Evening star., 1943-11-24
House Bars Tax
Amendments as
Debate Opens
Passage of Revenue
Bill by NightfoII
Is Expected
By the Associated Press.


the floor to a $2,140 900 900 new
revenue measure, the House to-
day opened debate on a wartime
tax program far short of the
SIC, 500, 900 900 asked by the ad-
ministration to combat imitation
and meet military costs. Passage
was expected by nightfall.
Representative Voorhis. Democrat,
of California asserted that Congress
should dip deeper into the Nations
pocketbook, but the House decided
by standing vote of 208 to 7 to
10 consider only the question Of re-
iecting or accepting the bill as it was
drafted by the Ways and Means
Committee.
The procedure, preventing a wide
open battle on the floor over several
controversial points, especially in
creases in some excise taxes, was ac-
cepted over the protests of some
members that it constituted gag"
rule.
Doughton Opposes Blk Increases.
Chairman Doughton of the Ways
and Means Committee led of BIZ
partisan chorus against large tax
increases, declaring they could be
more crushing" than initiation
TOO heavy a tax burden is as
great danger to the Nations econ.
omy as is too large public debt"
he said
Certainly we should not pass on
to future taxpayers, many of whom
will be our returning soldiers, debts
that We ourselves should pay, but
neither should we pass on to them
business structure so weakened
by heavy taxes that it will be unable
to carry on in the postwar period.
Knutson Opposes Extra Burden.
when this war has been won we
want the business and industry of
the Nation in condition which will
enable it to offer the greatest meas
ure of opportunity and employ
ment."
Mr.. Doughton joined Represent
ative Knutson of Minnesota, Ways
and Means Republican leader, in
attacking the administration claim
that a s10,50O, 900 900 tax program
is essential not only for war financ-
ing but also to drain of infiationary
purchasing power.
I'm our opinion speaking for Re-
publicans) this additional burden
would liquidate the great middle
class, which is the bulwark of the
Nation" Mr.. Knutson declared.
1T would threaten the future
solvency of all business, imperil
savings and jeopardize the postwar
continuance of private enterprise.
From now on, the motto pro-
mulgated by the great spender,
Harry Hopkins, Tax and tax, spend
and spend, elect and elect is out"
! Withholding Rate Unchanged.
The second wartime tax bill, sup
ported by both parties, makes but
little revision in the burdens on in
dividual incomes or on corporation
normal and surtaxes.
No change is made in the 20 per
cent withholding rate against wages
and salaries. The measure merged
the Victory tax with the normal
income tax without losing any Of
the present Victory taxpayers
The 50, ,l40 000, 900 would be raised
in this way: $l54 100000 from the
$4,000, 900 individual taxpayers. $685.
000, 900 by hiking the corporation
excess profits rate from 80 to 95
per cent, s1,20l, TOO 900 from boosted
excuses on luxuries and semi
luxuries and $l66. 6.800,0 900 by increas-
ing postal rates on some classes Of
mail
Rates on liquor are increased from
s6 to 50 gallon; on beer, from 81
to So barrel, and there are slight
increases on wine. Among articles
affected by other boosted excises are
jewelry. furs, luggage, cosmetics,
telephones, transportation, general
admittances. cabarets. bowling al
leys, billiard and pool tables and
electric light bulbs.
Proposed Mail Rates.
The measure raises the local let
ter rate from 2 cents to 3. Air
mail from 6 cents to 8, doubles
third-class charges. and increases
some other mail charges. There
Is no change in the Scent out-of-
town letter rate or the second class
mail charges.
This. Mr.. Doughton declared, "is
not a Treasury bill, joint staff bill,
CIO bill, chamber of commerce
bill or a National Association Of
Manufacturers bill: it is Ways
and Means Committee bill"
The place to attack imitation
effectively, he said, lis to cour-
(See TAXES. Page A-14D