exact
nature Of which has not been dis
closed 1t is known, however, that
it is proposed TO lower the copper
excise rate prescribed IN the house
bill. and to add TO the munitions list
excise on products Of lead, zinc, iron
and steel
Administration leaders regard the
revenue problem now as quite the
most important before congress and
the finance committee hopes 10 COM
plete its revision of the house bill so
that it may be passed upon by the
party caucus and be ready for senate
action within ten days. The house
bill would provide for S210,0OO.OO0
in revenue. The finance committee
is working to present a bill that
would yield $275,OOO.00O or more.
When congress will be ready to
adjourn is giving the president and
party leaders more concern right
now that it has at any other time
this summer With the campaign
coming on and President Wilson's
notification waiting on congress, adj
ministration leaders are being urged
to hasten legislation as much as
! possible. The shipping and revenue
measures are the two most import
ant bills 10 follow child labor legis-
lation, which will be completed this
week. Besides these. there are the
! conference reports on the army and
navy bills. and a few minor meas
! ures.
Promise Debates.
Democratic leaders think this pro-
gram can pe T1nlSned IN the nrSJ
week OF September, but their conf
dence is not shared by the repubh-
cans who intend TO debate the ship
| ping and revenue measures thor
oughly. That the session may be ex-
| tended many weeks is possible, par
ticularly if threatened trouble mate
| rallies in the house over the senate
naval construction program.
Conferers of the naval bill viii
undertake TO reach an agreement on
/ that salient feature of the national
| defense legislation this week.
Tomorrow the house expects to
get the conference agreement on
! the army appropriation bill, al
| though il has not yet been released
/ in view Of the war departments pro-
test against Representative Hays
amendment TO the articles of war
exempting retired officers from the
military criminal code. If Rep. Hay
4 does not yield on this point by to-
morrow. il is said, the report will
/ be submitted in its present form de-
spite the war departments appeal
g. 1 81 -