Evening star., 1921-11-05
SENATOR DEMANDS
SECRETARY MELLON
GIVE Up TREASURY
La Toilette Charges Him With
Unfair Attitude on "TaxIng
of Wealth."
CLASHES WITH PENR0SE
IN SHARP SENATE DEBATE
Asserts Mr.. Mellon Has Openly
Said Wealth Could Not Be
Made to Share Burden.

Made to Share Burden.
Retirement of Secretary Mellon as
''the fiscal head of the government"
was demanded in the Senate today by
Senator LaFollette, republican. Wis
consin, because of the attitude which
the Wisconsin Senator said the Treas
ury head held toward "the taxation
of wealth" Mr. LaFollette asserted
that Mr.. Mellon had openly and
brazenly" declared that wealth could
not be made to bear it's share of the
burden of government.
The Wisconsin senator said that the
Treasury head had laid down his
views as a proposition and the
Secretary's statement concerning the
refusal of wealth" to bear its share
of the taxes made it appear that the
government revenEe must be raised
from the small taXpaycrs\if the atti-
tude of MIR. Mellon was to prevail.
accepted the Challenge"
Senator LaFollette SAID he accept
cd the challenge" of Secretary Mel
Ions statements that wealthy taXpay-
ers had found an woull find dozens
of ways" to evade their taXes.
Lesscning of taxes on wealth. Sena-
tor 1-aFollette declared vigorously is
to he one of the issues of the next
congressional campaign, which, lie
said, the bill supporters would have
TO meet.
The Wisconsin senator clashed with
Senator Penrose. republican, Pennsyl-
vania. when the latter defended Sec
retary Melons statements as to eva
sion of taxes. Senator Penrose said
all prominent economists agreed
with Mr.. Mellon when indicated by
hysteria or swayed by demagoguery."
suggests He "keep Seat"
1T is not necessary for. the chair
man Of the. committee (Mr. Penrose)
TO spew his comments about dema-
goGuery." Senator La Toilette retort-
ed. sharply, suggesting that Mr.. PEN
rose keep his seat"
The declaration regarding Mr.. Mel
Ion was made by the Wisconsin SEN
amendment to the tax bill providing
that all tax returns be made matters
of record for public inspection. He
asserted that If what Mr.. Mellon had
said were true the amendment he
proposed would make 'all OF the big
ones come through. for they wouldn't
dare take; a chance of having their
neighbor come in and show up their
tax evasion"
1.-THE security Of property" he con-
tinued. rests on each parcel bearing
its just share of the tax burden. the
upkeep of the government. The time
has come, it seems to me. when all
should know how, or be privileged to
know how. each taxpayer assesses
himself"
Amendments Taken Up.
Recovering at 10 o'clock today.
after a rest of only nine hours. the
Senate took up amendments of Sena-
tor Lafolette. republican. Wisconsin,
The first of Senator Lafollette's
amendments. requiring taxpayers to
list their tax free securities with their
income tax returns, was adopted 80
TO II. Senator Lafollette said it was
designed to tabulate those who paid
and those who shirked taxes
Unanimous Consent Agreed On.
y unanimous consent agreement
limiting debate on the tax revision
bill beginning today was reached at
i o'clock this morning by the SEN
ate after a continuous session of thir-
teen hours. An earlier effort to fix
definite time for final vote on the
bill failed.
Under the agreement, amendments
by Senator La Toilette. republican, of
Wisconsin. will be taken up at 10
am. today, and is to be disposed of
bonus amendments will follow and
must be disposed of by midnight.
Recessing then, the Senate would
meet at 10 am. Monday. and after
that hour no senator would be per-
mitted to speak for more than ten
the bill itself.
Republican leaders were hopeful
that the bill might be passed Monday
night.
Auto Tax Repeal Fails.
An unsuccessful effort was made
last night by Senator Townsend, re-
publican. Michigan, to have the per
MT
wagons repealed The Senate voted,
36 to 81. against reconsideration of
the committee amendment proposing
to continue this tax.
Without record vote the Senate
adopted an amendment by Senator
Jones. democrat, New Mexico. requir-
Ing corporations in making out their
income tax returns to show the divi-
dends declared during the year for
which the return is made.
AS the night session wore on little
progress was made on the bill, the
Senate chamber at times being almost
deserted, and when quorum calls
failed to get results the sergeant at
arms going out to round up abb
Income Tax Amendment Fails,
Without discussion the Senate re-
tected the amendment of Senator
Harris. democrat. proposing to tax
political campaign contributions of
more than 800. 1t also rejected an
amendment by Senator Trammell,
democrat. Florida, which would have
provided that individuals borrowing
money to purchase liberty bonds
could deduct the interest on such
loans from their net income, only in
case they bought the bonds at par.
Just before midnight, the Senate
rejected. 80 to 80. an amendment Of
fered by Senator Trammell proposing
to increase the normal exemptions
of both single men and heads of
small families with small incomes
when rs per cent of such incomes
resulted from their personal effort.