The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-26
AGREE UPON BIG TAX REDUCTIONS
 IN 20 SCHEDULES
Ways And Means Body Favor Cut Of $103, ,0OO,-
 600 Yearly Revenue

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-(By As soeiated Press. )-Tax reductions amounting to S103.000,000 annually and affecting more than 20 industries were agreed upon today by the House waYS and means committee ill it's first major decisions on the revenue rates.
 The rate changes, repeating some of the miscellaneous or nuisance taxes instituted during the war. were ef- feeted by non-partisan votes in com mittee and incuded some suggestions of both the Mellon and democratic plans.
 Taxes on theatre admissions of 50 cents or under and oa beverages were repealed and the leyies on jewelry and pr0duce exchange sales were cut in hsflf. Previous agreements to repeal the taxes on telegrams, telephone messages, leased wires and candy were confirmed.
 With committee consideration of the income rates thus brought nearer Prseident Coolidge appealed today for non-partisan support of the Mellon bill. He let it be known that he con sialered the prospect for a substantial agreement on its provisions as brightt- CT and that he believed credit for the billl if enacted. should go to whoever votes for it. regardless of political af- flliAtions.
 Democrats Indifferent
 The democrats, however, continued thier attitude of indifference to the republican proposal for complete agreement in committee on the income rates, Representative Garner of Texas, ranking democrat on the ways and means committee. reiterating that his party was united for the democratic plan.
 Republican leaders sought today to mend difficulties within the party on the question whether the majority members should write separate bill or seek compromise in committee with the democrats. The questions will be taken up by the steering commit tee tomorrow.
 Secretary Mellon renewed his core sp0Rdenee with Senator Couzens in defense of his recommendations for retiIIcti0ns in the surtax rates to a ma ximunI of 25 per cent. The secre uary again asked Mir. COuZens if the present s,irtaxPs had not impelled him t0 invest largely in tax-exempt securi ties. but did not answer the Michigan senator's demand that he disclose how much the Mellon tax plan would re- dlIee the secretary's taxes.
 May Cut Mere Taxes
 In it's revision of the indirect tax rate schedules, the committee left a balance of about $17,000,000 which mihE yet be cut off in these levies.
 Motions before the committee to re- peal the taxes on automobile trucks and spare parts and reduce those on passenger cars were de feated-
 The tax repeals and reductions voted today would become effective immedi- iteiy ou enactment of the measure.
 Other taxes repealed included those l an hunting. bowie and dirk knives. liv- ary and livery boots. hunting garments, ' yaehrS and motor boats. carpets and rugs trunks and valiSes. purses and p,caetbo0ks. portable lighting fix -RreS. fans. and theatre seating. Taxes , 5u produce exchange sales and on bowling and billiards was cut in half. l
 The committee agreed to cut by one l iaM the tax on all iewelry made of l precious stones.
 The committee also decided to reduce | ,y one-half the tax on produce sales | md on all iewelry made chiefly of precious stones or metals and watches whose wholesale price exceeds SJ0. Matches of less value and jewelry in which precious stones and metals are 'nIy 'an incidental part, would be tax Uee.
 \ one- half reduction in the taxes on bowling alleys and the billiard parlOrs flsss was voted by the committee. which rejected motions to reduce the tax on ,tes& transfer and automobile acces- tories and to remove 1t entirely from EUto trvelksN \