South Bend news-times., 1918-09-20
TAX BILL READY
FOR FINAL VOTE
War Revenue Measure to
Raise Eight Billion DOL
lars Completed.


cepting only a roll call on final
passage tomorrow and disposal Of
two minor amendments. the $4,000, =
100000 war revenue bill, which has
been in the making since last May,
was completed today by the house.
The measure as IL Will go TO the
senate contains practically no modi-
fication Of the major taxes on in
comes, war profits and luxuries as
drafted by the house ways and
means committee. With senate
consideration Of the house draft TO
begin Immediately. Sec'y McAdoo
today issued a statement that the
treasury department would not ask
at present for any increase in the
bills 100000 tax levy. An
increase, Mr.. McAdoo stated, would
be unwise and unnecessary. He
added that future conditions would
determine the question OF increased
taxation.
The vote on final passage is ex-
pected soon after the house con-
venes and action has been taken
on the two unfinished amendments
extension 20 potash mines of de-
pletion allowances provided for oil
and gas wells and mines and a pro-
posal by Rep. Good OF Iowa TO ex-
tend to all men in the military ser
vice the $4,000 income tax exemp-
tion provided in the bill, but now
limited to those overseas. Reading
Of the bulky bill Of 100 pages was
finished late today.
Make Many Changes.
In Thursdays consideration of the
bill, besides defeat of proposals for
a tax Of s3 a bale on cotton, the
child labor amendment Of Rep.
Green of Iowa and a proposal TO
repeal the present mixed flour tax
and regulations, the house made a
number OF important changes, but
none without sanction of the ways
and means committee.
Changes proposed by the commit
tee and adopted by the house in
cluded:
Extension of the business license,
or occupation tax Of SO annually,
TO persons engaged in any trade,
business or profession" whose gross
receipts exceed S2.5OO with an ad-
ditional $50 tax for wholesalers.
Elimina tion Of the so-called taxi
cab tax, (which levied five per cent
on gross receipts Of persons operat-
ing three or more automobiles for
hire, other than sightseeing ma
chimes.
Elimination of duplicating and
adding machines from the list OF
semi-luxuries taxed 10 per cent.
Soft Drink Tax 90 Per Cent.
A provision making the tax on
soda fountain and soft drink re-
tailers. effective Nov. 1 next. This
tax is two cents on each 10 cents
Of sales OF soda water. ice cream
and similar articles.
A provision changing the tax on
toilet soap and powder from one
cent on retailers sales of 10 cents
or fractions to a 10 per cent levy
on manufacturers or importers
sales.
A new amendment eXempting en-
tertainments for soldiers and sail
ors from amusement admission
taxes
The cotton tax proposed by Rep.
Moore Of Pennsylvania, after a
heated discussion between the au-
thor and Rep. Rainey Of Illinois
and members from southern states,
was ruled out on point Of order
made by Rep. Crisp OF Georgia,
after a similar amendment TO tax
cotton used in textiles had been de-
feated. 100 to 2S on a rising vote.
Abandon Steel Proposal.
Rep. Saunders, Virginia, presid-
ing. held the cotton tax proposal
not germane 10 the bill under house
rules. with the result that Rep.
SABBATH OF Illinois abandoned his
proposal 10 tax steel and steel
products
The child la Dor and mixed -four
were ruled out on
points OF order, as was another by
Rep. Moore TO create a congress
sional committee 10 supervise war
expenditures. which Pres't Wilson
has opposed.
BY the close votes Of 129 TO 122
and 115 10 105 the house. with dem
ocrats and republicans almost sol
idly aligned in respective oppOsi-
tion and support. rejected an
amendment by Rep. Esch OF Wis
consin. republican, to require clerks
and employees OF the new advisory
tax board authorized in the bill. TO
be civil service appointees. An
amendment by Rep. Borland Of
Missouri democrat, 20 make the
board permanent was defeated
Proposals TO tax bin board, street
car and similar advertising and for
exemption OF estates Of persons in
the military service from taxes on
their estates, both by Rep. Tread
way OF Massachusetts. were with
drawn.
An amendment by Rep. Hollings-