Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-28
H0RDES OF NAMES YOUTH
Invade CAPITAL CITY TODAY
FOR 18th BOYS CONFERENCE
SURTAx RATE BIG
PROBLEM IN FRAMING
REVENUE MEASURE

Washington. March 27-Revewing
their program of day and night ses-
sions the Senate finance committee to-
day practically cleared up the many
administrative provisions of the rev.
enuc bill. The schedules of excite and
miscellaneous taxes, most of which
were revised by the House, are to be
taken up Immediately.
Meanwhile Democratic members of
the committee spent another afternoon
In an unsuccessful effort to reach an
agreement on the income tax schedule
which they Will offer as a substitute
Tor the Mellon rates voted into the bill
by the finance committee.
The surtax rates proved the STUN
bling block. Senator Simmons of
North Carolina, ranking Democratic on
the committee. presented a schedule
which 1t is understood followed the
general lines OF the Garner plan sup
ported by House Democrats, with a re-
Vision Of the brackets ard a reduction
of the maximum rate to about 40 Der
cent.
Before taking up the revenue bill to-
oay the committee heard army and
navy officers on the soldier bonus bill
passed by the House. with a view to
determining the number of veterans
who would be eligible for the insur-
ance provision and the average length
OF service of the veterans
While representatives OF the navy
and marine corps said their records
would be able to show the figures need
ed, army officers explained considerable
work would be required to lay the
foundation for administration of the
proposed bill.
As q result Chairman Smoot de-
clared costs of administration OF the
measure would amount to millions of
dollars"
Quick action on the bonus measure
Is expected when it Is formally pre-
scented to the committee, Republicans
indicating today there was n general
disposition among their group to favor
the bill passed by the House against
the modified insurance plan advanced
by Chairman Smoot. The latter calls
for policies payable only at death
rather than of 90 years endowment
as In the House bill and would cut out
the borrowing privilege on the policies
allowed by the House. Democrats are
expected to stand for a full cash pay
ment option.
Democrats at their meeting this aft
ernoon also discussed the calling of q
party caucus to bind members as was
done by the House Democrats on the
Garner plan, but no conclusion was
reached.
While members Of the finance COM
mittee prepared to work out their own
estimate as to the cost of the proposed
bill in the light of the dispute between
government actuaries involving n diff
ference in estimates Of more than ST.
500, 600. 900, Chairman Green of the
House ways and means committee is
sued statement charging "a deliber-
ate effort to misrepresent the cost Of
the soldier bonus bill"
Mr.. Green declared the estimate of
Herbert Hess. American Legion actu-
airy, that the bill would cost $780,
600, 900, was Inisrepresented by a COM
mittee spokesman for Mr.. Hess. He
declared the figures of Mr. Hess con-
formed to those OF II. r. Brown, Vet
Grams Bureau actuary. that the insur-
ance would cost $1,000. 000O00 and the
estimate Of $4,000, 100000 was put for
ward by Mr.. Hess as the cost Of the
bill II the payments of the policies
were not amortized but were all de-
ferred until the end of the insurance
period. Joseph Mccoy. treasury act
uary. estimated the bill would cost
s4,s5o. 100000.