Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-15

The dem 'crats are taking steps to meet the que'-
lions OF tax reduction AMI tlrif revision with
something like harmony of action in Congress
The c8ucu, OF democratic senator's yesterday au-
thorized u aDpOintmeHt OF conference commit
tee, and course, the dAmO,rits OF the House Will
respond by tn app0ntm mt of similar commit
tee. the democrats cannot control legislation
or even tn order OF business, being in the MI
n0rtty, their early action toward party alignment
looks - T. they either expect to be put on the de-
fenS.v9 or have policy with regard II revenue
and tlr.G which they intend 10 stand by. Upon the
question of reduction o. taxation lJ would appear to
the uatnltiatet IN pOlt tactics that there is
veTy1ittle need for consultation IN either party.
Both parties agree that the taxes should be re-
ducei. 31d each vieS with the other In professions
Of wfin-ns 81 u vote for Il reduction. But In treat
ing tn subj ct when It Shau come prominently
before the country tor a-istttl)1 at the hands OF
Congress there is room Tor great deal of political
fneSse. aaI i'll view OF -he approaching prasiden-
tal bIttla each party re tZaS that 1t cannot afford
to lose q single point in the game. There is a
wide 6in renee between the ways I'm which the
republican and democratic parties want to reduce
taxation The democrats favor taking a very
large slice OF the reiuct out or the tariff Willie
the republicans prefer TO cut 1t from internal rev.
enue. 1t only needs review OF the latter part OF
the list session to show how proposition that
meets popular favor AMI IS approved by both
pdTtltS III Congress IAN because Oi 1t tO1iict
OF opinion TO the manner In which it should
be accomplished At that session the
republicans, approaching the force Of public
sentiment in favor OF tax reduction. and the effect
that legislation in that direction might have upon
the then approaching elections, gave their sup
port II me lSureS providing for the abolition OF
certain taxes. The democrats, while declaring and
reiterat1ng their desire for reduction really de-
feated these measures because they did not cut on
such taxes as the democratic party wanted abol-
lShed. The indications are that the same state OF
affairs viii arise during the present session. unless
purity spirits on each side yields much more than
is usual Measures proposed by the republicans
for the abolition and reduction of internal revenue
taxes will be amended by the democrats so as to
cut down the tariff This would revive the old
issue, and though both parties would 90 on record
protesting its anxiety to meet the popular
demand for redu etiOn, each would charge
the failure to do SO upon the other 1t
Is because OF this conflict Of opinion
IS to the method OF reduction that the party
caucuses are held in advance of action upon this
subject, for 1t Is no secret that the republicans
also intend to confer together before anything Is
done or attempted. AS THE STAR has hitherto
remarked, responsibility for or failure to cut OF
some OF the unnecessary taxes at this session will
be visited upon both parties, and neither can hope
TO escape its share OF blame by charging the other
with 1t all