The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-16

OPPOSE WAR TAXES.
MANY INTERESTS ASSAIL NEW
REVENUE BILL.
Measure Declared by Its Proponents
to Be Necessary to National Safety.

~'>>SssAy " 40Al1OIldl Safety
washington, May 12.-The war
time tax schedules of the $780,
100000 revenue bill were attacked as
threatening the life of many in
dustries by q score of witnesses today
before the senate finance committee
and were defended by house leaders
during debate on the other side of the
capitol as absolutely necessary to pre-
serve the life of the nation Manu-
facturers, jobbers and retailers in
many lines touched by the new levies
fiocked to the senate committee hear
ings to protest. Among them were
high officials of some of the country's
leading Industrial concerns. Almost
without exception they condemned the
house bill as unjust, discriminatory
and likely to result in the suspension
of many Of the smaller business
houses.
The third day of debate in the
house brought further protests from
members and many suggestions that
the heavier increases be modified and
other levies substituted. Democratic
Leader Kitchin said tonight he hoped
to close general debate Monday night
and bring the bill to vote not later
than Thursday.
Representative Rainey of Illinoi, S
ranking Democratic member of the
ways and means committee, took up
most Of the time today defending the
measure. The increases in second class
postage rates were attacked from
many quarters and Mr.. Rainey said
the committee simply was trying to
get back part of the annual loss which
the government sustains through car
rying newspapers and periodicals
through the mails at cent a pound
Those Of us who drew this bill
knew that the life Of the nation il
in danger" said Mr.. Rainey.
Representative Wood (Republican)
of Indiana declared that there are
many inequalities in the bill and sug
gested a tax Of SO a head on all the
business men. Under the present pro
visions, he said, 10000, 900 indepcn
dent business men would contribute
nothing towards the enormous tota
to be raised
Most OF the senate committee wit
ncsses expressed a desire to "do theil
bit" in paying war taxes, but declar.
cd the house provisions distinctly IN.
fair. Those who protested included
concerns interested i'm the taxes pro.
posed for public utilities, coffee, tea
advertising, insurance, automobiles
musical instruments, the moving pic
ture industry, jewelry and drugs.
Taxation of parcel post packages
was among the new revenue plans
suggested to the committee. Upon
drugs new tax to consumers of /
cent. upon every 25 cents purchase
was recommended by druggists, who
said the proposed levy on the indus
try as now drawn could not be pass
cd along.
Bill board. poster and street car
advertisers protested tot he commit
tee against the exemption of news
paper and magazine advertising from
taxation.
Prominent automobile manufac-
turers declared the industry as q
whole could not stand up under a s
per cent. gross profits tax. Few man.
ufacturers. the automobile men said,
ARE makiny reasonable profits now.
Similar conditions in the musical
instrument trade were alleged bv
manufacturers and dealers and the
moving picture industry was repre-.
sented as barely holding its own
financially.