New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-28
Tax Bill Up in
Senate; Sharp
Fight Forecast
Simmons Says ''Sweeping
and Radical" Changes
Will Be Sought; Hints at
Approval of Sales Levy
Lenroot to Tilt Surtax
Measure Attacked as Most
ssHorrible and Unjust
Ever Offered i'm Chamber

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27.-Tax revi-
SION legislation was put under way to-
day in the Senate, with Indications az
oltter hight to come over the more
important provisions of the measure
reported by the Finance Committee.
Notice was given by Senator Sim
mons, of North Carolina, ranking mi.
nority member of the committee. that
sweeping and radical ammdme nts'
would be offered by the Democrats. and
he added that if the sponsor for the
manufacturers sales tax would accep,
those amendments serious considera-
ton would be given to such sales
tax as part of the Democratic scheme
provided such a levy should prove
necessary in order to raise the needed
revenue.
Objections to specific sections of the
bill came from the Republican as we'll
as the Democratic side of the chamber
and Senator Lenroot. of Wisconsin, a
Republican member of the agricultural
bloc proposed amendments to the in
come surtaX provision under which ex-
,sting rates would be continued up to
SO per cent on incomes exceeding
800, 600, with an alternate proposal of
so per cent levy on incomes of from
100000 to 100000, and a so per cent
rate on those above 100000.
Some Changes Agreed On
By taking the bill up under an agree
ment to accept uncontested committee
amendments to the original House
y,1o ba 49, - 4 IL
progress on proposed changes to some
of the administrative features. None
of the levy provisions was passed
upon, however, objection being made IN
each case. Consideration of the bill
under this same agreement will be coil
tInued tomorrow, and Senator Penrose
IN charge of the measure, gave notice
that he would seek to have the Senate
meet an hour earlier each day in order
to expedite the legislation.
In offering objections to some phases
of the bill, Senator Simmons told the
Senate it was his judgment that in
enacting peacetime tax laws it would
be better for the Senate ito strike out
boldly on new lines instead of tinker
ing with and trying to repair machine
stances and conditions" He declared
the bill in its present form was "the
most horrible and unjust proposition OF
taxation that has ever been presented
in this chamber"
The amendments to be offered by the
Democrats, Senator Simmons continued
would be designed to produce some
thing like uniformity of taxation be-
tween the different classes and groups
of taxpayers in this country, and will
remedy some of the class discrimina-
tons which reek throughout the bill
Provisions Still Unsettled
Important provisions of the bill
passed over to-day for future consider
alton included those reducing the sur
tax rates to 80 per cent, increasing the
income tax on corporations from 10
per cent to Is per cent, taxing life in
surance companies, granting additional
exemptions to heads of families having
incomes of $4,000 or less and on account
of dependents, defining foreign trade
and foreign trade corporations, ex-
emption from the corporation tax OF
labor, agricultural or horticultural or
CARNATIONS, mutual savings banks not
having capital stock represented by
shares, domestic building loan asso-
Citations substantially all the business
of which is confined to making loans to
members" and the section striking out
the House proposal making the salaries
of the President and the judges of the
Federal Courts exempt from taxation.