The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-08-30
LENGTHY DEBATE ON WAR PROFITS TAX ID START IN SENATE Way for This Is Opened When Publishers Section
 Is Disposed Of ALABAMA MEMBERS TO TAKE ACTIVE PART Chairman Simmons Is Preparing to Present Cloture Rule if Necessary
 to Get Measure Through
 More Quickly

Wnst.i-.gt1n, August 29.--The climax of the sennte's contest over the war tax bill was reached today by dis posnl of publishers tax provisions and opening of the long expected debate on war profits. Outstanding developments today fol- low:
 Petitions for cloture signed by 56 sen- passage of the bill were presented by Senator Simmons, in charge of the bill vote on cloture cannot be taken under the rules before Friday
 Increase of the bill's levy on war profits from s5s2, ,o0o.OOO to s1,o6O, ,Oo0 was proposed in amendments presented by Senator Simmons for majority of the promise to prevent more radical in- creases.
 CHANGES IN BILL
 The Senate made changes in the bill which, including the almost doubled levy on war profits proposed by the commit tee, would bring it's total to g, 522, ,47O, ,0oo.
 Provision for 5 per cent special in come tax on publishers to raise $75o0, 900 was stricken out without a roll call
 In lieu of the House zone system for increasing second-class postage rates by $19. 000000 and the finance committees substitute proposing flat rate increase Of one-quarter cent pound, estimated to raise $3,00o,000, the Senate by a vote of 40 to 8 substituted Senator Mex ellar's zone system to raise $12, G00,O00 more. An effort to strike out the section entirely and leave present postage rates un- changed will be made later
 The Senate spent most of the day de- batting the publishers provisions. Sena- tor Stone, chairman of the foreign rela- tions committee, vigorously attacked critics who have charged him with be- ing a pro-German sympathizer and de- tended his attitude on war measures.
 WAR PROFITS FEATURE
 Upon disposition of the publication features Senator Simmons presented the compromise committee amendments on war profits which including present taxes, would take s1. Oo0,0oO of this years profits, estimated between ssOco.- 0oo,O0O and $4,00O,Oo0, 900.
 Tomorrow the war profits debate will get really under way with a speech by Senator Underwood in support of 2 new substitute by Son ator Rankhead which would substan tially increase the amount of the levy as now proposed by the committee. Final disposition of the bill early next week is Senator Simmons aim in initiating cloture. Few senators. however, expect the cloture will be necessary. Before seeking action on cloture. Senator simmons hopes to op tain unanimous consent to fix a date for a final vote on the bill
 CLOTURE WOULD SUCCEED Although cloture would be yicor !. ously contested by the so-called rad.. calls on war profits taxation, the nee essary two thirds vote for it's adon ton Is regarded assured in the event an agreement is refused. the petitions filed today being barely short of that figure, If adopted, the rule would give each senator only one hour to discuss the bill ane all amendments Senate forces favoring even higher taxation of war profits than the com promise advances of the finance com mittee are lining up to support flat levy of at least 50 per cent. BANKHEAD PROPOSALS The new Bankhead proposals would levy war profits taxes based upon cap |italization atsthe following graduated