New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-28
Johnson Offers Amend.
ment to Levy 80 Per
Cent on Gains
Threat of Cloture Is
Quickly Abandoned
Attempt to Rewrite Section
Of New Measure Is Made
as Desperate Alternative
Special Co-rrspordsucsl

Special CorespondsEesl
WASHINGTON, Aug. 27.--First seek
ing TO impose cloture and so choke off
the radical wealth conscriptionists,
then disavoving this desire, and finally,
with the certainty Of large increases in
the schedule OF war profits taxes con-
fronting them, attempting 10 rewri,e
the war profits section to make certain
burdens easier, the rapidly shrinking
band OF conservatives put in a hard
day in the Senate.
Late in the session Senator Hiram
Johnson, Of California, introduced the
most radical wealth conscriptine
amendment yet proposed to the rev.
enue bill. IL would take 73 per cent
OF all war profits. Senator Johnson
said the net result would be to take
so per cent, as the corporations are
already subjected to other taxation.
Earlier. while the Senate laboriogs!y
debated the proposed increases in first
and second class postage, Senators who
object TO ANY increase in the war
profits section OF the bill canvassed
the situation, getting signatures 20 a
petition for eloture. Abou' ) o'clock
this afternoon they had obtained fifty
six signatures, although only sixteen
are necessary. Under the surface the
radicals we're delighted with this pro-
possl.
Let them force cloture on u.s." said
one Senator who advocates the highes,
possible tar on war profits. I'VE will
tell the country they did it to shut us
Up. Meanwhile we will have ninety-six
hours under the cloture rule in which
70 pepper them, and we will do it,
Senator Borah. however, taking the
position tnat debate on the war
profits which can be stretched out a
little longer than the ninety-six hours
will have the effect OF bringing public
opinion TO bear 20 the point where
much higher imposts on wealth will be
servatiyes TO put their programme over.
Borah Wants 10 Know
So he calmly took the lid or By IN.
quiring in the open Senate when the
Senators circulating the cloture petit
ton intended TO present IT,
II would like to know" he said.
when il is the intention Of the Senators
nj 10 al
the petition. | understand II already
has some forty signatures. am curt
Gus to know IL cloture is TO he invoked
for the first time in the Senate on the
eve of the discussion Of the proposal
TO lay additional taxes on war profits"
Senator Kenyon, who had been in
earnest conversation with Senator
Borah a moment previous. rose in mock
amazement and asked if he had under
stood the Senator from Idaho cor
rectly.
as it possible" he said. as though
utterly shocked, that it is proposed
to force cloture and shut of debate
when almost every item of the bill has
been disposed Of save the war profits
section ?"
That is my understanding, said Mr..
Borsh.
Senator Lewis. the Democratic whip.
sprang into the breach. lie assured
both Senators that the idea had been
only TO get up the petition with view
of forcing cloture IL flibuster should
ensue
Does the Senator from Illinois con-
slider that flibuster is in progress ?"
demanded Mr.. Borah.
"Quitc the contrary" said Mr.. Lewis.
"and while we would like to save time
the submitting Of the cloture petition
was withheld for the very reason sug-
gested by the Senator from Idaho
that Senators wishing 10 discuss the
war profits secticn of the bill had not
yet mad ample opportunity to do so"
Hiram Johnson Seeks Light
At this point another conspirstor
with 3orah and Kenyon played his
part.
LET me understand this" said Mr..
Johnson, of California. II am not suf-
ficiently familiar with the Senate rules.
Can it be possible that il is proposed
TO impose cloture at time when we
are about 10 take up the problem Of
taxing the swollen warmade for
tuncs?'
81 feared So" said Mr. Borsh. "but
the Senator from Illinois assures me
such is not the case"
Senator Smith. of Georgia. then said
that ne had refused TO sign the petition
and added that it had only about six
signatures, which is about fifty under
the actual number obtained.
The "Maximalists,' as the group
wishing 10 place the war profits
taxes as high as they can get them
is being called, were then attacked
from the rear by Senator Townsend. of
Michigan, who yields to none in de-
string to get all the taxes possible
out Of war taxes and big incomes.
81 signed that petition" he said. but
the Senator cannot embarrass me. I
signed il because the cause ! have
most at hesrt-raising the money to
fight this wsr-is being injured every
day by the delay here. After that rule
is put into effect there remain ninety
six hours for discussion Of war profits,
and | will vote to make them "a high
as the Senator from Idaho. |. for ono,
would like TO conhne the discussion 10
the point before us--the question Of
taxing war profits. think the Senat.
is ready TO vote on that question now"
senator Sh.froth. af Colorado. also