The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-10
HOUSTON WOULD
AID PROFITEERS,
CHARGES KITCHIN
Says Secretary Would Swell
80 Billion Already Stolen
From People.
CALLS TAXES UNJUST
Treasury Head. North Caro-
Imam Hints, Disregards
the Masses.
DICTATION is INTIMATED
Official Has No Right to Tell
Congress What to Tax,
Is Contention.
DICTATION rs INTIMATED
special Despatch TO TIE NEW YonK HhaArD.
New York Herald Bureau.
- n nan

special Despatch 20 TIE NEW ToHK HhzArp.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C., Dec. 0.
The recommendations for increased
taxes made by Secretary of the Treas
ury Houston IN his annual report to-
day drew a fire Of caustic criticism
from Representative Claude Kitchin
IN. c.. ranking Democrat on the
House Ways and Means Committee and
trainer Of the present revenue act.
Mr.. Kitchin in a statement which
marked his first real Congress activity
since his illness, which began last
April, asserted the recommendations of
the Secretary we're the most unwise.
unjust. undemocratic and pro-Republi-
can that ever emanated from Gov
eminent department" Mr.. Houston.
he said would shift the burden of tax
alton from the corporate interests to
the poorer class Of people.
II the Democrats in Congress were to
follow Mr.. Houston's recommendation
mo Democratic candidate hereafter
would get anything like as many votes
as Governor Cox. and the Lord
knows he got few enough" Mr.. Kitchin
remarked.
Leading House Democrats. including
Mr.. Kitchin, did not believe II would be
a wise political move for Mr.. Houston
to make any detailed recommendations
for tax increases. Mr.. Kitchin's state
ment follows:
Statement by Katchin.
Il think II Is the most unwise, unjust.
undemocratic and pro-Republican pro-
gramme that ever enanated from any
department Of the Government since its
beginning. If the Democrats had control
Of the House I am sure the Ways and
Means Committee and the House itself
would unanimously reject them. The
whole intent and policy of his recon-
rnendations are to relieve the corporate
interests and millionaries, who for the
last four years have plundered and
profiteered upon the people to the extent
OF $4,000. 100000, OF a billion and a
half or two billion OF taxes annually and
place that amount on the backs OF the
people, that IN, the victims OF such
plunderers and proflteers.
II cannot understand how any man
who claims to have a single impulse for
the masses or who claims to be Demo-
crat could make such recommer dations.
but I understand that neither Mr.. Hous-
ton nor any OF his friends make such
claims for him. II Republican Admin
istration were to make such recommen-
dations the Democrats in the House
would not want better issue.
II have not time now to discuss In de-
tail his recommendations or report. Per-
haps I will have opportunity to do this
IN the next Congress. when the Repub
iican Administration recommends the
Same policy.
Have you ever thought about Il? The
secretaries Of the Treasury under Mr..
Wilson were the first to ever assume the
authority TO tell Congress what II ought
70 tax or ought not to tax. and the rate
OF taxation: whether tariff or domestic
taxation. All other Secretaries Of the
Treasury for the last seventy-five years
were content to leave the question Of
what ought or ought not to be taxed and
the rate to the Judgment Of Congress. al
tho Constitution leaves It.
Deplores Houston's Course.
81 trust the Republican Secretary OF
the Treasury under the next Admins
tration viii have more confidence in the
Republican Congress than our Demo-
cratic secretaries under Wilson'S Admin
Sstration have shown in Democratic Con-
crosses and will not assume to tell Con-
gross what II shall tax or shall not tax
and the rate Of taxation, but will be
willing to leave It where all other secre-
taries or the Treasury, before the advent
OF the Wilson Administration, have left
ito the judgment of Congress, as the
does They performed their
duties by informing Congress the condi-
ton Of the finances Of the Government
and the amount OF money required to
meet Government expenses"