The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-12
Both Big and Little Business
Pour Protests Into Com
mittee's Ears.
EXCESS PROFITS TAX
PAYERS YELP.LOUDLY
Distiller, Brewery and To-
baccO Interests Sec GObs
of Gloom Ahead.

Washington, May ll.-Whilc the
house debate on the $l.Soo 600 900 war
tax bin was getting under way today
the senate finance committee heard
violent protests from big and little
interests on which the new war lcvlcs
would fail.
Manufacturers who would have to
pay~the increased excess profit taxes.
dstillcrs, brewers ana soda fountain
interests affected by the higher rates
on alcoholic and soft drinks. and to-
bacco companies hit by the tobacco
tax all told the senate that they faced
ruin if tobacco went through as pre-
scntcd in the house. Nearly every Wit
ness declared his particular business
seemed to have been made the target
for an unjust and cXorhitant tax.
House Hears Walls.
In the house, too, many portions of
the bill were under fire, but the reply
of Democratic and Republican leaders
in charge was that the money must be
raised and only high taxes could pro
vide it. Representative Fordncy OF
Michigan, ranking Republican ON the
ways and means COMMITTEES, made Il.
| four hour speech for the measure. He
said he agreed with Democratic Lead
cr Ktchin that the bin had some
faults. but that on the whole it was
| equitable and should pass to meet the
war emergency.
only the excess profits. liquor. beer.
| soft drinks and tobacco schedules were
| considered today by the senate com
mittce. Tho hearings are expected to
close Tuesday.
Income Tax and Postal.
The income tax increase and the rise
| in postal rates consumed a large part
of the time today in the house debate.
Replying to critics of the income tax
section. Mr.. Fordney told the house
| that there Is u limit to which the
government can go and take from a
man his income until he begins to
| cVade the law"
| Republican Leader Mann asked II it
/ would not be faircr to tax newspaper
and magazine advertising than to put
the proposed additional postage rate on
second class mail matter. Mr.. Fordncy
replied that this would be II tax on
volume of business and an unjust
| tax.
| Representative Hull of Iowa also
| "A IN. rat t,tI fIf.
azines and newspapers and challenged
statements that tho government now is
! losing millions annually on this class
of business. The debate will be con
tinued tomorrow.
Paint Gloomy Pictures.
| It was a gloomy picture that protes-
tants against the war tax increases
painted for the senate committee Dis
organization of industries, closed fac
| tories and discharged employees, re-
duccd prices to producer and destruc-
tion of retailers were among the pre-
dictions.
| REPRESENTATIVES. of national manu-
facturers and industrial organizations
| "''i't wv 'N''oo bioiiiS tUA was h'S-
criminatory against corporations, a
| The greatly increased tax on dis
titled liquors. the committee was told
would decrease production and rcvc.
nucs, rs well as encourage Illicit trtf.
| fic.
| The brewery interests said many
small brcwerics would be forced L
close.
Tomorrow the committee will Consid
or the tax lcVi"s on public utilities, ad
Ncrtising. amusement. club Dues in
films, cosmetics and chewing gum.