The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-09
SMOOT SALES
TAX PLAN
REJECTED
Senate Votes by a
Large Majority to
Kill Plan to Shift
Tax to Public

Washington, Nov. 4.-The sales
tax as source of federal revenue
at this time was definitely reject.
ed today by the senate, but there
was further evidence that 1t was
the purpose of Republican congress
sional leaders to bring it forth Ia
ter as a means of raising funds to
finance the proposed five way
plan for adjusted compensation OF
former service men.
The majority today against the
Smoot amendment to the tax re-
vision bill proposing business
sales tax of one-half of l per cent
was even larger than was that las,
night against the Smoot 1 per cent.
manufacturer sales tax. The vote
today was As to 25 as compared to
25 as compared to 43 to rs last
night.
AS was the case with the man
ufacturer's tax, the Democrats
voted solidIy against the business
tax. They were joined by % Re
publicans, three of whom, Fernald
of Maine, tGooding of Idaho and
Keys of New Hampshire, voted for
the manufacturers tax. Six Re-
publicans kwho did not vote last
nsght-Brandegee Of Connecticut.
Calder of New York, Dillingham;
Of Vermont. Hale of Maine, Har-
reid of Oklahoma and Johnson Of
california-supported the amend
ment today.
Three Republicans who support
ed the manufacturers tax did not
vote today. They were Edge of
New. Jersey, Ernest of Kentucky
and Warren of Wyoming.
The senate continued considera-
ton of the tax bill at session to-
night, but with the soldier bonus
and other important amendments
yet to BE disposed, Republican
leaders abandoned hope for pas
sage of the bill this week. They
sought to obtain unanimous con-
sent for a final vote at 3 p. m.
Tuesday with debate limited after
8 p. M. Monday, but the plan fell
through after some debate.
Several senators who want to so
home to vote in local elections OBJ
jected to vote on Tuesday and
asked that some hour on. Wednes-
day be fixed, There seemed pros
poets of an agreement on this, but
Senator Jones (Depnocrat) Of NeT
Mexico. protesting against the Ini-
ting OF debate, objected to the
agreement as drafted. This ended
the effort to obtain unanimous con-
sent for a vote, buo negotiations to
this end probably will be renewed
tomorrow.
Without discussion the senate to-
night rejected the amendment OF
Senator Harris (Democrat) OF
Georgia proposing to tax political
campaign contribution of more than
500. 1t also rejected an amend
ment by Senator Trammel Demo
craft of Florida, which would have
provided that individuals borrow
ing money to purchase Liberty
bonds could deduct the interest
on such loans from their net in
come only in case they bought the
bonds at par
AS the night session wore on lit
tie progress was made on the bill,
the senate chamber at times being
almost deserted, and when quorum
calls failed to get results, the ser
geant at arms was sent out to
round up absentees. A long dis
cussion was launched on the trans
portation situation AID the whole
question of rates when an amend
ment by Senator McKellar (Demo-
crat) Of Tennessee. which would
require railroads to sell mileage
books at 2 1-2 cents a mile, was
taken up.
A quorum was obtained and the
Mcclellan amendment was then
tabled.
Just before midnight the senate
rejected. 80 to so. an amendment
offered by Senator Trammel, pro-
posing to increase the normal ex-
emptions Of both single men and
heads of families Of small incomes,
when Is per cent of such incomes
resulted from their personal ef-
fort.
After the vote, Senator Reed.
expressed regret over what he said
was apparently the policy Of the
majority to force a long session
of the senate and to pass the tax
bill through a process Of exhaus-
ton