Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-09-13
SENATE PASSES
THE WAR TAX BILL
Is the Largest Single Taxation
Measure Known to Ameri.
can History.
$2,40O, 900, 900 NEW TAXES.
Measure Will Go to Conference Soon
and Will Probably Become a Law
within 10 Days or Two Weeks.

Washington. Sept. 1o.-The war tax bill
the largest single taxation measure in
American history-was passed tonight
by the Senate. 1t provides for a levy
somewhat under $2.4oo, 900, 900. as compared
with $1.S67, $4,000 proposed in the bill as
1t passed the House May %.
The great bill, nearly four months in
the making. will be returned to the
House tomorrow and then goes to con-
ference with enactment within ten days
or two weeks probable. Senators Sim
mons. Stone and Williams. democrats
and Penrose and Lodge, republicans, Of
the finance committee were appointed
the Senate's conferees.
Awaiting the Senate in the final strug-
gle over war fiscal policies is the $11, 500, =
100000 credits bill. which passed the
House unanimously and upon which work
will be begun tomorrow by the Senate
finance committee.
OF the $2,40O. 100000 new taxes provided
for in the tax bill for the duration Of
incomes, corporate and individual and
81, 0eO, 100000 from war profits. Most Of
the remainder is levied on liquor,
tobacco and public utilities.
In to-night's clean up. the principal
18th hour actions of the Senate were
elimination Of all provisions for taxing
publishers and increasing second class
periodical postage rates and all con-
sumption taxes on sugar. tea, coffee and
cocoa. the latter reducing the bill $50, 0OO =
900. The Senate also struck out the
clause proposing repeal of the draw
back" or re-export allowance given sugar
refiners and defeated proposals to add
Inheritance taxes.
In a last effort to the high tax group
to increase taxes, the Senate rejected,
IS to Is, the La Toilette substitute bill
to raise $500, 100000 more taxes. Those
supporting 1t were Borah, Brady, Gore,
Gronna, Hardwick, Hollis, Husting. John
son California;, Jones Washington.
Kenyon, La Toilette. McNary, Norris,
Reed and Vardaman.
Passage of the bill was devoid of the
usual stirring scenes marking such an
epochal measure. At four o'clock to-day
under the agreement which ended the
coture fight fortnight ago. debate was
shut off and a tedious series of a dozen
roll calls brought the bill to passage.
A parliamentary snarl and a deter
mined fight on the second-class postage
provisions furnished the most excite.
ment. After the Mcclellan sub-zone
postage increase provision, applying tc
publications sent beyond 900 miles, had
been rejected forty to thirty -four. Sen
ator Hardwick's substitute zone plan
applicable to advertising portions only
was beaten As to 20. Senator Mcclellan
attempted to offer another substitute
with a maximum rate of four cents q
pound instead of cents, but Senator
Salisbury. presiding. held that the
House zone provision had never beer
formally eliminated. Then the Senate
made sure of it's determination to elm.
mate all postage increases and specia
levies on publishers by adoption of Sen.
ator Weeks motion to strike out the
entire House clause. SO to Q.
The only postage features left in the
bill are provisions for free Transports
ton of letters from American soldier.
abroad and for one cent stamp tax or
| parcel post packages raising about 81,
| 100000. The consumption taxes of half
cent a pound on sugar, two cents or
coffee, five cents on tea, three cents or
cocoa and from 1 to 2 cents n gallon OF
molasses went out by overwhelmins
majorities. A final vote on Senator
Broussard's motion to eliminate then
all was carried SO to 2s. Senator's Dill
bingham and Page Of Vermont votet
with the minority.