The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-05-26
war TAX PASSED.
REVENUE MEASURE ADOPTED
BY OVERWHELMING MA
JORITY.

taxation during the coming year, pass
ed the house by vote of 329 to 70
late today in almost the same form
that it was presented by the ways
and means committee two weeks ago.
All the opposing votes were cast by
Republicans, although there are many
Democrats strongly opposed to GER
tain sections of the measure. Virtual
redrafting Of the bill in the senate is
regarded as certain. Material changes
already are contemplated by the SEN
ale finance committee as a result of
public hearings held during the long
debate in the house. Final passage
r"obably can not be accomplished in
less than a month.
Outstanding features of the bill are
the greatly increased income, inheri-
tance, excess profits, liquor and cigar
and tobacco taxes, virtual abolition Of
the present customs free list and a 10
per cent. addition to existing tariffs,
new taxes on manufactures, amuse-
ments, clubs, public utilities and in
surance, a far reaching stamp tax and
a greatly increased mail matter rate
based on the parcel post zone system
In only four particulars does the
present measure differ substantially
from the original draft. Surtaxes on
incomes above $4,000 have been in
creased about one-fourth above the
committee schedule. Several articles,
including print paper and pulp and
gold and silver, slated for 10 per
cent. duty, have been kept on the
free list. Slight reductions in the
been made. A proposed 5 per cent.
tax on all advertising except news
paper and periodical is limited
Attacks on the bill in the senate will
centre around the excess profits. in
come and manufactures tax and the
second class mail rate increase Sec
tions. Business men generally are
protesting vigorously against the taxes
and virtually every publisher in the
country is opposing the increased mail
rate. In final effort to rally all his
party votes. Democratic Leader
Kitchin declared that he had. been in.
formed personally by President viii.
son today that he did not desire
changes in the bill in the senate as
had been currently reported. Mr.
Kitchin also appealed earnestly to al
members to supply the president with
money to carry on the war.
II would feel like a miserable COW.
ard" he said, Ito impose a burden
on my children and my childrens
children to pay for something fol-
which they were not responsible and
yet refuse to take out of my pockets
money for my share of the burden"
Republican Leader Mann insisted
that the bill would raise too large an
amount Of money by direct and inn
mediate taxes.
''This bill approaches killing the
gose that lays the golden egg," he
said. Indeed, I am afraid we are
killing that goose today"
Mr.. Mann placed every possible oh.
struction in the way of the measure
thenceforth, even insisting on roll
call on motion to recommit. 1t was
deefated 246 to 161..
A fight on behalf of automobile
manufacturers, won temporarily yes
terday by Representative Doremus OF
Michigan. was lost today. After
amending in the committee of the
whole a paragraph fixing a 5 per cent
tax on automobile manufacturers sc
that only those earning profit OF
$1,000 and per cent. would be af-
fected, the house. by a vote Of 233 to
ia, reversed itself and the original
paragraph granting no exemptions
was restored.
The house voted down, 345 to 60, a
motion to strike out the increase in
the Lenroot income tax surtax amend.
meEt which. it Is estimtaed, will be
productive OF $GG,OOO,OOO additional
revenue.
An unsuccessful effort also was
made to eliminate the committee Sec
ond class mail matter rate section,
which would increase on March l.,
next, the present fiat rate Of l cent
a pound to Il graduated scale ranging
from 1 1-2 cents pound in the first
zone to cents n pound in the eighth.
Two other graduated scales with fur
ther increases in rates would go into
effect on July l. next, and November
1, respectively. The vote sustaining