The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-12-28

TO AMEND THE
POSTAGE SECTION FAILS
The Bill VIII Go to Conference
Immediately After Congress
Reasselnbles in January.

Washington, Dec. 23.-Without
record vote the senate late tonight
passed the war revenue bill, reduced
to raise about $4,000, 100000 in 1919
and $4,000, 900. 900 IN 1920. as ccEl-
pared with the levy Of ss.zg9. .0VG.F9o
for new year, proposed IL the oil pass
ed by the house three months ago.
When the final vote was taken at
1890 o'clock the senate had been IN
continuous session for nearly 3 hours.
| Immediately after the passage Of the
bill, the senate began its holiday va
cation under the plan for three day
recesses until January 2. Absence o.
quorum in the house, however, had
prevented that body from putting
similar program into effect
The revenue bill which had been be-
! fore the senate since December l.
I now goes to conference with formal
meetings Of the senate and house
mana gers planned TO begin January :
with the view to final enactment OF
the legislation next month. The SEN
ate conferees appointed tonight were
! Senator's Simmons Of North Carolina,
Williams Of Mississippi and Smith OF
Georgia. Der: ocrats and. Senators Pen
rose of Pennsylvania and Lodge CT
Massachusetts, Republicans.
Only g few scattering noes from
! the Republican SIDE marked the final
vote On the hill. The Republicans dc;
not seek another roll call on the bili's
! provisions fixing 1920 tax rates, and
no further votes were taken on the
luxury provisions reinsected today
with the rate fixed at 10 per cent. III
stead Of 30 per cent.
IL disposing finally of controverted
sections the senate tonight rejected, 80
to 6. the substitute bill Of Senator La
Toilette Of wisconsin which proposed
higher rates principally on war eX-
cess profits and individual income
surtaxes.
Another vote OF the second: class
postage. question also was taken and
the senate sustained. II to %, its pre-
vious action in favor Of the amend
nlent which would repeal the existing
zone rates on publications and sub
stitute a re- OF l cent pound
within $50 niles and IL cents {:
pound sond.
se- ral riders were added to the
,i.i, but no change in the finance
committees draft was made except
the reinstatement Of socalled luxury
taxes on q number Of articles costing
above fixed standards.
Among the riders adopted were
provisions for one months pay to
men discharged from the military es-
tablishment after signature Of the ar
naistice; extension Of the Reed bone
6r;- law to the District Of Columbia
land for 100 per cent. taxes On political
campaign contributions in excess CT
$500.
A change made in the automobile
tax section, provided for exemption O.
trucks, tractors and trailers, reducing
the bills estimated revenue yield
laoout S30,0o0,o00, but the reinsertlon
Of the luxury tax clause will result
n an estimated yield Of sS0,000,0o".
Senator Pomerene of Ohio offered
the motion to strike from tie bill the
committee amendment affecting sec
ond class postage rates. Senators
! ;oting 10 support his motion were:
Democrats: Becllham, Johnson CT
/ South Dakota, King, Ki-l3E'. Mcclellan,
! Martin Of Kentucky, Myers; Nugenr,
/ Pollock, Poraerene, Shafroth, Ssep-
pard. Smith Of Arizona. Thomas,
Tramnacn and Vardaman, 16.
/ Republicans: Grcnaa. Kenyon. La
Toilette. Lenroot Norris and Suther-
land. 6. Total %.
The senate held its first night ses-
Ision in months. in order to reach a
final vote on the war revenue Dill anu
begin q series of three day recesses
over the holidays. Many hours were
taken up with discussion and votes on
minor amendments including lcslsia~
tive riders.
Amendments adopted included one
by Senator Sheppard of Texas making
the Reed law prohibiting shipment OF
Intoxicating liquor into dry terri
tory apnIicable TO the District OF Co
!uml,ia and another by Senator IRAN
nell ct Florida providing for bonus
OF one months pay to all officers anc
enlisted men honorably discharged
from the nations fighting forces after
| November II.
TIE senate voted its first disapprov-
al of the revision CT the house pl-+
| Dy the finance committee when 1t re-
| inserted al Of the taxes on socailea
semi-luxuries except those Of wearing
apparel for men and women. Later
it voted to reduce the rate on semi
luxuries from 30 to 10 per cent.
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin,
Republican. made long address to
the senate tonight in support OF has
substitute bill which would raise
more than $4,000, 0G0. .oeo, chiefly
through increased yates on war excess
and surtaxeS. The Wisconsin senator
said be would take every dollar OF
war profit and all incomes a6ovc
enough TO enable the owner OF thc (.
income to support his family IN com
fort"
The senate rejected an amendmenr I
by Senator Pollock Of South Caroline I
extending Tie thanks Of congress -
the members Of the district and locai f
draft boards and authorizing the sec