The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1919-02-13
SIX BILLION WAR
BILL ADOPTED
Measure Speeded Up as u Means
si,7OO,OOo, 900 More Rev.
enue From Protiteers.
HOUSE VOTE IS $40 TO II.
senate Passes s4oo, ooo. 900 Post once
Appropriated and Provides
Tor Ministers Of New
NationA
HOUSE VOTE IS $40 TO II.

Washington. Congress made con-
siderable progress In clearing up its
legislative program with the following
action:
The house, by q vote OF $40 to ii,
adopted the conference report OF the
$4,000. 100000 revenue bill,
The senate, without a record vote,
passed the post Office appropriation
BIN, carrying 100000 and proyid-
Ing for road building In the next three
years.
The Senate Appropriation Commit
tee, AT the request OF President VIII
son, made provision In the diplomatic
and consular bill for ministers TO the
new Czechoslovak nation and 10 Po-
land.
Chairman Lever introduced a bill
appropriating si,000,0o0.0o0 TO main
tain the governments guarantee for
the 1918 and 1919 wheat crops. Chair
man Dent announced the House Mill
tary Committee had completed the
$500, 100000 army appropriation bill.
The adoption by the house OF tho
conference report on the revenue bill
followed five hour perfunciory dis
cussion, most Of which was devoted to
explaining the differences between the
measure as II passed the house ana
was changed by the senate. one or
two members voiced protest against
alleged extravaganza In the expendi-
ture of government funds, others
sounded note of caution against reck-
less expenditure, but not dissenting
voice was heard upon the proposition
that this bill Is necessary In order to
meet expenditures incurred IN conse-
quence Of the war.
The measure wnl be brought up In
the senate, where 1t Is believed II will
be approved after short debate. The
signature of the President will await
his return from Paris. Meantime the
treasury department is preparing
forms to be sent out for making up
returns and the actual collection OF the
revenue will begin March ID.
The principal speech on the bill was
made by Representative kitchin, Dem
ocrat, chairman OF the Ways and
Means Committee. He announced ut
the outset that. while he thought the
bin was an improvement over the
measure as 1t passed the house, he be-
lieyed II was mistake 10 reduce the
revenues below the original figure OF
So, 00O,000,0O0.
When he told the members that an
agreement had been reached by him
and Senator Simmons, Democrat, OF
North Carolina 10 put through JOINT
resolution repeating the luxury taxes
he was applauded by the house.
Mr.. Kitchln charged there had been
a propaganda to defeat the bill and
have taxes levied under the existing
law. This attempt he denounced In
seycrest terms.
IF we were to levy taxes now under
the existing law" said Mr.. KItchin,
ut would mean a clear gift to war
profiteers of $l,TO0,0O0,00O During
the three years Of the war Industrial
concerns have made profit of $12,-
000,0O0000. The defeat of this bill
would mean that the United States
Steel Corporation would be freed from
paying $l65,0000O0 In taxes; that the
companies In the Standard OH Trust
would evade $20,000,000 In taxes; the
Bethlehem Steel Company eyade $780,
100000 and the four great packing
houses $4,000, 900. because that Is the
difference between what they will pay
In taxes on this bill and what they
would pay under existing law"
Mr.. Kitchin predicted that the bond.
I'd Indebtedness Of this country will
reach $4,000. 10000, and stated that
N his opinion Congress will be asked
Tor legislation authorizing another
pond issue later In the next Congress.