The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-18
HOUSE ACCEPTS
 TAX AMENDMENT
 ON LARGE INCOMES
Republican Minority Override Harding's Wishes and Join Democrats in Supporting
 Senate Bill
By AssocInted Pres.

Washington, November 17.-Disre- garding the expressed wish of Presi . dent Harding, the House voted today 20l to 173 to accept the Senate amendment to the tax revision bill fixing the maximum income surtax rate at 50 per cent on incomes of $200.000 or more.
 Ninety-four republicans, most of them from the middle and far west. joined the practically solid democrat ic minority in supportinf the amend ment. Announcement of the result brought applause from both sides of .he chamber with some of the demo- crats breaking into cheers.
 Three hours before the vote was taken the House listened to the read ing of a letter from President Hard ing to Chairman Fordney of the ways and means committee suggest Ing that the House and Senate com promise. The executive said he still believed the original House rate of 32 per cent was nearer to a just levy, and the more promising one in re- turns to the public treasury, but that in view of the legislative stua- tion he thought 1t wholly desirable" that there be q compromise at 40 per cent.
 Immediately after 1t became known that the President had written MT. Fordney, spok for the "insur- gent" republicans said the letter would not effect the result. They had claimed q total of 93 republican votes. or one less than was cast for the amendment. Among the majority members suppoHting the amendment were Chairman Campbell of the rules committee, Representative Green of Iowa, ranking republican on the ways and means committee, and Chairman Haugen of the agriculture committee.
 This vote settled the biggest issue between the House and Senate on the tax revision bill and the managers from the two houses will resume their sessions tomorrow with the hope of reaching an agreement on the bill by Saturday night. If this hope Is realized, the measure probably will be sent to the President before the end of next week.
 Tn intervention of the President in the tax revision fight--the second since the ways and means commit tee began drafting the measure three and half months ago--followed d visit to the White House early to- day of Representative Mondell Of " yOIfllHBs lIt iCPubiit1H ichNcA Ai the House. The President then sum moned Chairman Fordney and Repre- sentative Longworth of Ohio, of the ways and means committed. and ex- pressed his views on the surtax. These were supplemented by letter to Mir. Fordney
 During the three hours debate in the House, which was conducted un- der a special rule, the President was attacked for writing MT. Fordney. Representative Frear, republican, Wisconsin, said the Presidents inter- vention lat the last minute was unfair and unjust" and that he should have made known his views to the Senate when the 50 per cent rate was under consideration there.
 Representative Garner, democrat. Texas, declared that if the President had views to submit he should have done so in person or in message to the House. rather than in letter to member of the body.
 Representative Sinnot. republican, | Oregon declared that he "grieved be- cause the President had given bad advice on this subject"
 Supporting the Presidents stand, Representative Mondell and other re- publican spokesmen said the repub- Iican party had promised to reduce taxes and that the 50 per cent rate should not he approved by the House.