New Britain herald., 1918-12-24
SIX BILLION TAX BILL PASSES
SENATE AFTER LONG DEBATE
Semi Luxury Provision Stan DIS, Those Eliminated By the
House Being Restored 10 Per Cent Cut On
Imposts-Bonus For Soldiers.

democrats -ASQurSt, bGckna
Chamberlain, Fletcher, Hitchcock,
Johnson IS D., Kendrick, King, Nc
Kellar, Martin (KyD, Nugent, Over
man, Phelan, Pollock, Pomerene,
Shafroth, Sheppard, TrammeH, Varda-
man. Kirby.-20.
Repu blicans - Borah, Cummlns,
Curtis, France, Gronna, Hale, Hard
ing, Johnson (Cal), kellogg, LaFol-
lette, Lenroot, McNary, Nelson, Norris,
Poindextcr, Weeks, Fernald.---18.
Total, So.
Senator Kenyon, of Iowa, opened
the debate on the committees action
in striking out the luxury tax. He ac-
cused the democrats of having depart
ed from the policies of all the former
leaders in congress by putting the
heaviest taxes on those who can least
; bear them
~ wish someone would tell me why,
when everything under the sun except
the air we breathe, is being taxed,
| these luxuries taxes are dropped" he
demanded.
The senator asserted that this was
the day in court of the wealthy con-
scriptionists." The revenue bill, as
drafted, he said, aimed at making
pay something like their share of war
tax.
Senator johnson, of California, said
that the senate finance committee had
swung around in its CONSUMPTION of
wealth to the attitude taken by the
radical elemen in congress a year ago
At that time, he said, II senator's of
whom nine were republicans and eight
{ov nf
per cent. on war profits. But the ma
jority of the senate looked askance''
at this minority and refused to put
the high tax in the measure.
Presidents Speech Is Quoted.
Senator Johnson refers to the
revenue speech of President Wilson to
congress in May of this year. in which
it was suggested that congress should
turn to war profits, incomes and
luxures for additional revenue. and
in which the president also stated
that the treasury department had
abundant evidence of profiteering.
Senator Lenroot asked If the senate
was to understand that the war
profits tax, as drafted by the Finance
committee, actually amounted to 80
per cent. Senator Kenyon, replying,
said the finance committee had given
that estimate itself.
Senator Simmons, chairman of the
finance committed insisted that there
had been no change of front on the
part of the committee as to taxing
war profits, but that the exigencies of
war made it necessary to put a bigger
yield in the pending measure than in
the existing one.
The senate adopted, "a to IS, with
only brief debate, an amendment of
Senator Thomas to put a 100 per
cent tax upon political contributions
in excess of $500. In urging the
amendment, Senator Thomas said
some legislation was needed to make
the corrupt practice act really opera
tive. AS it stood, he insisted, it was
of no avail in preventing huge expen-
ditures in campaigns
Dry Rider Affixed.
Senator Sheppard of Texas. selling
the opportunity to aff1x a prohibition
rider to a SENATE measure, offered an
amendment to the Reed bone dry
law so as to make it operative in tho
District of Columbia The District has
been dry" but not bone dry, since !
November /. The traffic from Balti-
more and Philadelphia had been ap-
preciable, Senator Sheppard said, and
the District police wanted to stop it.
but were powerless.
The vote, AZ to IS, by which the
amendment was put into the bill came
as a surprise to leaders. Many sena-
tors who had heretofore fought pro-
hibition voted with the dry forces.
If it stays no liquor may be brought
into the District of Column bia after
the bill goes into effect.
An amendment offered by Senator
Johnson of South Dakota to eliminate
the manufacturers sale tax on motor
tractors, trailers, and trucks from the
motor tax was adopted, 33 to Is. The
tax of 5 per cent. now embraced in
that section will apply only to auto
mobiles, motorcycles, and accessories.
The elimination of the tax on tractors,
traiers and trucks means a loss of
approximately $30,000.000 in revenue.
TIL etax left in the measure will yield
55,00O,00O
By viva voce the senate adopted
an amendment offered by Senator
Trammel, providing that to all SOL
diers and sailors discharged after
Nov. II be allowed an extra months
pay. This will involve an expenditure
of about $3.50, 100000.
Postal Rates Changed.
On a fina vote of Al to % the SEN
ate sustained its previous action In
approving the committee amendment
of the war revenue bill to repeal ex-
listing zone rates on second class mail
and substitute a rate of l cent q
pound within $50 miles and Ia
cents beyond.
The senate, without objection,
adopted the committees amendment
for taxation of inheritance in lieu or
the tax on estates as provided In the
house bill. The inheritance tax plan
proposes a graduated levy ranging
from l per cent on inheritances be-