South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-18
DEMOCRATS TO
OPPOSE BILL
AS 1T STANDS
Lower House Holds Rambling
Discussion on Chairman
Fordney's Law.
WILSON Is ATTACKED
Claim Ex-President Took Over
Railroads for Political
Purposes Only.

BY Associated Press
WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-The re-
publican defense OF, and the dem
ocrauc assault on the new tax bin
got under way Wednesday in the
/ house of representatives. Discus
sion. however. was not confined 10
the bill itself, ranging all the way
from the number Of cooks Pres'e
Wilson took TO Paris TO the question
of social justice.
Chairman Fordney OF the ways
and means committee. in charge OF
the measure. opened the four hour
debate after the house had adopted.
on strict party vote, 223 TO us.
a rule providing Cor a final vote at
! ) O'Clock Saturday afternoon. Most
| of his speech Of an hour. as he said
in closing was "a little about the
/ bill and a whole lot about the dem
ocratic party.
Reviewing what he described az
lextravag ances under the last ad-
ministration Mr.. Fordney charged
/ that Pres. Wilson took over the rail-
roads for political purposes only
and had placed in charge Of them
his son in law, McAdoO, whom ne
was grooming for the presidency"
/ Asked for the democratic side
why he had voted for the bin au-
/ thOrizing federal control OF the car
riers, the speaker Said: Il voted 10
put the president in a hole and we
did it."
Jecr Fordney.
Later Mr.. Fordney said he had
his statement about taking over the
railroads jokingly but his declara-
tion was greeted with jeers from the
democrats.
The committee chairman went in
10 details about shipping board
operations and war purchases as
well as operations OF the railroads
and the telephone lines and de-
clared that now the republican ad-
ministration had Ito go the country
and ask for money to pay for these
extrava gances." He then gave some
figures about the number OF people
Priest. Wilson carried with him 10
/ Paris and the money spent while
| there, adding:
The fiddler wants his pay now:
we danced then"
Turning to the bill itself. the
| chairman discussed briefly the
| changes in tax levies proposed and
/ declared the committee had made
an honest effort TO reduce taxes and
/ believed it had given 10 the house
'as equitable a measure as was pos
sible under the circumstances"
Replies to Chairman.
| Mr.. Fordney was given a demon
stration by his republican colleagues
and some democrats. who stood and
applauded him for several minutes.
] Representative Gardner, Of Tex
as, ranking minority member OF the
ways and means committee. open
ing the democratic fight on the bill,
replied at some length 20 Mr.. Ford
neys statements about federal rail-
road operation asserting that DEM
ocratic and republican congresses
had voted $3.50. 100000 10 the rail-
roads. he declared that the end
was not yet.
You are called upon" he said.
addressing the republicans "to vote
$500 600. 900 more which the pres
ident recommended the other day.
Why do your leaders want % vote
on this proposition before congress
takes a recess2 they dare not let
you go home and meet your con-
stituency on the proposition or Civ
ing the railroads 100000. 900 more
Turning 70 the tax bill. Mr. Card
ner said he believed and hoped his
party would say that the law put on
the statute books should provide
that those most able 10 pay should
I
! proposal was for a lifting OF the tax
burden from the classes and placing
It upon the masses.
Urge Tax Repeal.
Urging repeal ~ all the minor
war taxes. the Texas member said
he would propose as a peace time
policy the obtaining Of all govern
ment revenue from five sources-
inheritance taxes. individual income
and corporation taxes. tobacco tax
IS. customs receipts and post Office
and miscellaneous receipts ar.
Gardner charged that Secretary
Mellon proposing tax revlsions had
only the ObjeCt-''the relieving %
the rich and the taxing. Of the poor
.IIe also declared that n the light
OF all the treasury recOmmendations
Il was only fair % assume that the
u administrative changes IN the new
I bill had been drawn always IN favor
OF those who pay high taxes and
against those who pay small taxes."
The provision in the new bin CIV
4 ing the secretary or the treasury au-
/ thority 70 settle $500. 100000 claims
/ involving back taxes was declared BY
! the speaker % be dangerous one
He urged that a quasi judicial tri-
| bunal be set up 20 wind up he
F. claims. The Texas member received
an ovation from the democratic s.ds
\ OF the house when ne concluded.
/ after crirclsing the republican pro-
| posaI 10 repeal the taxes on the sala-
ries OF the president and the judgS
I OF tae federal courts
Rep. Bacharach's Plan.
Rep. Bacharach, OF New Jersey q
! republican member OF the ways and