Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-28
REJECTS
]. 3-CENT POSTAGE
Defeat Of Measure in Line
With Move to Strike Out
Miscellaneous Levies
OPPOSE BURDEN ON PRESS
WASHINGTON. Aug. 2s.

91 s,.sr - WASHINGTON, Aug. 20.
The opposition to the $4,000. 900 rev.
enus bill won another decisive victory to-
DAY when, by vote OF 80 to 20 the Senate
struck out the provision to increase letter
postage to three cents,
The three-cent letter postage provision
would have raised $50, 900. 900. 1t was esti-
mated 1t had been agreed to by the House
and bore the Endorsement OF the Finance
Committee.
The elimination of the provision is In
line with the determination Of the opposition
% strike out all the so-called miscellaneous
fourth reverse the supporters OF the bill
have suffered since consideration OF the
ussasure began in the Senate.
The vote was taken on motion of Senator
wardwick OF Georgia. The motion was so
framed that In rejecting the increased letter
Iostage the Senate at the same time agreed
. the Finance Committee amendment al
hwing American soldiers and sailors abroad
. mail letters free OF postage.
tFollowing the rejection of frst-class
portal rates Senator Weeks. of Massachu-
0stts, urged the elimination also of the
second-class postal rates aimed at news
papers and magazines.
s
q publication whose fault is it, Senator
Weeks said.
"Undoubtedly the fault. II there Is such,
rssts with Congress, because Congress es-
tablished the rate and has not changed 1t.
Now, having permitted great business TO
be developed under this condition. Is II fair
or reasonable to take the time when the
industry is laboring under the heaviest pos
sfble burdens to commence to change Il?
say no. and that is the reason why | OPP
pose all Of these propositions.
81 am going to submit to the Senate n
few figures relating TO the varied publica
tions to show that any Of the proposed ac-
tions will virtually ruin large part OF
the press, in fact 1t is doubtful IL the PUB
ucations Of the United states, under pres
0nt conditions, taking them by and large.
are aetting new dollar for an old one.
This is due to the abnormal increases in
the cost of everything which publishers must
use and to their inability to pass along TO
the consumer these additional costs. They
relate to labor. ink. presses. type and every
other article which a publication must use,
but more particularly to the cost of print
paper, which varies greatly in price. Some
paper manufacturers have not materially
Increased their selling price and others
some Of the very large producers-have in
creased II so much that 1t carries crush-
ing weight to those who have to use their
product, and those publications which have
no contracts for their supplies Of print paper
are having the greatest difficulty in keeping
their heads above water. Every one. from
the President down, who has had or is haV-
inr anything to do with revenue legislation.
has reiterated time and again that taxes
should be so levied that they would not
materially damage any enterprise This
legislation would materially damage great
industry and, therefore, 1t should not be
passed"
LA TOILETTE OFFERS AMENDMENTS
Senator La Toilette introduced eight
proposing increased rates on
war profits Each OF these amendments
purposes to strike from the bill the gradu-
ated excess profits tax as reported by the
committee, and to substitute for it a fiat
tax. Senator La Toilette would begin with
an amendment of 76 per cent. and IL the
Senate fails to adopt that he purposes to
eher amendments at lower percentages.
The amount of revenue which would be de-
yived from each OF the La Toilette amend
nents. taking $4,000. .oO0.O 900 as the basis of
var profits, will be:
First-At rs per cent, $4,000. 900, 900.
Second-At 72 per cent, $2,l60 OoO, 900.
Thrd--At 68 per cent. $2.O40,000, 900.
Fcurth--At 81 per cent. sl,920, ,00O, 900.
Fifth--At 80 per cent, $500, ,0O0. 900.
Sixth-At sc per cent, 1850. 900, 900.
Seventh-At 81 per cent, 81 $50, 900 900.
Eighth-At 4S per cent, sl.4Ooo0,O00.