Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-06
BIG REVENUE BILL
HOLDSATTENT|ON
Eight Billion Measure Before
House and Senate Finance
Committees.
MAY PUT TAX ON COTTON

SoifS lHS d Ioldl VI So,uVV,ooV,VVV IL
was offered by Chairman Kitchin of
the ways and means committee as
providing the speediest method of
providing funds for successful prose-
cution of the war.
Mr.. Kitchin expected to take the
entire day in explaining. the various
features of the bill and in answering
questions and objections of members.
some of whom, in both parties, re-
served the right to vote independent
ly after giving it a favorable report
in committee.
The Senate finance committee at
the same time began hearings.
Will Not Obstruct Measure.
Representative Fordney of Mich
igan, ranking republican member of
the ways and means committee, does
not propose to obstruct the measure
because of the war and will offer no
amendments, but in speech answer
ing Mr.. Kitchin tomorrow, perhaps,
he will differ with the majority on a
number of amendments and call at
tention to the failure to provide for
raising any part of the war revenue
by tariff legislation
All the republican members, accord
ing to Representative Moore of Penn
sylvania. will support an amendment
to be offered by him providing for
a tax of SO a bale on cotton.
BY limiting debate, House leaders
! hoped to vote on the bill by the end
of next week, although the opinion
was expressed by many that as the
Senate might attempt to rewrite it.
it would not become law until after
i the November election.
Members Stand and Cheer.
At the request of Mr.. Kitchin the
first formal reading was dispensed
with and the majority leader stepped
! 70 his place before the Speakers dais
to make the opening statement, de-
scribing. in general the terms of the
great bill. He got a noisy and en-
| thusiastic demonstration from both
! sides OF the House ,l in recognition Of
of the ways and means committee and
the preliminary preparation of the
meaSu
There were scattered rebel wells
| from the democratic side and pro-
| longed applause from all over the
chamber, in which the republicans
/ joined unreservedly.
| Finally. as the applause drew to a
|
feet and some members cheered
Here's the BILL" declared the ma
| jority leader. holding aloft the sheaf
of pages which composed the volum-
nous measure, as he began his state
| ment, (which marks an epoch in the
| history of the world. 1t proposes the
| issue of s16,0O0,00O,000 in liberty
! bonds and to take from the people in
taxes more than sS,000,000, 900.
| mo other nation has ever contem-
plated or attempted such an under
! taking, but We believe that it can be
done and that it will be done without
can industry or without financially
| embarrassing a single Individual
i 'sNo Partisanship.
| There was no partisanShp in the
| meeting of the ways and means COM
| mittee; it was all patriotism. 1 could
not tell who were the democrats or
! who were the republicans. knew only
i twenty three patriots
! Eight billion dollars he con-
! tinued, lis twice as much as any ma
| ton since the beginning of time has
| people by taxation. and it is three
| times as much as the combined taxes
and bonds Of the entire evil war"
Mr.. Kitchin's declaration that he
| believed the committees schedule of
! taxes on business and individuals
| would result in no embarraSsmentS,
f., and particularly his statement that
| the tax schedules affecting business
| were not expected to overburden in
dustry and commerce, were greeted
| with applause.