Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-05-24
WAR Revenue BILL
PASSES THE House
Measure Provides Increase
of $1,S7O,OOO,OOO in
Taxes on Nation
REPUBLICANS VOTE
AGAINST MEASURE

WASHINGTON. May 24.-The war
tax bill passed the House yesterday
afternoon by vote Of 329 to 70
AS finally agreed upon. after two
weeks OF debate, the measure is cal
culated to raise approximately $751;
100000. Outstanding features OF the
bill are the greatly increased income,
inheritances, excess profits, liquor and
cigar and tobacco taxes, virtual abo-
lition OF the present customs free list
and ten per cent. addition to exist
ing tariffs, new taxes on manufac-
turers, amusements, clubs, public
utilities and insurance. a far-reach-
ing stamp tax and greatly increased
second-class mail matter rate based
on the parcel post zone system.
In only four particulars does the
measure now differ substantially from
the original draft. Surtaxes on in
comes above $4,000 have been in
creased about one-fOurth above the
committee schedule. Several arti-
Giles, including print papers and pulp
and gold and silver slated for a ten
per cent. duty. have been kept on the
free list Slight reductions in the
second class mail matter rate have
been made. A proposed five per cent.
tax on all advertising except news
paper and periodical is eliminated.
i IL. laFF
the seventy-six votes cast against il
being Republican. Four members
voted present" one of whom was
Representative j. Hampton Moore. OF
Philadelphia. a member Of the Ways
and Means Committee, who refused
10 sign the committee report on the
bill when il was completed by the
committee.
AS the bill left the House for its
trip to the Senate, many members
were convinced il would be a greatly
changed measure when it is returned
10 the lower body The bill. as origi-
nally reported was designed 30 raise
Sl,810.000 900. and Secretary McAdoo
asked that an additional S415,0O0,000
be raised.
The adoption OF the Lenroot amend
ment increasing surtax on incomes
will add about S60.OO0,0OO TO the
committee bill The House eliminated
tho per cent tax on billboard. cleo
trio sign and street car advertisements
and other advertising devices. which
reduced the bill by about S7,500,O00
Another S6.O0000O was lost in tho
reduction OF the tax on express ship
mcnts from 10 to per cent
Refuse 10 RecOmmit Bill.
Republican Leader Mann led an
unsuccessful fight to recommit the
bill to the Ways and Means Commit
tee on the ground that il levied too
great tax and that a larger part OF
war expenses should be met by bonds.
The motion to recommit was defeat
cd 246 to 161.
The Lenroot income tax amendment
was approved on a record vote by 3ii TO
60. The iigh; of the Nisligan deiega-
tion for a l1-yer tax ON automobile fac
tories was lost on rollcnll vote. 233 TO
Ia. and tho committee nCposal for a
per ccat. levy on ths crCas turnover
of automobile ard Or Manufacturers
On rollcall, the House voted 255 to
1870 in favor vi The zone rate system Tor
second class mail matter which vas Of
fered rs a committee amendment last
night by Chairman kitchin. These rates
range from one tnl onc-third cents per
pound To SIX cents per pound and the
increases are to be puo in iE three
stages. the maximum ragas becoming ei-
fcctiye nest March. az Which time the
minimum rate will become ono and Cne-
half cents per pound in the first zone.
The fact that seyenty-siX members OF
the same House which since the break
with Germany has passed almost every
emergency measure without partisan
alignment. and virtually without oppO-
sition. went on record against the pass
ace of the first tax measure. was taken
TO indicate the inability Of the members
to accept the Workmanship which the
Ways and Means Committee displayed
IN framing the measure
1853 Republicans for Redrafting.
Realizing the tremendous feeling
against the measure, which even its an
thors on the Ways and Means Commit
tee have been unable to defend effect
lively Majority Leader Kitchin took the
foo:' in a final plea for the bill.
Waving aside the real ground for OPP
position 10 the measure-the fact that it
abounds in indefensiblc inequalities and
deliberate determinations. both as TO
classes and industries kitchin
strove with all the eloquence at his
command to swing the House solidly
behind tho measure on the proposition
that vote against the bill was vote
against aggressive prosecution Of the
war: that to vote against the Offering
Of twenty-five members of the Ways
and Means Committee would he tauta-
mount TO a population Of the war reso-
luton and the bond bill.
Throughout Mr.. Kitchin's address the
Republicans sat cold and mresponsivc-
and Kitchin was forced to look to the
Democrats for such measure of support
a. his efforts evoked