Great Falls tribune., 1921-11-02
CANVASS SHOWS
c. 0. ?. IS READY
To BACK SM00T
Quiet Campaign Has
Been Bringing Votes
to Sales Tax Advocates
Many of Luxury Tax
Items Are Strickened
From Present Bill.

Washington, Nov. /. - (By
The Associated Press) Sales
tax proponents in the senate
claimed Tuesday night to have
close to the necessary major.
ity to put through one Of the
three alternate plans offered
by Senator Smoot, Republican
Utah, as a substitute for the
miscellaneous excuses contain.
ed in the pending tax revision
bill.
Canvasses Of the senate
made Tuesday night while the
luxury and nuisance taxes
were under debate were said to
have shown at least half of
the total Republican member
ship prepared to support the
sales tax. Senator Smoot claim
ed also a number of Demo-
cratic supporters.
Those behind the Smoot plan said
their calculations Tuesday night gave
assurance of not less than AZ Repub-
licans and three Democrats, or only
four short Of majority of the senate
Counting the number of senators now
in Washington, they claimed to have
close to enough votes to carry them to
victory.
A more official. but incomplete cam
vnss Of the Republican membership
showed % for the sales tax and only
seven against. with five doubtful.
Quiet Campaign
Sales tax advocates have been con-
ducting quiet but earnest campaign in
the senate for several days This was
followed Tuesday night by a charge
from Senator King, Democrat, Utah.
that the tax bill was being stripped of
the miscellaneous excises with view
to making a sales tax more logical.
This was denied by Senator penrose,
Of Pennsylvania. in charge of the bill,
forward a sales tax. He assured the
senate that if even all the items pro
posed for repeal went out of the bill.
there would be Il margin Of $1O.0OO,OOO
between the government income and
outgo.
I he sales tax discussion was accept
ed notice Of the fight that is to come
when Senator Smoot brings up his pro-
Dosal for such tax. probably on
Thursday. The senator introduced two
modified and alternate sales tax plans. |
One proposes ] per cent levy on all
manufactured goods where sales exceed
$4,000 year, and the other proposes
Il general turnover tax of one half of
one per cent where the sales exceed |
$4,000
Senator Smoot had previously Of |
fercd an amendment providing for !
general manufacturers sales tax of 8 |
per cent with certain exemptions, this |
to be in lieu Of all the miscellaneous |
taxes. His new plans would replace
many Of the miscellaneous excises and
would provide for 10 per cent tax
on corporations in place Of the Is per !
cent rate tentatively agreed upon by
the senate.
Pass Up Bonus Bill
1t is understood to be Senator
Smoot's plan to offer his amendments
one by one with the view Of testing
senate sentiment on each of the three
proposals.
The senate confined its operations
almost strictly to the subject
matter in the bill, renewal of the SOL
diers bonus fight being deferred until
Wednesday.
Luxury and nuisance taxes stricken
from the bill Tuesday and Tuesday night
by the senate, included those on arti-
c1es made of fur, toilet soaps and soap
powders, tooth and mouth washes.
dentifrices, tooth paste, toilet powders
md petroleum oil, electric fans. thermos
and fhermostatic bottles and photograph
and accessories.