The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-24
PROPOSAL BEATEN @
 BY 157 TO 54 VOTE
Measure Provided For, 50 Per Cent Tax On Profits Over
 20 Per Cent s@
ATTEMPTS TO BUTCHER
 MELLON BILL CHARGED
Republicans, With Backs To Wall, Are Preparing To Make
 Fight Of Their Lives .,, ..a,
By THOMAS |. STOKES

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23-Nomenr tarily at least the republican organisa- ton in the House of Representatives seems to have checked the onslausht which the progressive and democratac coalition has been engineering against the administration tax program.
 By a vote of 157 to "A. the House to- day rejected an attempt by the dem ocrats and insurgents to insert an ex- cess profits tax into the new tax law. This was done when the House defeat ed the proposal by Representative Frear that all profits over 20 per cent be taxed 50 per cent, and that all profits under 20 per cent be assessed with 10 per cent levy. 2e u
 Frear's proposal provided that profits up to 8 per cent, plus $3,000, be CT emtp from taxation.
 Longworth Is Bitter
 Representative Longworth. repub- ican floor leader, charged during the debate that efforts were being made to butcher" the Mellon tax program. The democrats and the radical republicanss he charged. were trying to amend ths Mellon plan out of existence.
 Meanwhile, republican leaders in the House, with their backs to the wall, are rising to the fight of their lives. This was reflected in Longworth's speech. In cloakfoom and private conferences, the regular republicans are bringing all possible pressure against recalcitrant followers to swing them into line be- hind some compromise tax program which does not bear the democratic trademark.
 The Garner plan, backed by demo- crats and insurgent republicans, hss been adopted tentatively by these, aik- tang in committee of the whole. How ever, republicans have another chance to kill the democratic plan and suhgti- ute their own. This will come when d record vote is taken, after the tedious consideration of technical admiuistra. tive features is completed.
 Voting By Ayes And Naycs'
 As yet, no members vote has been put down in black and white. Voting has been by "ayes" and mays" and by q teller's count on close decisions, Re publican leaders, in laying their Hnes for the final vote are depending on the force which the publicity of a record vote always carries to swing oyer enough support to win.
 Seventeen insurgent republicans form the obstacle which regular republicang have been unable to overcome, Despite the fact that this group has been the thorn in the flesh of the regulars since the session began, Longworth Is aeain backing at their door, and claims that he will win enough of them over to de- feat the democratic plan on a record vote.
 He says that eight or nine of them will accept compromise that would fix surtax rates at S715 per cent, on condi- tion that normal rates on incomes under $6,OO0 be cut from 4 to 2 per cent, instead of from to 3, as in the Mellon plan. Representative Nelson of Wisconsin, leader of the group, says that his 11 will all stand firm to the claims.
 Strong Pressure Brought To Bear
 strong pressure is being brought to pear. During the next few days 1t will grow even stronger. Arguments win reln1orce the old plea of party loyalty.
 From present indications. tax bill is which will come from the present saa. sion of Congress. Republicang senss the disadvantage which would come to their party if the only achievement they could point to was a democratic tax bill. Or, if President Coolidge ys- toed such bill, there would be no re- lief whatever from the tax burden.
 In the next few days 1t Is likely that White House pressure may be exepted, Mir. Coolidge has held previously that nothing but the Mellon plan, with its % per cent surtax rate. should be en. acted. He may change his mind and come to the aid of republican leaders who are willing to go to most any lengths to get the republican stamp upon the measure.