Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-04
WAR PROFITS TAX TO De
VOTED BY SEPTEMBER 10
Petition for CIoture Is With
draWn-LaFoIIette To Urge
Higher Rate

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31.-The senate
today resumed debate on the war profits
provisions of the war tax bill under an
agreement for a final vote on the bill
itself not later than Monday, Septem-
Der 10. The vote will be taken before
then should debate end sooner than eX-
pected
The agreement also calls for disposi-
than next Wednesday and the income
ton of the war profits section not later
tax provision by September {.
AS a result of the agreement, the pc
tition for cloture filed on Wednesday
has been withdrawn.
When the senate convened today Sen
ator Smoot, Republican member OF the
finance committee, was ready 10 re-
sumo his speech in opposition to Sen
ator Bankhead's substitute which pro-
vides for levy of IS per cent on war
profits. based on capitalization of 20 per
cent and over.
Senator LaFollette was to follow with
a long speech in favor of higher war
profits taxation. He has amendments
pending to take from IS to As per cent OF
such profits.
New amendments awaiting action to-
day included those by Senators Hollis
Gore and Brady providing for levies on
war profits of from so to Sc 2-S per
cent The LaFollette substitute bill
designed to raise about $500 100000
chiefly from war profits, incomes and
liquor taxation, also lis pending.
NOT A POPULAR WAR.
Senator Harding, of Ohio. opened de-
bate with a plea for caution against
too drastic CONSUMPTION of wealth. The
masses as we'll as the rich he SAID,
should pay a share of the wars cost,
according to their ability to pay. He
urged that taxes be levied which would
not cripple business, deplete reserve
strength of the nation and its ability
to carry further loads
Senator Harding SAID that the war
is not popular.
There are scores of contributing Eea-
sons" he said I'VE are sincerely de-
voted to peace, the campaign cry of
the year before our involvement which
was ,dwelt upon from every stump. We
are a polyglot people, without racial
entity our free republic is full of
aliens. We harbor the trained prcpa-
gandist whose business is to spread
sedition. eW have plotters and bomb
planters and wholesale murderers. We
have the greedy and the profiteer in
every walk of life"
The Ohio senator said that if neces-
sary to win the war he would conscript
every dollar of income over $4,000 TO a
family. But if you strike at excess
profits you reduce incomes and are
likely to hinder development of bust
ness" said he.
Senator Gronna, North Dakota. said
America can afford to pay cash for the
war, and should not burden future gen.
erations with interest on huge bond is
sues.
He advocated taking the bulk of the
war chest from war profits.
amy other procedure would be fun
damentally wrong, and would receive
from the people of the country the re-
sentiment it deserves" he said.
Indications multiplied today that the
finance committe through it's surrender
to the sentiment for a heavier draft on
war profits, has swung to it's support
many senators who earlier were hostile
to the committees bill.
Southern senators, who had allie,
themselves under Senator Underworld
leadership in support of the Bankhead
amendment, are gradually returning TO
the committees aid. Senator Under
wood today predicted the committ6
would win, defeating the Johnson-Borah
wealth CONSUMPTION forces.
Consumption taxes promise, however,
to raise a bitter contest.