New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-15
Members in House Turn
Against Section of
War Tax Bill
Publishers Tell
Senators of Burden
Proposed Increases Would
Force Many Publications
to Suspend, They Say

Washington, May 1i.-Opponents Of
the Ways and Means Committees pro-
posal greatly to increase postal rates
on newspapers and magazines showed
such a strength during debate on the
war tax bill to-day that it appeared
likely the postal section of the meas
/ ure would be one of the few to be ma
terially modified before passage.
The attack brought the first defec-
tion from the ranks Of the committee,
which had approved the bill unani-
| mously and whose members of both
parties have urged its passage un-
amended. Just before adjournment to-
night Representative Sloan, a Republi-
can committeeman, told the House that
while he would stand behind every
other provision in the measure. he
could not support postal increase
amounting TO a punitive expedition
against newspapers and magazines
Representatives Madden and McCor-
mick, of Illinois, and Meeker, of Mis-
souri,, Republicans. and Moon, of Ten
nessee, Democrat, and chairman of the
Postal Committee. Joined in the at
tack. which proceeded while a large
delegation Of publishers was telling the
Senate Finance Committee that enact
ment OF the proposed increases would
force many publications out of bust
ness.
General Debate Closes To-day
General debate in the House will
close at ! o'clock tomorrow, and q
final vote reached probably before the
end Of the week. The committee hopes
to put through most Of its proposals
without important amendment. for the
opposition has scattered its fire against
many individual sections. When the
measure goes to the Senate. however,
many changes are expected.
Representative Longworth made long
defence of the bill to-day, reiterating
that while there were some inequali-
ties, passage was necessary to give the
needed war revenue. He declared 95
per cent of the taxes proposed would
fall upon the wealthy or those of mod
crate means.
Representative Meeker predicted that
enactment Of the proposed postal in
creases would mean the end of national
circulation for daily papers. Repre-
sentative Madden denounced the new
tate schedule MS "the most unjust tax
ever imposed by q government.
Chairman Moon presented two amend
ments to cut down the proposed rates.
Representative Mccormick suggested
that the whole schedule should be re-
written so that the levies would fail
on publications in proportion to their
incomes.
Mccormick also criticised the income
tax section of the bill, and declared the
proposed excess profits taxes were OPP
pressive and unjust. lie predicted that
the measure as a whole would work i'm
measurable harm to industry.
Protests Before Senate Committee
Spokesman for newspapers and Pc
radicals, large and small and from all
parts of the country, addressing the
Senate Finance Committee, assailed as
unreasonable and confiscatory the war
revenue bill provision which would
create a zone system with greatly in
creased rates for second class mail
matter. They declared if the measure
went into effect many publications
would be compelled to suspend.
Don c. Seitz, Of "The New York
World" representing the American
Newspaper Publishers Association, said
the proposed increase was not war
tax, but an effort to further repress
and embarrass the newspaper indus
try" He told the committee there al
ready had been big slump in business,
which, If IL continued, would paralyZe
the newspapers.
The publishers. he added, were not
seeking special fayors, but wanted TO
be placed on the same level with people
engaged in other business.
Mr.. Seitz showed that the postal rate
proposed is an Increase of from 100 to
600 per cent.
1T is out OF proportion to the value
of service performed" he said, sub
hitting a table showing that it would
add total annual expense TO "The New
York Times" alone of S252,s7S90.
I'VE are not here to ask any special
favor" he said. What we want you TO
do is to let us keep the COW; you can
have the milk.
Willing TO Aid Government
"lf the government wants every cent
OF our profits, you can have them" he
said. adding that the papers were will
ing to assist the government, but not
willing TO make up for any deficiency
in the postal department. He said adj
vertising was falling off since the in
PRODUCTION Of the bill, advertisements