New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-23
Gerry Amendment
To War Tax Bill
Passed by Senate
Lspo,ial Correspondencel


big incomes were boosted about $780,
100000 by the Senate to-day, and there
is no doubt whatever that the taxes on
war profits will be scaled up many
hundreds of millions before the drive
to conscript wealth is ended.
Without a dissenting vote the Senate
adopted the Gerry amendment, when
hits the incomes from 100000 year
up. making the tax On an income IN
excess of $1,000, 900 year total e. per
cent the surtax in this bill alone be-
ing so per cent?.
The text of the amendment follows;
con page 4, after line 3, strike out
the remainder of the section and IN
sert:
"Thirty-fve per cent per annum upon
the amount b. which the total net in
come exceeds 100000 and does not ex-
coed s7jO,OOO.
Forty five per cent per annum upon
the amount by which the total net in
come exceeds S75O,OOO and does not eX-
coed 100000.
Fifty per cent per annum upon the
amount by which the total net income
exceeds s1,OOO,OOO.'
The Gerry amendment, as outlined
in The Tribune this morning, indicated
the sweeping change in sentiment
which to-day resulted in the commit
tee being overwhelmed. IL developed
also that the committee was behind the
Gerry amendment, as every member
voted for it. 1t had been hoped that
this big boost in the tax on the very
big incomes would placate the radicals
led by Hiram Johnson, Borah and La
Toilette, but it had just the other ef-
feet.
The Senate proceeded to the So
called Lenroot amendments, which had
been called every name from burglary
down by the old line leaders. The SEN
ate committee had revised these amend
ments downward, but the Senate to-day
retained. every one of them by decisive
votes.
The Lenroot amendments hit incomes
from $50, 900 a year up. They were
voted into the bill on the floor of the
House over the protest of the House
committee. Just so the Senate to-day
wrote them into the bill over the pro-
test of it's own committee.
Another Test Forced
1t was thought at first that test
vote would be had when the Gerry
amendments came up, but. although a
rollcall was asked, no one voted against
them. Then Senator Jones, of Wash
ington, moved to adopt the first of the
House COR Lenroot) amendments, in
stead of the committee substitute. This
amendment boosted the surtaX on in
comes above $4,000 year to 1874 per
cent. The Senate committee had made
this - per cent. Then came the test
vote. 1t stood 80 10 81 in favor of the
heavier tax. Senator'S Calder and
w duS"OIN III VI .NS" VI n, anu It ItAlHE-
huysen, of New Jersey, voted with the
minority, to stand by the committee.
Senator Hughes, of New Jersey, and
both Connecticut Senators were absent
The old line leaders were supposed
but not wholly dismayed. They insisted
on another test of strength on the next
amendment, which levied surtax of
liz per cent on incomes above $4,000,
instead of Is per cent, as the committee
proposed. Then came the real smash
ing victory of the radicals. The higher
levy was approved by vote of 81 TO
20. Senator'S Shields, of Tennessee,
and Smith, of Michigan. Topped openly
to the winning side, while the radicals
were able to hold their men better than
the conservatives.
After that Chairman Simmons of the
committee frankly conceded defeat and
did not delay the proceedings by de-
handing rollcalls..
When the Senate adjourned there
was pending a still more drastic set of
income tax schedules proposed by Sen