Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-03
GREAT WAR TAXB|LL
STANDS COMPLETE
Senate Adopts Conference Report
Without Formality of
Roll Call.
NOW GOES TO PRESIDENT
M lore Than $2,5oo,ooo,o 900 in
Taxes Levied by Record
Breaking Measure.
N OW GOES TO PRESIDENT
IBy Associated Press

lbS hbSoClated PreSS.
WASHINGTON. October 2.-ConEress
finished It's work on the great war
tax bill late to-day when the Sem
ate. following the example set ycstcr-
day by the House, adopted the con
ference report without a roll call. More
than s2,500.00o.000 of new taxes are
levied by the measure. which has been
IN the making since last April.
AS soon as the bill is engrossed and
signed tomorrow by Vice-President
Marshall and Speaker Clark, 1t will
be sent to President Wilson. who ia
expected to sign 1t Immediately.
Senate discussion to-day was brief
participated in by but few members
all of whom realized the futility of
opposition. Most of the criticism was
upon the second class postage in
creases.
CONGRESS MAY END
SESSION DY SATURDAY
The speedy action on the conference
report raised members homes for ad-
oournment of the war session by Sat
urday, or not later than next week.
The administration soldiers and sail
ors' insurance hill. which has passed
the House, Will be brought up to-mor-
row in the Senate. Its disposal in a
few days is anticipated. Th,. only
other measure the leaders expect 10
put through before adjournment is the
$4,000, 100000 deficiency appropriation
bill. whose conferees expect to agree
Tomorrow and secure adoption of their
report with perfunctory debate.
AS finally drafted after one nj the
longest and most strenuous struggles
in congressional history. the revenue
Dill. which was passed by the House
on May % and by the Senate, after a
months debate. on September 10, draws
principally upon incomes and war ex-
cess profits.
The bin now Is estimated to raise
about ss5o.oo0,o00 from incomes. cor
porate and individual and about ST.
coo. 100000 from war excess rrofits
Other major levles are s3O,oOo,ooO or
tobacco; about s215.ooo,Oo0 on llruors
SI0.oo6,o00 on first-class mail: $4,000.
coo on autom obiles: s77.5o0.or0 or
freight transportation; $6O,ooo,o00 or
passenger, transportation: s32,o00.oOC
from stamp taxes. and 100000, 900 from
amusement admissions.
Elimination of consumrtion taxes o,
sugar, tea. coffee and gas. electric and
telephone service, together with House
taxes on 1916 incomes and a general
10 per cent tariff levy. were features
OF the evolution Of the bill.
PRAISE AND CRITICISM
GIVEN TO REPORT
Both praise and criticism was given
the conference report to-day in the
senate. Senator Simmons. heading the
senate conferees, in n two-hours' ex-
planaTion OF the conference work, said
the bill had been decidedly improved,
though he wan unable to defend GER
tain provisions insisted upon by the
House conferees. including the second
class mail and munition taxes
Senator Pen.ose. ranking Republi-
can conferee. also said many obiec-
tionable features were included in con-
ference compromises, and that the bill
might work individual injustices, but
that 1t had been improved In many
respects.
Vigorous criticism OF the bill, par
icularly the second-class postage pro-
vision, was made by Senator Smoot,
OF Utah. Many publishers. he assert
ed, would be driven out of business.
He and other Senators expressed hone
that before the new second-class rates
became effective next July, they will
be repealed or modified.
The closing speech was made by Sem
ator La Toilette, who reiterated his
opposition to the small amount of tax
alton proposed compared to large bond
issues and his demands for sreater
taxa ton of wealth. He said he would
defer until some time later some OBJ
servations he had intended on the bill
and matters connected with It,"