Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-14
WAR REVENUE BILL
WILL PASS TODAY
Favorable Action on Measure by
Almost Unanimous Vote
Becomes Certainty.
GENERAL DEBATE Is CLOSED
Keenest Interest Displayed in In
tricacies Of Tremendous
Financial Program.
GENERAL DEBATE Is CLOSED

rBy Associated Press
WASHINGTON. April I3--EiSht
hours OF debate on the s1.o00.000. 900
war revenue bill in the House to-day
developed SO little opposition that pas
sage Of the measure tomorrow 10y IN
almost unanimous vote became 81 Ger
,ainty. Action in tho senate probably
will follow early next week
When tho House adjourned to.ni-h..
general debate he closed. and tho
leaders had aEr. I'll - 3cgin discussion
Of amendments unt,- 'ic vc-minu,e
rule Il, II o'clock to morrow The vote
probably will he taken carly In the
Afternoon.
Amendments approved to-day by See
rotary Mc.\doo 10 limi; spcciiicaIlv dis
irihution Of tho proposed '3.opn." 900
foreign loan which the bilI would au.
thori.c to countries actua,iy at war
With Germany. and only during hos
'iiit;cS. viii he added to the measure
representative T.cnroot. Of Wisconsin,
,ni others insisted that without these
i''nitaiions the Secretary Of ;hc Treas
ury might make loans to European non.
tr".s or continue loans to other roun-
tries after the clbsc OF the war. Fran
ers of the bill insisted that such a
course never would be considered.
Absence Of partisan spirit marked the
"cA"ic. Democratic Leader kitchin and
Representative Fordncy. Of Michigan.
"ho for years have battied from op-
post" sides Of tho House on financial
questions. were tho principal supporters
Of the measure. Efforts TO inject no
lit ticni discussions INTO the debate ard
swcrvc the leaders OF on tho ,ariT
and other issues were unavailinr
Scores or questions were propound.d Il,
the leaders. and the kcenc*t interest
was displayed in the irtricacics Of the
tremendous financial measure
kIrtHIN GETS OVATION
WHEN HE OPENS DEBATE
Nn ovation was accorded Mr.. kitchin
when he opened debate in behalf of
ihc bill. lie explained that The mcas-
nrc carried a proposed bond issue of
$1,000. 100000. out OF the proceeds OF
which $4,000. 100000 was to be loaned to
the allies With their bonds ;ls security.
the remaining $4,000. 300. 900 obtained
from tn" sale Of bonds to he added TO
'h" proceeds of a proposed 5000. 600 U1o
certificate Of indebtedness i..su. and
eNnanded in the prosecution OF the war
~ the United States. All OF tn. issues
viii carry J i: per cent interest
There were many interrogations ns
I" what rate WAS TO lie allowed for the
allies bonds. whether American brokers
are TO be permitted To reap enormous
commissions for selling the bonds. and
what opportunity the small in-cstors
will have 10 buy bonds. Mr. Kitchin
responded tina, details of the sales
would be left with the President and
the Secretary of the Treasury. and this
appeared to satisfy the questicners.
Besides urging immediate passage of
the measure. Representative Fordney
gave some intimations about the taxes
hkeiN 10 be levied to help pay the war
debt. While. nothing definite has been
settled lie said. he favored lowering
the income tax exemption to $l500 for
single and $4,000 for married men. tax
ing amusements. raising the first and
second-c'ass postal service rates and
increasing the taxes on whisky and
beer.
representative Shcrley. of Kentucky.
discussed the probable cost of the war
and declared that in reality it would
hc less of "a tax burden than was the
cost Of TIE civil War.
proposed authorizations he said.
would Increase the bonded Indebtedness
OF the country TO sS.445. .oOo. 600.
cARtWAl, OF ARKANSAS,
FLATLf OPPOSES RILI.
one man. Representative Caraway,
OF Arkansas, fatly opposed tho bill. lie
insisted that the entire burden should
be thrown upon the wealth of the roup.
try Immediately.
Representative Caraway digressed
from finances to oppose the proposed
conscription measure
Representative Gardner. OF Massa-
chusetts. who long has urged entrance
oi inns country into the war. predicted
passage OF the conscription measure
IF the Presiden: sits tight" he said.
'hc viii get his army draft bill through
by a big majority.
Representative Fitzgcruld. chairman
OF the Appropriations Committee. at
tackled as excessive the provision
whil'a would authorize the expenditure
Of one-ffth of per cent Of the $1,000
o0o.000 bond issue. for expenses of The
issue. lie also ugcd IA provision To
prohibit the sale OF the bonds for less
than par.
This S5,ooo.ooO.c0O does not scratch
the surface of our credit. and we should
not discredit ourselves at the outset"
he said.
ENrHiTS MOST OF MONEY
70 BE SPENT IN THIS COUNTRY
Proposals to limit expenditure of the
money loaned the allies caused Mr.
kitchin to declare. amid cheers, that
nothing should be done to interfere
with the prosecution of the war by the
allies. He also added that II was cx.
pected virtually all Of the money would
be spent III this country.
Representative Ragsdale. South Caro-
lima. wanted Congress to forbid any
American citizen to take any commits
sion from any allied government for
handling bonds. Mr.. Eitchin replied
that the President could be trusted not
to permit any 'Shylocks to gouge the
allies" and the President would have
lIf11cicnf discref rv