The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-11-15
ERG, S. c., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1917.
TILLMAN DENIES THE CHARGE.
Not True That National Legislators
Are Exempt From Income Tax.

aIc TIOhA IASo"O AeA'>s
In statement given out Wednes-
day morning. Senator B. R. Tillman
answers the charge that has been
made that senators and congress-
men exempted themselves from pay
ing income tax, stating that the re-
port is incorrect, and that there is
no excuse for the statement. Sen
ator Tillman's statement follows:
I'm view of. the statements pub
lished in many newspapers and Pc
riodicals that senators and congress-
men voted in the last congress to ex-
empt themselves from payment of
the income tax while taxing other
persons, I have been asked for a
statement in explanation of the pro-
visions of the law.
'tThe new revenue law does not
exempt senator's and congressman
from the payment of the income tax.
just like all other citizens who are
liable, and under the new revenue act
senators and congressman will pay
about three times more income tax
than they have heretofore paid. The
only color of foundation for the
statements published in the news
papers is the exception made to the
provisions of the war profits tax. The
war profits tax contains this provis-
ion:
'"'This title shall apply to all
| trades or businesses of whatever de-
scription, whether continuously car
ried on or not, except in the case OF
officers and employees under the Uni
| ted States or any State, Territory or
the District of Columbia, or any To-
cal subdivision thereof, the compen-
sation or fees received by them as
such officers or employees
"This exception has absolutely
| nothing to do with the income tax,
| but applies only to, the war profits
tax. 1t was inserted by the confer
ence committee appointed to adjust
the differences between the senate
and the house. There was no vote
in either senate or house upon this
as a separate proposition. 1t was
contained in the final conference re-
port covering forty or fifty pages
! and that report had to be adopted
/ as a. whole in the closing days of the
session in order to provide revenue
with which to run the government
It was adopted unanimously without
any record vote. do not know ex.
| actly how the governor of State
the sheriff of county, the congress
| man or senator can make any wal
! profits out of his salary, but as it is
apparent that some persons who wish
to avoid payment of the war profits
tax are using this exception as an ex,
cuse for opposition to the law, shall
| favor a repeal of the exception sc
that they will have no excuse foz
their opposition. Members of the
house did not have a chance to vote
upon this as a separate proposition
but my opinion is that they will
when opportunity offers, join the SEN
ate in repeating it.
Section 200, which applies the
war profits tax to business or trade
having no invested capital, but hay'
ing net profits of $4,000 year, was
also inserted in conference and there
was no separate vote upon it. The
conference committee stated it was
inserted in order to make the lawyer
and other professional man, who Il
making excess profits by reason OF
the war, pay this tax as we'll as the
merchant and manufacturer. thinF
it should be revised so as to. appl!
only to those professional men whose
profits now exceed the profits made
by them prior to the war. This sec
}, ton, together with the other sections
); inserted in the bill by the conference
committee will be considered at the
!; next session and congress can be re-
lied upon to do justice to all con
cerned. There is, however, no ex
); cuse for the statement that senator:
and congressman will not have tt
!; pay any income tax, when, as mat
ter of fact, they will pay more thar
thev have heretofore paid
| E,,,, Rarn1ra11. .Ramberp Club.