Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-08-19
BANK CHECK TAX CLAUSE
ELIMINATED IN SENATE
Provision Inserted by Finance Com.
mittee Struck Out by Vote
Of 3S to %.
ONLY FEW SECTIONS TAKEN UP
Gore Would Prevent Expending Any
Money Raised From Bill I'm Trans
porting Men TO Europe Who Have
Not Volunteered for Such Service.
IBy A.sociated Press. !

WASHINGTON, August 1s.-In dis
posing of minor disputes of the war
tax bill. the Senate to-day. by vote
OF 3s to %. struck out the provision
inserted by the Finance Committee for
l-cent stamp tax on bank checks.
drafts and certificates of deposit. de-
signed to raise S1O.0o0.0oO in revenue.
a tribute to the late Senator Kern
was then paid by Senator New, and
upon his motion the Senate recessed
until Monday.
Elimination of the bank check tax
clause was the first reverse the FL
nance Committees revision had met in
the Senate. Opposition to the levy was
based primarily on fear that it would
decrease bank deposits and use of
banking facilities.
Only few sections were considered
at to-day's short session. Next week
the important income, war profits and
publishers tax provisions will be dis
cusscd. with the hope of passing the
bill by Saturday night.
An amendment by Senator Under
wood. providing that war increases in
postage rates shalln not he the basis Of
increasing any postmaster's compensa-
ton. was adopted.
Senator Hardwick read a statement
from the Post-Office Department. in
which it was pointed out that the
burden of a parcel post tax would fall
principally on the farmers who receive
the most benefit from the system. SEN
ator Smoot declared he thought it was
very small thing for the Post Office
Department to object to the imposition
OF 1-cenf ha
OF a package"
TAN WOULD DISCOURAGE
AND CURTAIL DEPOSITS
The proposed tax on bank checks and
drafts was opposed by Senators Smoot,
Underwood. Gronna, Hardwick, Over
man. Norris and others. Their princt-
pal objection was that such q tax would
discourage and curtail bank deposits.
1T is bad public policy" said Sem
ator Underwood. ut is not a tax on
wealth. but on a facility OF business"
Senator Hardwick said every Geor-
Sia banker has objected to the tax
because it might decrease deposits. He
declared it "vexatious and irritating"
An amendment to prevent expanding
any money raised from the bill in
transporting men to Europe who have
hol NoiuntccFeu' Tor Such service was
introduced to-day by Senator Gore.
The Oklahoma Senator said his object
was to conserve American man power.
The amendment was passed over with !.
out action.
Senator Gore takes the position that
as this country is looked to to supply
the money and keep the equipment
moving. the other allies should furnish
the greater part OF the man power.
He says China. for instance, could
spare millions of men and not feel it,
whereas she could do very little to keep
the great war industries in full swing.
Russia and other allies are in the same
situation, he held. while Japan had
kept her men at home and contributed
only to munitions and equipment. y
My principal object" asserted the
Senator, lis to stimulate both conser-
walton and efficiency.
AMENDMENT REPRESENTS
WISHES OF CONSTITUENTS
Senator Gore. comes from state
where many of the antidraft disturb
ances occurred. He declared that his
amendment represented? tho wishes lof
many OF his col stftuents d ,s.sf Z, r.