Evening journal., 1917-06-04
AGREEMENT near
on WAR TAX BILL
Senate Finance Committee
Putting Final Touches
TO Revenue Measure
EXPECTS TO REPORT IT
OUT LATE IN THE WEEK

7 @@aA = - AAN = - - w ~ n IA
WASHINGTON, June 4.-The SEN
ate finance committee will put the
finishing touches this week TO the war
revenue bill. carrying a tax of ap-
proximately s1,5OO,OOO, 900 for this
year. A printed draft of the measure
with its features as agreed upon. along
with others only tentatively decided,
was in the hands OF the committee
today. Senator Simmons, chairman
OF the committee. explained that the
bill had been printed at this time only
to afford an easier consideration Of
the myriad features Of it this week.
We have decided upon some items
in the tax list and these we have told
the public about through the news
papers" said Senator Simmons. 1--WE
nave also informed the public of the
FEATURES upon which we have tenta-
/ lively agreed. There are some other
items that Will have to go in which we
have not decided upon. These along
with the tentative measures. will he
considered this week.
While the committee has hoped TO
be able to present the bill to the SEN
ate early this week, that is going to
be impossible because of the amount
OF work ahead of US The bill ought
to be reported out OF committee late
in the week"
While the committee has hoped TO
be abl etO present the bill to the
Senate early this week. that is going
to be impossible because Of the
amount of work ahead Of us. The bill
ought to be reported out of committee
late in the week"
One feature Of the bill that will be
taken up by the committee today in
an attempt TO come to some decisive
action is the tax to put on newspapers
and periodicals. Senators Simmons
said that ne had no idea what the
committee would do with the sugges-
ton made Saturday night by rep
resentatives OF publishing interests
throughout the country for a tax
upon advertising instead Of increas-
ing the postage rate.
The Senator declined to say whether
he thought the majority OF the COM
mittee would favor his own idea OF
] increasing the second class mail
rates. with a tax on advertising re-
ceipts OF ia per cent. This was op-
posed by the publishers representa-
tives as imposing even more of a
hardship than any scheme yet sug-
gested.
"The publishers all seem entirely
willing to pay fair tax and the COM
mittee will endeavor to work out
system that will be acceptable" said
/ tfTN &c fair IN try
to conjure up what the committee
may do as to this tax. because VIC have
not vet come down to a definite con-
! sideration of it,"
Another feature of the war revenR
/ bill which touches upon one Of the
most prolific sources of levy is the
tax upon distilled spirits and alco-
holic beverages. The House fixed a
levy OF approximately S23OOOOOOO
an dthus far the Senate Finance Com
mittee has made no change The ma
ioritv Of the committee wants the tax
I TO stand. But there is bitter opposi-
tion in the Senate. among Senators
win varying shades of opinion as 70
prohibition during wartime, that may
cause some alteration on the liquor
tax before II reaches the Senate.
Senator Wadsworth offered bill to
the Senate. for instance. to regulate
the distillation Of whisky and matted
drinks. so as to conserve the supply
OF grain and other cereals used as
food. The bill went to the Finance
Committee with Senator Wadsworth's
consent when the Senate was IN
/ formed by Senator Simmons that the
committee must ins st upon having
all measures touching upon the
\ iiauor tax. Senator Simmons i'm
pressed the Senate that. as the liquor
ltax affords one OF the greatest sources
Of revenue. the Finance COMMITTEE
would have TO consider any measure
that might effect a change in IT,
Senator Jones. Of Washington. had
another bill for nation wide prohi-
bition, while Senator Thomas OF Col
orado, offered one putting a prohibit
| i've tax on whiskey. Senator Go'3
! will have another this week. so hF
said. prohibiting the use or any ce-
reals in the manufacture or whisky.
Ian these bills unless they are acted
upon by the Finance Committee, VIII
lbe vigorously opnosed by Senator
Simmons on the Senate floor.
In the meantime the Finance Com
mittee will go ahead with its decision
on the revenue tax. and when the war
revenue bill goes in, will insist upon
the defeat of any measure that euects
the accumulation Of the tax as fixed.
Judging from the trend OF opinion.
as one hears It expressed in the lob;
bies of Congress, there is not much
prospect of any straight-out prohi-
bition. for the present at least. The
argument that an enormous revenue
! is TO be derived from allowing tho
manufacture OF liquor. with restric'
tions to conserve the suppy of ce-
rnals. appears TO have outweighed
whatever effort there is for entira
prohibition during wartime
The tax on excess war profits Is "a
he determined upon this week Tbs
Senate Finance Committee was sal.
TO be ready to confirm its tentative
agreement OF last week to a 16 per
cent. tax upon war profits last year
in excess OF those for an average Of
three years before the war. While
this would not yield as much revenue
as the tax put in the bill as It passed
the House. the committee regards II
as more equitable.
all children. and particularly those OF
the Negro race. in education. He said