The Butler weekly times and the Bates County record. (Butler, Mo.) 1918-1950, 1919-05-29
PRESIDENT TO FORCE
LUXURY TAX REPEAL

PRESIDENT TO FORCE
| LUXURY TAX REPEAL
Republican Responsibility for De-
feat Of Resembling Resolution.
Washington, D. -C.-President Viii
sons recommendation to Congress
to repeal the tax on Injuries will
compel the Republican majority to
rescind this part OF the revenue bill
which their iilibuster i'll the Senate
last March continued in effect in
spite Of Democratic efforts. Not
only will the Republicans now be
forced to abolish this tax, but they
will also be obliged to bear the re-
sponsibility for their deliberate re-
fusal to eliminate it.
This Recommendation from Presi-
dent Wilson anticipates what is
thought to have been the plan of the
Republican leaders-in particular
Senator Penrcse. Realizing that
their obstruction OF this repeal and
other even more vital legislation in
the filibuster had lett bad taste i'll
the mouth ci the public, these lead
ers were preparing to introduce a
bill to withdraw the tax and attempt
to take the credit This opportunity
has been denied them by the action
Of the President.
When Congress considers the re-
peal OF the luxury tax it will be DEM
onstrated to the satisfaction of the
public and to the confusion of the
Republicans that it was their fill
buster that perpetuated this charge
on business and the consumer. The
more the Republicans endeavor to
make capital out of the abolition of
the tax the more thoroughly the
people will he convinced that the OBJ
structive methods OF Republican Sem
ators were responsible Tor its having
renamed operative.
The facts indict and convict the
Republican leaders in the Senate of
responsibility for the failure of Con-
gress to withdraw this unnecessary
tax as we'll as for the failure to pass
many important bills for the conduct
of the Government.
While the revenue act OF 1913 was
under consideration, il was discov-
cred that it would be impracticable
to pass it without provision for the
so-called luxury tax, and this section
was not stricken from the bill III con-
ference. Senator Simmons and the
other Senate conierees would not,
however. accede to the retention OF
the provision until there was a gen.
eral agreement among the conferees
that it should be repealed by joint
resolution after the enactment of the
revenue bill.
The conierees OF the Senate and
the House. therefore, agreed that
immediately following the passage
OF the revenue act joint resolution
would be passed in both houses OF
Congress repeating that part OF the
measure providing Tor the imposi-
ton and collection OF luxury tax.
Accordingly. such resolution was
passed by the House OF Representa-
tives. and was sent to the Senate. 1t
would have been adopted also in that
branch OF Congress but for the fill
buster which the Republican Senators
started. continued and successfully
concluded by preventing the passage
not only OF this joint resolution but
other even more beneficial legisla-
ton.
Senator Penrose gave aid and conf
fort to this iilibuster. Senator Sim
mons. acting for the Democratic
members oi the Senate and for the
Committee on Finance, made earnest
efforts in the last hours of Congress
to obtain unanimous consent for the
consideration and passage of the res
olution-to which the Senate, through
its conferee>, stood committed. The
Republicans. including Senator Pen
rose, refused to halt their filibuster
and the resolution was defeated. In
consequence. the luxury tax remained
operative because of Republican OPP
position and in spite of Democratic
endeavors to repeal it.
All these facts. which are matters
OF record. will be related by Senator
Simmons the moment Senator Pen
rose undertakes to pose as the
champion OF the repeal. 1t will be
shown that the Republican filibuster'
and that alone was the cause of per-.
petuating an objectionable tax out OF
which Senator Penrose purposes to-
make little capital for his party. :,