Evening star., 1917-05-17
HOUSE INCREASES WAR
TAx0N GREAT INCOMES
Adds rs Per Cent When Treasury
Estimates Need Half Bill
lion More.

Democratic Leader Kitchin an
nounced in the House today that the
Treasury Department had notified hiAl
it would be necessary to raise W.
245,000 000 instead of $500, 900, by
the war revenue bill now under debate
He urged support of the new proposal
to raise the income surtaA increases
on sums above $4,000. as now con-
tanned in the bill. by one-fourth.
The bill as reported to the House was
estimated to raise between $500. .000, 600
and $4,000, ,0oo. 900, which was expected to
defray one-half of the expenses of the
first year of the war.
Announcement a Surprise.
Kitchin's announcement was a great
surprise. When the movement to In
crease the income taxes was started yes
terday by Representative Lenroot. re-
publican. Of Wisconsin, and Representa-
tive Sherley. democrat, of Kentucky, Mr..
Kitchin fought it vigorously.
Yesterday the insurgents were sue
cessful in getting in an increase on the
surtax on incomes between $4,000 and
$4,000. Immediately after Mr.. kitch-
their efforts, and Mr.. Lenroot intro
duced an amendment to increase the
proposed surtaxes on incomes between
$4,000 and $4,000 from II to 1875 per
cent.
II do not see," said Mr.. Kitchin.
''how any members of the ways and
means committee can oppose this pro-
posed tax The proposal then was
adopted by an overwhelming vote.
To add an increase of one-fourth al!
along the line would fall far short of
raising the additional $445, ,000, 900. and
it was considered likely that even q
greater surtax than the insurgents sug-
gest might be levied on larger incomes.
Meanwhile hope of striking from the
bill proposed taxes on freight, light
and heat bills by the substitution Of
the surtax increases. as proposed by
Representative Lenroot. seemed to dis
appear. Hope that 1t would be possible
to strike out the proposed increased rate
somewhat, but supporters of the pro-
posal still were determined to make a
hard fight.
Proposes Tax on Checks.
Representative Fordney of Michigan.
republican OF the committee, continued
his opposition to further income tax
checks instead. Mr.. Fordney said he
believed incomes should be held in re-
serve for later taxation. if necessary.
The first proposal to tax congression-
al speeches was made in the House to-
day. During the earthquake which
followed the receipt of Secretary Nc
Adoo's request for another half billion
dollars. Representative Howard of
Georgia made an impassioned speech
favoring a large amount of taxes.
"Will the gentleman from Georgia
put an per cent tax upon gas?" asked
Representative Meeker of st. Louis.
Quick as q flash Representative How
ard answered:
Yes, and by that means would de-
rive an enormous income from the gen.
tleman from Missouri"
At this the entire House laughed, and
Representative Meeker laughed so hard
himself that he nearly fell out of his
chair.
Consideration Of the war tax bill was
formally begun today by the Senate
finance committee, with the republican
members sitting with the democrats.
Action by the full committee. without
appointment Of subcommittees. in
amending the House bill was decided
upon.