Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-05-30
WAR. TAX BILL WINS
INCOME TAX INCREASE is UP.
HELD IN HOUSE BY VOTE
or s45 TO 60.
ALL DEMOCRATS FOR BILL
Republican Leader Mann Says 81 BOO.
100000 Burden Is Too Much for the
country-Second Class Mail
Rate Raised.

Washington, May 25.-The house on
much-criticized $500, 100000 war rev.
enue bill after a fortnight's bitter de-
bate. The senate viii now take up the
bin and, it is said, slash it TO pieces.
III may be cut S450000.000.
Republicans who had consistently
fought the bill. headed by Mann, their
floor leader insisted upon aye and nay
votes on important sections of the bin
already passed. They wanted the
voters put on record.
The first of these votes was 25S to
100 In favor of sustaining the increased
second-class mail matter rates as intro
duced by Claude Kitchin. chairman OF
the ways and means committee. Mann
Immediately moved to recommit the
entire bill to the committee for COM
plete revision. He was beaten by 24O
to l61. On the final passage of the
bill the vote was 300 to 76.
Every Democrat voted for the meas
sure. SO did 112 Republicans. All the
negative votes were cast by Republic
ans. Four members voted present"
They We're Republicans.
Record votes were also taken on the
Doremus and Lenroot amendments.
The first of these proposed that
per cent tax shAuld not be levied upon
automobiles until the manufacturer
had made 8 per cent profit on his eapi-
tai. 1t had been inserted In the bill,
but the house struck 1t out by vote
of 233 to ia and the tax remains.
The Lenroot amendment increasing
all surtaxes ON incomes above $4,000
was sanctioned by a vote of 345 to 60.
The amendment, imposing a 10 per
cent surtax on $40,000-$6O,OOO in
comes and rising to a As per cent tax
on incomes more than 100000 raises
by one-quarter the original surtaxes
proposed by the bill
Debate on the bill closed at p. m.
| and then the voting began. But before
that Kitchin and Mann had exchanged
speeches for and against the bill.
81 realize the country is at war and
the money is needed" said Mann, but
l do not sympathize with the methods
employed to raise it. The people will
pay enormous prices for food and
clothing. 1t will be a mistake to put
upon them the burden of raising one
half the money needed for the war.
"a man once killed a goose which
laid a golden egg. This bill goes so
far In that direction that / cannot vote.
! for it."
Kitchin made a denial of a published
report that the president disapproved
| of the bill and wished itrewritten.
"They say more should be raised by
| tonds," he cried. 1.-The greatest bond
hin in the history of the world was
| passed April IA. l would be ashamed
| to look anyone in the face if | refused
to vote for this bill to pay for carry
| ing on the war"
The per cent tax on billboards,
street car and other advertising than
newspaper and magazine was struck
out on Kitchin's motion. He said the
raised price or second-class mail would
tax the advertisers sufficiently. Mr..
! Fitzgerald of New York succeeded in
amending the bill to make incomes,
munitions and excess profits taxes pay
able when the returns are made. The
present law allows three months after
| the returns.