Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-08-18
DEMOCRATS UNITED
TO OPPOSE TAX BILL
Caucus Declares G. O. p. Mea.
sure Aids Profiteers; Ford
nay Attacks Wilson.

Washington, Aug. 49, Denouncine
the tax bill framed by the Republican
members OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee ~ taking the financial load OF
the shoulders of the rich and shifting
II to those Of the poor. the Democratic
members of the House OF Representa-
tives una nimously decided In caucus
last night to fight the hill. II was voted
to move to send the bill back to the
committee before the final vote on
Saturday.
A resolution was adopted which de-
clared:
That II. r. s246 is subverrive of
that principle that should govern taxa
ton for the support OF this Govern
ment. In that 1t relieves profiteers and
taxpayers OF large incomes from their
just share 81 the load of taxation and
leaves an unfair portion OF the burden
to be borne by. the people of modern
means. II violates the promise of all
parties To reform and revise the sys-
tenn of taxation so that all citizens
and corporations shall bear just por-
ton OF the tax loan"
General debate began on the oil
yesterday afternoon when Chairman
Fordney made partisan attack upon
the Democratic Party and President
Wilson. He alleged gross extrava-
pance and waste on fhe part OF the
Democratic administration during the
var and spoke of President Wilson ia
sharp terms.
"I've had all the Democracy in the
last eight years that l hope God AL
mighty will ever visit upon the earth, !"
be shouted
Mr.. Fordney spoke of former presi-
dent Wilson .strutting about Paris
like peacock" and gave an imitation
of how he fancied the former Presi-
dent looked there. He attributed most
&c the war extravaGances to ex-Presi-
dent Wilson's desire at the expense
OF the taxpayers for self-aggrandize-
ment." He said the former President
took two honeymoons" TO Paris. In
the middle of his speech he began 10
talk about "mismanagement" of the
railways. saying that Mr.. Wilson put
them under Federal control for politi-l
cal purposes, appointing his son-in-l
law to run them. He was proceeding
with his denunciation of Federal con-
troll when Representative. Garner.
ranking Democrat on the Ways and
Means Committee, broke in with:
WAS that the reason you voted for
the Government taking over the rail-
roads7"
Il voted TO put the President in a.
hole. and we did" shot back Mr.. Ford
ney.
In answer TO disappearing cries by
Democrats the Chairman added almo I
Immediately that he voted for Federal
control because he wished to give the
war President the powers that Mr.
Wilson had asked. But his first
answer was not forgotten, and when
MIR. Garner spoke he said:
Chairman F'ordney never voiced the
sentiment of the patriotic Republicans
of this House when he declared he
voted to put the ex-president in a
hole
Il admit I was joking" interposed
Mr.. Fordney amid Democratic groans.
II deny that any Democrat. Repub-
iican or Socialist voted for those war
measures for any other than patriotic
motives replied Mr.. Garner. Later he
appealed TO Chairman Fordney and
the Republican side TO leave former
President Wilson. an i'll man. alone.
and ito cease to besmirch' his
Character.
The House by a party vote adopted a
rule whereby general debate will con-
tinue today, while on Friday the bin
viii be discussed in five-minute
speeches. and the final vote will be
taken on Saturday at 3.-p. m.
The theme of Chairman Fordney' s
speech was that the great expenditures
of the Democrats had placed the coun-
try today in serious financial situa-
tion. He said that even if foreign ma
tions repaid their debts to the United
States, the national debt would still be-
Sl4 900 600 600, OF which $1,000. 100000
was owing before the war began. OF
the remaining $4,000. .ooo.o 900. he said.
81 500. 900 900 was due within twenty
months. he said.
~