Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-07-31
FAVOR REPEAL Of
SOFT DRINK TAX
G. o. P. Members of House Ways
and Means Committee Out.
line Program

Washington, July T.-Repeal Of the
Canadian reciprocity act, the tax on soda
water and soft drinks, the reduction Of
the tax on fruit juices and protection
OF the tungsten, magnesia and pearl but
ton industries are proposals all approved
by republican members of the ways and
means committee. The democratic COM
mittee members objected to all the propo-
sitions.
Representative Young of North Dakota
filed the report with the House from the
committee favoring the repeal of the
Canadian reciprocity act. He explained
that provisions of the bill affecting wood
pulp and wheat which are actually in
operation we're re-enacted in the Under
wood tariff act, and hence are not af-
fccted by the repeal bill. The effect OF
the repeal bill is to take OFF the statute
hooks the measure which never was
operative. because of the failure Of Can
ada 10 enact similar legislation.
Democrats dissented to the removal OF
the soda water and ice cream tax, on
the ground that all consumption taxes
should be repealed at the same time and
then only If some other source OF rev.
enue is found The bills increa sing
tariff duties were objected to as con-
trary to democratic doctrine, the minor
ity members having agreed to support
propositions to protect war industries
only by an important license control OK
tending over limited period.
Republicans had not reached the point
of agreement on bill for the protec-
ton of the domestic dye industry, and
did not bring UP the subject in the meet
ing. They will hold further conference
! next Thursday. At present the oppo-
nents of dye import licensing plan
have sufficient strength to make 1t din
: cult for its supporters to count enough
republicans to make majority Of the
/ full committee.
The combination license and duty bill
dealing with dyes was reintroduced Satur-
day by Representative Longworth Of
! Ohio, with new provisions added specify
ing that the various trade organizations
which are authorized select the eleven
members of the proposed dye licensing
commission.
No action was attempted on the bill
industry because of a request for a hear
Ing on Monday at which a potash expert
Of the Bureau of Mines, who has just
returned from Europe, will appear.
| The committee discussed an anti
dumping bill as advocated by some of
the members of the tariff commission
and agreed to take action upon it next
week.
! The republican steering committee is
anxious to obtain action in the House
on the bill repeating the tax on soda
water and ice cream before the recess.
which is scheduled to start next Satur-
day. Considerable opposition has been
| expressed by republicans a we'll as demo.
Gratis. to the repeal of any of these
taos without providing another means OF
revenue. but the majority party leaders
intend to force favorable action if pos.
sibe
One of two of the other bills approved
by the ways and means committee may
be acted upon in the House next week
in order to swell the list of measures to
which the republicans can point as
achievements Of this Congress when they
return to their districts. The delay in
action by the committee on dye bill
mans that it will scarcely be possible to
put it through the House until afteer the
recess.
The fruit juice bill applies to grape and
loganberry juice. The tax on manufac-
turers Of these products is reduced from
10 per cent. of the sale price to cents
! per gallon. the claim being that the pres
ent law amounts to tax of from q
cents per gallon and is an excessive bur-
den on the industry.
Tho domestice tungsten industry was de.
T veloped during the war a means 81
! supplying this substance needed in the
: manufacturing of high-speed steel and for
other war purposes while magneste wal
needed for use in blast furnaces.
The pearl button bill restores duties for
! merly in the Payne-Aldrich tariff bill
: which were eliminated by the Underwood
4 act. 1t is said that 10000 workers are ef
: fected by this industry. which exists along
D the mississippi and other inland rivers