Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-13
HOUSE PACTS WILL LIMIT talk
AND HASTEN ACT ton ON TAX BILL
To Limit General Debate To
Three OF Four Days-Dis-
position Of Measure Within
Three Weeks - Considera-
ton of Bonus to Follow

Washington, Feb. 12-Informal
agreements made today by house
leaders designed to contine general
debate on the tax reduction bill to
three or four days when it is taken
up on the floor Thursday is be-
licved to assure disposition of the
measure in the house within three
weeks at the most and possibly in
two.
Chairman Green of the ways and
means committee and Representative
Garner of the Texas, ranking Demo-
cIat. expressed the hope that general
debate on the bill he concluded on
Monday and the income rates. the
center of difference On the measure,
taken up Tuesday and disposed of
within two days.
Discussions on the bonus bill today
developed the opinion in the COM
mittee that it could not be given con-
sideration before the lax bill is dis
posed of. Chairman Green said, how
ever, the bonus measure would be
first on the program of the commit
tee after the floor contest on the
revenue bill is finished.
The revenue measure was given Il
clear track in the house by Il decision
OF the Republican steering committee
today to withhold all other leeisla-
ton from the calender during its
consideration, with the possible eX-
ccption of appropriation bills. if de-
lay is encountered in Its disposition.
Both Chairman Gree and Mr.. Gar
rer expressed the opinion that with
the income rates contest disposed of,
consideration Of the remainder of the
bill could he completed within ten
days.
In addition to amendments which
viii be offered by the Democrats.
however. to the estate tax rates,
coupled with an amendment to i'm
pose Il gift tax. some skirmishes are
expected on revision of the war eX-
else or nuisance taxes. many of which
the committee repealed. Representa-
tive Clancy. Michigan. has said he
would seek reductions in taxes on
automobile accessories and spare
parts and perhaps IN automobile
trucks. all of which the committee re-
fused to allow.
Considerable support is expected
for the gift tax. The report of the
revenue bill submitted by the Demo-
cratic members of the committee an
nounced they would seek the amend
ment. Representative Frear of Wis
COnsin. Republican insurgent member
of the committee, also favored such
tax in his report. While Chairman
Green moved for the tax in commit
tee and is expected tn support it on
the floor.
II. ~. Too ~,
leaders today failed to develop n dcti-
mite agreement in Their party as to
surtax rates on which pronounced
differences have developed in their
ranks and on which tho Democrats
are centering their fight. Represcn-
tativc Loucworth. Republican floor
leader. in expressing the belief that it
would not he possible for the Repub-
Leans to put through the Mellon sur
tax rate of % percent maximum.
has said. however, that they should
he able to unite for n rate lower than
the A percent maximum proposed
by the Democrats.
The Democrats will hold n caucus
tomorrow night at which an attempt
will be made to bind the party as n
unit to support the income rates pro-
posed by Representative Garner, au-
thor of the Democratic tax plan.
In their proposal to reduce the
present maximum surtaX rate OF so
percent to a. percent, the Democrats
recommended fifty percent cut in
the normal rates instead of the 25
petrcent reduction proposed by Sec
rotary Mellon and carried in the bill.
It is expected the normal and surtax
rates will be considered on the floor
as unit and that If the Democratic
surtaxes are adopted, their normal
rates also will he approved, whereas,
If the surtax limit is set below 30
percent. the normal rates as carried
in the bill will he kept.