The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-08-05
Solons and Their Advis-
ors Looking. Around
for Things To Trim
From the Appropria-
ton Bill -Mondell Says
the Cutting Can Be
D one If Congress
Wants To Do 1t

Washington. Aug. 5.-To realize
their expressed hope Of reducing the
nation $ tax bill by half billion dol
lars. Republican leaders of the house
Of representatives appear. on the basis
of treasury estimates, to be faced
with the task of cutting three quar-
tfrs of Il billion dollars from estimat-
cd government expenditures for this
fiscal year or else risking a huge fed
eral deficit next July /.
Secretary Mellon, in a statement to
the committee dealing with tax Ie-
vision. has warned that even if more
than $3.50 100000 should be Topped off
the estimated expenditures of $4.550
100000 the tax yield could not be
safely permitted to fall below $3.50
100000, the estimated return under
the existing law.
Coupled with this warning is the
declaration that lit would be folly to
reduce revenues without the assur-
ance of substantial additional reduc-
tions in expenditure Mr.. Mellon
added in seeking to arrive at an esti-
mate of the cash outgo for the year,
the treasury could not take into ac-
count paper savings or hoped-for re-
ductions in expenditures which can
not reasonably be expected to mater
ialize"
In a statement published oday, how
ever, Rep. Mondell, of Wyoming, the
Republican leader. declares that. in
his judgment. it is entirely practical
to reduce the total tax levy by $780,
100000 and still take care of the es-
sential needs OF the government.
One of the big tasks before the
ways and means committee, it has
Eeen explained, is determining where
cuts in expenditures can be made
safely and the amounts. Some Repub-
Leans of the committee have said that
with the $5O0,000,000 railroad financ-
ing plan proposed in pending legisla-
ton, it would be possible to materi-
ally cut down the $545 ,206 900 esti-
mate for payments for the railroads
At the treasury, however, it is ex-
planned that this estimate is indepen-
dent of the financing proposed to be
done by the war finance corporation
and represents payments on account
OF the transportation act and federal
control.
The outgo estimate also includes
S300,000000 for the shipping board
and some leaders say they are deter
mined to trim this total. The outlay
for the maintenance of the govern
ment merchant fleet is giving many
members Of the house concern and
there has been considerable private
discussion lately of some plan to
ease the drain on the Treasury de-
partment from that direction
Opposition to the new taxes pro-
posed by the treasury officers con-
tinues to grow with Rep. Mondell
coming out flatly against any in
creased postage and bank check tax.
According to Charles A. Lyman,
secretary of the National
Board of Farm Organizations. the as
sociations of farmers over the coun-
try are preparing to launch u deter
mined fight against the repeal of the
excess profits tax. These organiza-
tions already have given their views
on this question to the ways and
means committee and Mr.. Lyman says
il the committee reports a bill with a
repeal proyisio the farmers will ap-
peal to the agricultural block and all
other friends in congress to work for
its defeat