The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-08-16
THE REVENUE BILL CLINIC.

THE REVENUE BILL CLINIC.
The omnibus revenue bill has re-
ceived the endorsement OF the Demo-
cratic Senate caucus. OF the FINANCE
Committees clinic on that measure as
It came from the House. II 1t goes
through the Senate the lower body OF
Congress when 1t receives it will view
it as coming from a slaughter house.
About the only original thing about II
that IS left is its name. A brief sum
mary Of the Senate mutilations OF the
House measure show that the ooJec-
tionable stamp taxes are restored.
The House put a surtaX Of 100 per
cent. upon the existing minimum IN
come tax, that is, doubled the normal
l per cent. tax and raised the rate
on larger incomes. The Senate COM
mittee increased the higher rates TO
10 per cent. upon $5,4OQ,0OO and up
ward, and reduced the exemptions
from $4,000 and sS.0op 10 $4,000 and
$1,000. The caucus raised the maxi
mum to Is per. cent. upon $2,O0O,9Oo
and upward. and struck out the
paliating addition al the lower range
Of $4,000 and 5000 incomes. The
House levied a discriminatory tax on
copper as a profitable war industry.
which the Senate committee aud
caucus completely make over. Steel.
alcohol, cotton, chemicals. electric and
submarine boats are added 10 the
articles taxed. and another tax is
levied upon tie profits OF the business
in selling munitions abroad. The
tariff on dyes. which was TO create the
industry, was postponed until peace
makes imports possible. The provis-
ion against unfair competition BY sell
ing US things TOO cheap for our good
was extended 20 give the President
power to retaliate for any unfair GUS
toms levied upon goods from this
country BY after-the-war economic al
nances.
This summary covers only the high
spots of the changes made, but il Is
enough to show the radical differences
between the Democrats OF the TWO
houses. After reading the editorial
comments OF one OF the strongest sup
porters Of the administration, the Very
able NewYork Times. we do not see
where we can improve on them. as
they are so supporting Of the RepubIl-
can contentious III many instances.
The lntelliSencer submits them IN
part in lieu of its own observations or
the divisional spirit that pervades the
Democratic party DIT this hour;
It is idle to criticsc the bill AZ discri-
minatory between classes OF citizens and
/. sections OF the country. because: that IS
the intention Of its trainers II is equally
futile 10 object that the houses together
have not amended IN" respects in which
the country has found its taxes unne-
cesSarily burdsnsOnle. apart from the
rates. Collection ut the source il re-
taIned, although not IN d manner pro-
tectinY the governments interests. and
nothing is done To prevent cNaSionS at
the limit OF minimum taxation. The col
lection at the Source is not real cullcC-
ton III the manner OF England. which
requires those cA:mcpt from the tax to
get il from The treasury. To which X mas
been paid And nothing Is done b. way
of requiring thOS. claiming exemption 10
make good their cialrhS. BY requiring
information 1t the source OF IN" trraS-
ury would b. able /" protect honest tan
payers BY scnIlng bills 10 ninltitudcs Of
tax dodgers. Eut these are details. only
showing that IN: houses are yacillating
in their purposes and unSkilltul in their
execution.
ences between Democrats is the differ
ence between the Democratic and Re
publican parties respecting IN" prin-
ciples upon which Federal taxes should
be levied. The Republicans mold that
Federal taxes should DC levied upon trd-
eral sources of income. The Democrats
have not hesitated TO invade the re-
sources OF the States. thus pilinS taNes
upon taxes. For example, the Federal
income tax was authorized upon the plea
that the government should have thaI
resource against an emergency. Il was
levied in peace. and Is doubled az 4
time Of unprecedented prosperity. This
occurs lust at the time when she state
are also lerylng income taxes. MaSsa-
chusetts has just levied one. and New
York is expected TO DO SO at the next
session. The Federal inheritance tax Is
to be increased just rs New York has
made its inheritance tax more burden
some. SO many OF the states have in
come and inheritance tANeS that The
double and sometimes triple cOll.Ct Ion.
Z unless some concert % action is estab-
lished between States and between the
States and the Federal government. is
: worth general attention. There is m
present indication OF any comfy be-
, tween the taxing powers respecting In