The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-15
Deflection Of Over 20 Republicans Looked >
 For In Congress
GARNER AND MILLS
 FIGURE IN DEBATE
Addresses Formally Launch Con- test Over Revenue Measure As
 It Reaches Lower House
MAJORITY IS FACING
 DEFEAT BY MINORITY
lnst.rgent Element Dissatisfied With Mellon Scale And May
 Join Democrats In Pinch

q e
 WASHINGTON, Feb. i4.-tBy the Associated Press.) The fight over the tax bill, centering on the revision of income taxes, today. reached the floor of the House.
 General debate was begun on the mea- sure which substantially carried Nout the recommendations of Secretary Mel lon under an agreement, will terminate at. 4 p. m. Monday.
 Members of the ways and means com mittee which framed the measure oc- cupied the floor today. After Chairman Green, of Iowa, had explained the gen. , eral provisions of the bill, Representa- tiyes Garner of Texas ranking demo- crat on the committees and Mills, re- publican, New York, whom Mir. Garner singled out as the spokesman of the administration" opened the debate in partisan speeches provoking many per sonal exchanges.
 Mills Admits Probable Defeat
 Mir. Mills who is staunch advocate of the Mellon tax rates, said he expected that about 20 or 30 men elected as re- publicans" would join the democrats when the critical sections of the bill'' were reached, and granted that the minority will be the majority" He 4de- clared, however, that according to treas ury estimates the democratic tax reduc- tion plan would result in loss in rev enue of $620, COG, GOO annually against an estimated surplus annually under the present system of $320, 900, ,OOO. He warned the democrats that they would be charged with responsibility if their plans was accepted for raising, suffic- tent revenue to operate the government.
 Representative Garner charged the public had never been given an oppor- tunity to study the democratic tax re- duction plan proposing lower normal income rates and higher surtaxes than the Mellon scheme because of ..exten- siye propaganda for the Mellon plan. , He also criticized the address of Presi- dent Coolidge at New York Tuesday as an Unprecedented humiliation to mem bers of congress and appealed for the public to let congress know its wishes on tax reduction.
 Insurgents Join Democrats S Fhe. solid democratic opposition Go tie income rates section of the bill brought about by 2 party caucus vote, was joined today by some of the members of the republican insurgent group, leaders of which announced after a meeting that they would support the proposal of Representative Frear, re- publican. Wisconsin and if this bill fails vote for the democratic plan.
 Mir. Frear will submit an amendment to cut normal income taxes 50 per cent and leave the surtax maximum at 50 per cent. Democrats. want the maximum surtax cut to A per cent whereas the Mellon plan provides for a maximum rate of p per cent. \
 Despite the stand of the democrats Representative Begg, republican, Ohio, who has conducted poll of the repub- licqn delegations, predicted today that republicans. would agree upon a sur. tax rate lower that that proposed by . the minority.
 Mir. Garner announced the democrats were anxious to expedite passage of the ! bill and Chairman Green said an agree. ment would be sought to take up on next Tuesday the income rates section, the vital point of the measure.
 L0ngwOrth Predicts Victory.
 Representative Longworth, republi. can floor leader, predicted the measure would be passed within two weeks fl the proposed course of procedure was
 (Csntinued on Paae Tws CeIuma e.ur,