Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-01
NEbRASKANS IN
DISCUSSION OF
LUXURY TAXES
Jatferis and Evans ..,ropound
Pertinent Questions Dur
ing Debate Upon Re-
pea|ing Bill.

Representatives Jefferis and Evans
Nebraska, tested the acoustics OF
he hall Of house today by address
ng a number OF pertinent interrog-
tories to Chairman Fordney of the
ways and Means committee during
consideration of the bill to rcpeal
the so-called luxury tax in the rev.
enue act of 1918.
Both Nebraska members were &C.
corded not only a most respectful
hearlng on the part of the chairman
OF the committee and the house
membership, but showed little trep-
idation in their first public utter
ances on the floor.
Predicating his questions on the
loss of $l00,0C0,000 upon the partic-
ular taxes involved in section oO4 of
the revenue BILL if these taxes
should be repealed, Mr.. Jefferis asked
the chairman how the lost revenue
was going to be made up. The
chairman confessed that he did not
know.
Mr.. Jefferis then asked what per
cent of the total population was
paying the luxury taxes and Mr..
Fordney replied that the tax had
not proceeded far enough to permit
an answer to the question. Then
Mr.. Jefferis capped the climax of
his questions by asking what it was
costing to collect the tax. On this
Mr.. Fordney could throw no light.
Evans Asks Questions.
Representative Evans interrogat-
cd the chairman of the Ways and
Means committee along somewhat
similar lines to that pursued by Mr..
.}efferies, asking whether or not the
Ways and Means had made any
provision to raise $l00,000,000, in the
event the so-callcd luxury tax was
repealed.
Chairman Fordney replied that it
could not be done except through
an import tariff bill, which, he said,
would be presented to congress
within a few months. Pending the
introduction of this bill the treasury
would be minus that amount of
revenue.
Both Jefferis and Evans through
their questions indicated that they
were not at all satisfied with the re-
peal bill. affecting as it does sec
ton in the revenue law that touches
the pocket books of the rich, and
does not reach the great middle
class who do not purchase trunks
over $50 in value, travelling bags,
valses, etc, at SIS each, pocket
books at $3.50, lamp shades at SIS.
smoking jackets at $3.50, mems
and womens' pajamas in excess of
IS each, kinlonos at SIS each, fans
ST., mems and boys hats S.. mems.
women's, misses and boys shoes,
pumps and slippers at $40 per pair.
Representative Mclaughlin, who
was satisfied to listen to the maiden
questions of his colleagues. Jeffris
and Evans, rather than get into the
debate himself, said that the repeal
of section o04 of the revenue law
alone was i'll advised, but instead,
the Ways and Means committee
should have included all the sections
-elating to the so-called compensa-
ton taxes, including the taxes on
soda waters and proprietary arti-
cles. That so far as he was concern
ed he would vote against the bill
unless it was amended to repeal the
tax on hundreds of little things that
had become almost a necessity to
the people.
After a conference between SEN
ator Kenyon of Iowa and parties
,oncerned in the bill relating to
ackers, it was stated today that
provision for the establishment of
public markets for the sale of meats
and meat products will be one of the
leading features of the measure that
will seek to control the packing in
dustry.
Tho bin will be introduced in the
senate the coming week and will be
actively pressed. 1t is much changed
from the original bill introduced by
Senator Kendrick, Wyoming, being
made more drastic.
Packers will be divorced from
their holdings in stock yards and
refrigerator cars, while the license
provisions will be greatly frightened.
Under the marketing feature"
said Senator Kenyon, "any city or
community in Nebras ka, for in
stance, could get permission to con-
duet one or more public markets to
handle meat and meat products"
One of the arguments urged for
the bill is the need for reduction in
the cost of living. The Consumers
league. it stated, will actively sup
port the measure.
Ann,,,l Erc,,rnroontof