Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-05-18
DRAFT BILL FURTHER
DELAYED IN SENATE
BY LENGTHY DEBATE
Contention Over Duration of
Soldiers SeVice-Chamber
lain Calls 1t Hair-SpIitting,
Income Tax Increased


WASHINGTON. May 15.-when the
army bin came up in the senate today
for final action on the conference re-
port. IL was thrown into a long debate
over tschniCalities which Senator Cham
berisiu. chairman OF the military conf
mittee openly characterized as hair
splitting"
The principal contention was over
whether soldiers were being drafted for
The existing emergency" or the war.
Here We are at war" declared Mr..
Chamberlain. '.and the senate is split
ting hairs on this proposition with dan
ger at our doors and threatening 10
send the hill back 10 conference"
Senator Fletcher pointed out that the
existing" emergency could not be
stretched 70 continue men in service for
some future exigency-
Senator Chamberlain served notice
.on the senate that II IL sent the report
hack 70 conference there would be no
military Legislation for thirty or sixty
days
Senators Smith and Hsrdwick. OF
Georgia: Reed. OF Missouri. and La Fol-
letts were among those who raised OBJ
iectionS
senator Smith. Of Georgia. argued that
returning II 10 conference would not
delay raising an army. IS the men being
trained TO officer Il would not he ready
for ninety days.
Our real work Is being done across
the Atlantic nv the navy" said Senator
SMITH I'VE ought 70 write into this
h'lI an express decla "A tfo-l that the
draft system. dies with this German
war
Senator Lodge opposed delaying the
hill
KITCHIN CAUSES SURPRISE
Democratic Leader Kitchin an
nounced- in the house today
that the treasury department had
notified him II would be necessary TO
raise s2.245.0Oe. 0Oe instead of sI.SOO.-
100000 by the war revenue bill now
under debate he urged support OF the :
new proposal TO raise the income sur
TAX increases on sums above s40.0 |
as now contained in the bill, by one
fourth
Secretary McAdoos statement. ssi
quoted oy Mr.. Kitchin. showed total APP
preparations already authorized for de-
dciencIes during the present year and
for appropriations for the fiscal year
that starts July l neNC of S1.Ss9,412,-i
s3S. Appropriations pending make a to-
tai of S5,25s.Os4.24s Mr. McAdOO said.
The bill as reported TO the house was
estimated O-raiSe between 1,So0.0o0.-
zee and $4,000. 0OO. zoo. which was eN-
Heusss o. the first year OF the war
kitchin's announcement was a grsat
surprise When the movement to in
-rease the income taxes was started
yesterday by Representative LenrOOt.
Republican or Wisconsin. and Repre-
sentative Sherley- Democrat OF Ken
rucky. Mt EitcEm Tough; ir vi.or-
0usIy.
Yesterday the insurgents were sue
cessful nevertheless. in getting in ami
increase on the sUrtax on incomes ne
tween s4ec00 and $685. O0. Immediate
" after Kitchin's announcement today
they renewed their efforts and Lenroot 4
introduced an amendment TO increase
the proposed surfaces on incomes be
tween $4,000 and $4,000 from II toi
1915 pc cent
The Lenroot amendment was adopted!
in the committee OF the whole by an
overwhelming vote Preps "a tiOns were
Immediately made To propose similar
increases on all the remaining divisions ]
OF the income tax section
I 90 not see" replied Mr.. kichin. |
how any member OF the ways and
means committee can oppose this pro-
posed tax"
WOULD THEN FALL SHORT.
To ada an increase OF one-fourth all
al long the line would fall far short OF
raising the additional Sii5. 600. 600. and
iJ was considered likely tina even a
greater surJaX than the insurgents sug-
gest might be levied on larger incomes I
Meanwhile hope Of striking from the
bill proposed taxes on freight light /
and heat bills b. the substitution of
the surtaX increases. as proposed byl
Representative LenrOt. seemed to dis-l
appear
Hope that IL would be possible 20 strike
out the proposed increased rate on sec.
cond-class mail matter also wsnedl
somewhat. but supporters OF the pro-
possl still were determined 10 make a !
hard fight
Representative Fordney Michigan.
ranking Republican member Of the ways
and means committee proposed d 2-cent
tax on all bank checks OF 800 or less
saying this would raise $1,000. O00. 900
He pleaded with the house 20 Issue
bonds. instead Of taxing the present gen.
GRAFTON which he said must fight for the
safety OF future generations.
The ways and means committee split
sharply over the question of raising
additional taxes Representative Hill.
Connecticut. committee member, In
sisted that the whole bill be sent back
70 the committee and perfected
Representative Madden, Illinois. Re-
publican. supported Mr.. Hill Represent
alive Garner. % Texas. a committeeman.
opposed either any increases in taxes
under the bill or the proposed recon-
sideration by the committee.
HE committee could meet next Oc-
tobsr. he said. and decide on additional
taxes
The war army bill today lacked only
The senate's approval OF the conference
report before being ready for President
Wilson's signature
The house yesterday accepted the con-
ference report, with its provision for $50
minimum monthly pay for enlisted men.
and the senate was expected - take I'll
up today or tomorrow.
Committee Is Named
H.. RI E-.-z