The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1921-10-04
K|TCH|N'S ABSENCE FROM
CONGRESS |RREPARABLE
LOSS To THE DEMOCRATS
HAD HE BEEN THERE
F1DENT THAT PUBLIC OPINION roLERA-
TED THE FRAMING INTRODUCTION OF THE REVENUE

ood1ed the spirit of the eXploiters Of
American capital.
Above all others the task had de-
veloped upon the senior senator from
North Carolina not only expose the ex-
Eremely technical conspiracy OF the Re
publicans and the corporations to re-
lieve the latter of their just share OF
taxation but to offer instead a Just and
program of taxation for
is own party. He has this in one
Of the ahlest and most 1mpass1oned |
speeches delivered in the senate in |
many day. The senator has been !
greatly aided in his task by the ser
ious division in the Republican ranks
over tax legislation.
If the ercess profit tax must be
abandoned Senator Simmons would
substitute therefor a graduated income
tax on corporation ranging from II
and 1-2 to 25 percent. Restoration Of
the income surtax to SO percent on lr-
comes above $5o0,000. Repeal Of
the transporta ton taxes on freight,
passenger and Pullman accommodations.
Retention Of the corporation capital
stock tax. Repeal Of these 900 exemp
ton allowed corporations. That in
dividual exemptions be confined to in
comes below $4,000.
Republican Position Precarious.
Senator Smoot of Utah, the ranking
Republican on the finance committee,
has stepped into the arena with an en-
tirely new tax bill, known as the
sales bill, to save his party from
probable defeat at the polls next yea:
revolutionary tax measure IS being
! considered at all by some groups Of
!, Republicans at this time shows how
uncertain and precarious is the Repub-
lican program. If the senate should
adopt the Smoot bill, the whole battle
on taxation would be revived in the
house and the country would get no
taxation this year. For that reason
the White House and the Old Guard
Smoot bill. The cloture rule if adopt
ed in the senate would be a double
edged sword With in force the min
Gritty party with the aid Of certain
group spirit Republican could drive
the majority party to execute min
ority party to execute a minority pro
gram Cloture will get business done
but with it Senator Simmons and the
Democrats under present conditions il
the senate would be just as likely tt
get as many Of the features of thei1
tax scheme enacted into legislation a:
Senator Penrose and the Old Guard.
There never was a more precariOu
situation for party that has com'
into power with overwhelming major
Republicans in the senate are simpl.
not able to call their soul their own
G Senator Lodge, the titular Republican
leader is said to spend most OF hi
5. time wetting his finger to learn whic7
way the wind is blowing. The sena
, tor has become master weather cocl
: at least so far as changing his ow9
! course.
2 But the Democrats. it is believed
r would show more results if led by Sim
V mons or even by the aggressive Pa
Harrison instead Of by the ''safe an
: sane' Underwood. There never wa
e a more golden opportunity offered
0 minority leadership in congress tha
: at this moment. Democrats here sa
f Underwood is too tame for the occasio
' and they find some hope that his ak
b sence at the arms conference will tax
the locks off the lips of some othe
t senators. Finis Garrett and John \
& Garner in the house are rated as ii
|. soldiers by the side Of Claude Kitchi