The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-04-23
Says Steering Commit
tee Would Place Bur-
den On the Poor.
PROPOSES TAX ON
RETAIL SALES
I'm Addition Would Inn
pose Tax On Real Es-
tate Sales and Tobacco
Products.
BvWINDER r. HARRIS.

Universal Service STAN GORE
spondent.)
Washington, April 22.-Mil-
Honaire members controlling
the Republican steering com
mittee of the house were
charged today with attempting
to force through legislation to
raise revenue for a soldier
bonus in such form as to pro-
tect the rich and place the
burden on the poor.
The charge was made In a vehement
Rainey. OF Illinois, democratic mem
Der of the ways and means COMMITTEES,
which is framing the soldier aid bill
He is the leader on the minority side
in the move for a retroactive tax on
swollen war fortunes TO raise the
1onus revenue,
You are going to yield to Wall
street AMI the rich of this country and
mrosa the tax they propose" Mr..
Rainey declared. And once this sales
tax Ia imposed, the country viii never
get rid OF It. because the rich want
10 escape taxation on the immense war
fortunes they are now enjoying.
THE eTsOvEy H0nr.
oh. You cannot help IL. In times
such as this the clovsn hoof must
appear as II always has appeared and
always will.
We propose 10 tax the war oroats
20 raise the revenue to pay tbs sell
diers bonus. But under sa'as tax
plan. the boys and their families and
friends would pay one-f fourth OF the
cost of the bonus. In your manifest
desire 10 protect the war fortunes Of
tire rich, you propose to give the SOL
diers bonus with one hand and with
the other take away 25 per cent of IL"
Mr. Rainey said the Republican plan
was to prevent by parliamentary ma
neuver any consideration of amend
ments providing for tax on the war
fortunes He denounced this plan as
an attempt to make n partisan Issue
Of the bonus question which would pat
the Republicans in the position of Of
fertng to buy the soldiers votes for
bonus money.
Mr. Rainey said the Democrats re-
be.led against the proposal OF the
"n,iliionaire steering committee" to en-
force the bonus bin down the threats
VI the members of this house" without
In opportunity to offer amendments
The members OF the steering com
ritttee referred to as millionaires were
Representatives Dunn, of New York;
Madden. Of Illinois; Longworth. OF
Ohio. and winslow. of Massachusetts
Three Republican members OF the ways
and means committee. he added. also
are miilionaires.
ISSUES CHALLENGE
Challenging these members to sub
init along with their Democratic col
leagues to an investigation OF their
1914 incomes and income tax returns
durrg the war per Cd. he said the re-
suits would show the soldiers and
their friends why you plan to force
your bin down the threats OF the peo-
pie without amendment"
Receiving the assurance of Mr.
Rainey that the only point At issue in
the bonus legislation was the method
of raising the revenue Representative
Johnson. OF South Dakota. leader 81
the Republican insurgents, asked 1.-THE
Democratic leader. Champ Clark, would
he willing to reach an agreement with
the insurgents on plan for opposing
the sales tax and favoring a war profits
tax.
II will be very glad to give the gem
tieman that assurance" Mr.. Clark re-
piled. There Is not Democrat In
this house who will not vote for this
proposition"
Republicans on the ways and means
committee announced tentative
agreement on the following provisions
of the revenue section of the bonus
bill:
THE PLAN.
1. A final retail sales tax on conf
modities of one per cent designed to
raise $3.50. 100000
g. A tax Of one per cent of real estate
nj oil
900 to $50. 900 900
The committee also is considering
and expects to agree on:
l. Additional tax on tobacco products
averaging about 12 per cent. expected
to raise about $4,000. 600
2. tax on all Stock Exchange
transactions of 100 per cent OF the
brokers' commission. IT is estimated
that this tax will produce 5000, 00o.ooo.
8. An increase OF 2 per cent in sur
taxes on incomes of more than $4,000
or 10000. the amount not yet having
been determined upon. The revenue
expected from this source Is estimated
at 100000. 900
These taxes would continue for two
years but the soldiers would be paid
quarterly with one year. Treasury GER
tihcates OF Indebtedness would be soti
10 raise the revenue immedi ately need
ed. to be retired as the taxs come in
II Is estimated that $500, 900, 600 will
be required 70 pay the propesd bonus
be required to pay the proposed bonus.
tor tonight was postponed until Fri
day night. April 80. In the meantime
the w1y1 and means COMMITTEES ex-
pects 10 have IT. bill ready Tor con-
ssAssafsen. Is Vii - cailsA NJ n the