The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-06
Sales Tax
lis Opposed
Mondell Tells the President
Lower House Will Not
Favor the Smoot Taxa
ton Plan.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.
,Copyright by The latelligencer)

WsshIngton Oct. 5.-Repu n
Leader Mondeil told President Harding
10 day that sales tax was not only
Illogical but impossible OF enactment IN
the house. The president didn't COM
nit himself but said IL was a matter
FOR the TWO houses OF congress to work
out
Mr.. Mondelrs visit followed several
conferences which administration sena-
tors had with Mr.. Harding IN which
they urged him 10 throw his influence
in the scales in favor OF q so-called
manufacturers sales tax.
The controversy between tho advo-
Gates and opponents OF sales tax has
reached a climax Inside tho adminiS-
tratioa camp. The house Is insistent
that tho bin which 1t has passed be
used as basis for tax legislation and
Mr.. Mondell indicated that there would
be no objection In the house II tho
senate made certain changes In the
nuisance and transportation taxes. In
other words, the formula Of taxation
prepared BY the house will no adhered
10 by It's leaders and the other method
proposed by Senator Smoot will be
vigorously opposed.
Opposes Shtfting
We worked in the house" said Mr..
Mondell. "on the theory that tho people
wanted. tho tax burden lifted and not
shifted With all due respect to the
gentlemen who are advocating a sales
tex. /, Is illogical and adds 10 the bur
dens OF the tax payer. Nor IS 1t tho
simple thing that Is claimed. How
for instance will a sale, tax be COM
puted on tho wool grown in my state!
Will IL be placed at the source OF VIII
Il be placed on yarn or on cloth7 IL
A,l - al I'm q
other tax"
Tho Republican house leader declared
Snat q new system OF taxation would
have its emharra ssnents In many other
respects. The government machinery
would, OF course, have to be changed 80
a. 70 collect the new taxes. Further
more, there II no certainty In Mr.. Mon
dell's opinion that the manufacturers
sales tax wouldn't bring with II moro
evils than It was designed 20 cure He
declared. too. that the house bill was
by no means q perfect measure, but
that IL did tend to relieve the people OF
tho abnormal and unusual taxes. He
saw no hope for tho amendment pro-
posing that the repeal OF tho excess
profit taxes be made effective as or last
January. When Il was suggested to him
tha; many business interests may have
gotten behind q sales tax because OF
excess profit taxes will not DO imme-
diately repealed, Mr.. MondeL insisted
that such u step was also Illogical. He
argued that he could hardly believe that
members OF congress would support SO
burdensome measure as sales tax In
order % insure relief 10 a few tax pay
ers from the excess pronts tax. Mr..
Monda,l said ne originally favored
making the repeal retroactive but that
he had been won over to the other view
because It had been represented TO him
that the Arms which are asked to pay
excess profits taxes for tho calendar
year OF 1921 have already passed on that
tax 70 the consumer, who has paid II.
and that It would be unfair 70 let ono
set OF tax payers pay while another set
benefited by the change.
Recess Improbable
While talking with the president. Mr..
MCrdell expressed himself on the sub
jecs OF recess OF congress at the be-
ginning Of November. as had been sos-
slipped FOR several days. The Repub-
M-an leade. drew out 4 pad and wrote
a list OF a hall dozen major subjects
pending in congress. such as the treat ties
with the Central European countries,
the tax bill. the tariff. the railroad bill
and the bill 10 fund foreign debts.
When all these are disposed OF. no
said. with a smile. "'1 think we can ad-
journ the special session"
That was in;y another way Of saying
ths, the legislative calendar was so
Crowded shat congress will be accom-