Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-22
POSTAL RATE CUT
MADE in TAX PLAN
House Committee Agrees on
Lower Scale for All
Periodicals
CHAUTAUQUAs ESCAPE
Freed From Levy After Humor-
Gus Discussion of Bryan
and Yodlers
MAs1IINGToN. NAV %

A reduction in the postal rates on second
Class mail matter--newspapers and maga-
Kines--as proposed In the revenue bill was
agreed on today by the House Ways and
Means Committee.
The revenue bill proposed rates on sec
ond-class matter ranging from two cents a
pound-double the present rate-for the
FIRST two postal zones. with higher rates for
other zones.
The committee compromise provides for
rates ranging from one and n half cei'' toi
the first two zones to eight cents ttr the
last zone.
CHAUTAUQCAS EXEMPT
After a humorous debate in which refer
ence was made TO william J. Bryan, SWISS
bell ringers and yodelers, the House To-Day
adopted an amendment to the revenue nlll
which would exempt Chautauquas IRON the
ten per cent tax levied on tickets 10 places
OF amusement The amendment was offered
by Representative Fess, Republican OF
Ohio. and inserted the word "educatlonaI
in the exemption clause covering entertain.
ment under the auspices Of religious and
charitable institutions, Mr.. Fess cont'hdeo
that Chautauquas were educational inStitu-
tons and said the amendment was des gheu
20 exempt them from the tax.
IL have no objection" said Representa-.
tive Meeker, OF Missouri, TO eXempting real
educational affairs conducted BY. colleges
and high schools. but I do not see WY we
should exempt Chautauquas. These Chau-
IauQuHS EDeud lnllllOns huUudlly lOl '"ANA'N
ranging al the way from gentleman
whose name has been mentioned here, MI.
Bryan. to Swiss bell ringers and yodelers.
Some parts Of a Chautauqua SHOW are
doubtless educational, but what education Is
there In yodel"
THREAT OF ALL-NGGHT SESSION
II Democratic Leader Ktchin stands by
his threat the House will not adjourn to-
night until the big war revenue bill has
been passed When the lower body con-
vened today there was full days work TO
be done. The debate on the war chest
measure now I'm It's third week before the
House, has dragged during the last few
days and progress on II has been slow.
on this account Representative Kltchin
sought to hold the House together last night
for an evening session. but a point Of no
quorum forced adjournment Then 1t was
that Kitchn declared with some heat:
II shall make an effort to put THIS Dill
through the House tomorrow If It takes all
night"
SENATE WILL FIGHT BILL
The Senate. which now expects TO have
the House bill before It for formal consid-
eratlon within another twenty-four hours,
already has taken steps toward drastic
amendments. First of ALL Senate leaders
declare, the bill as framed in the House,
under the inspiration Of Secretary Of the
Treasury McAdoo attempts TO raise too
much money This feeling applies alike TO
the estimated amount of revenue TO be
raised by the bill as It stands at present or
TO the greater total revenue sought by
McAdoo. As the bill stands at present, its
House trainers estimate IL will raise 81 S0O,-
100000 by the close OF the next fiscal year.
Despite this enormous total, Mr.. McAdoo
made an unexpected request to have an ad-
ditional half billion raised in the pending
bill The House Ways and Means Com
mittee decided to ignore this request
The attempt TO raise great proper
tion Of the war fund by current taNation
has aroused Senate l'aders 20 a possible
menace 70 business Many leaders IN the
upper house believe the enormous tax bur-
den which the House bill proposes will be
more than business can bear, These Sena-
tors would greatly modify the provisions
OF the bill they are about TO receive. In
lieu OF such widespread and heavy taxation
they would resort TO an issue Of bonds
They think business should have an Oppur-
tunty TO adjust itself during the first
months of possibly the first year of the war,
before the Government should undertake
system of taxation which it's opponents
declare is confscatory in it's workings.