Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-05-17
Sub Committees From Both
Houses to Confer On Pro,
posed Measures.
SENATE MEMBERS
ARE IN A TEMPER
Annoyed by Publication Of Proceedings
Of Secret Session on War Budget
Reports Published by Newspapers
Said to Be Quite Accurate-Senate
Finance Committee Begins Consider
alton Of War Tax Bill.

Washington. May Ito hurry ac-
tion on food control legislation the fol-
lowing subcommittee of the conmttee
on agriculture has been selected by
Chairman Gore to act with like house
subcommittee: Senators Gore. Spltn
of South Carolina Smith of Georgia,
Kenyon of Iowa and Page of Vermont.
When the food survey bill, now the
senate's unfinished business, is taken
up again, Senator Gore plans to offer
amendments designed to authorize
preferential railroad transportation of
foodstuffs and to curb speculation
upon boards of trade and grain ex-
changes.
Secret Proceedings Published.
The senate was in quite a temper
when it reconvened today to continue
debate on the war budget and found an
accurate report Of It's secret session
yesterday had been published in the
newspapers. Senator Thomas said:
They were quite accurate. more 50
than publication of open session pro-
ceedings. The sooner we abandon this
farce Of secret sessions. the better"
Consider War Tax Bill.
Consideration OF, the war tax bill was
formally begun today by the senate r.
nance committee with republican, nicrn-
bers sitting with the democrats.
Representative Leuroot. of Wiscon-
sin, Immediately introduced an amend
ment to increase, proposed sur-taxes
on incomes. between $50. 900 to $4,000,
from l. to 1916 per cent. This was
adopted in the Committee of the whole.
Another Single term" amendment to
the constitution was proposed in the
senate by Senator Gore who woulu
make it apply both to the president
and vice president.
Debate Over TechnicaIitles.
When the army bill came up in the
senate today for final action on the
conference report it was thrown into
long debate over technicalties. which
Senator Chamberlain characterized as
hair splitting" The principal conten-
ton was over whether soldiers were
being drafted for the existing emer-
gency'.' or for the war.
Some senators protested that the
word emergency" might fasten mill
tary policy on the country. Senator
Fletcher pointed out that the exist
ing emergency, could not be stretched
to keep men in service after the pres
ent war.
Opponents to Draft Now Obstruct.
Senators Smith and Hardwick, OF
Georgia, Reed, of Missouri, and LaF'ol-
lette, Of Wisconsin, were among those
who raised objections. Senator Cham
berlain pointed out that the senators
delaying the bill were those who lost
their fight against the draft system.
"The conferees exhausted themselves
Chairman Chamberlain. III it Is sent
back the whole bill will be opened up
and we can never agree"
Baker Opposed to Changes.
Secretary Baker definitely settled
today the question Of proposed changes
in the army uniform by instructing bu-
reau chiefs that he will not give con-
|sideration to any suggested changes IN
organisation. equipment or uniform Of
the army that Is not vitality important
for the successful prosecution OF the
war.
The secretary's action was made nec'
essary by persistence Of some depart
ment officials that the service uniform
of American officers be remode;ed sc
as to follow closely that of the Eritlst
army with its roll collar Jacket.
To lnersass Revenue Bill.
Democratic Leader Kitchin an
rounced in the house today that the
treasury department had notified him
lit would be necessary to raise $2,245,
00o, 600 instead Of Aassoo, 100000 by the
war revenue bill now under debate. He
urged support Of new proposals te
raise the income sur-tax increases on
anms above $4,000 and now contained
in the bill. by one-fourth.
Vote Income Tax Increases.
The house began voting substantial
increased In the incoma tax ON largel
fortunes with the prospect that all the
great incomes would be taxed muct
more than at first proposed. to make
them bear a larger per cent Of the cos,
OF the war.
The ,insurgent movement got sup.
port from the administration itself
The treasury department notified
Chairman Kttchin, Of the ways ans
means COMMITTEES that the $t.s00, 900,
600 to be raised by the bill was hal!
billion short Of what the government
probably would need. Mr.. Kitchin
who fought the income tax increases
yesterday. promptly switched to theil
support
on the first vote the house raiset
,.rn.f fa,e On incomea betvo0n SEQ,