New Britain herald., 1923-12-27
PRESIDENT WATCHES
 TAX REDUCTIONS
Won't Countenance Any Through
 TriCkery

Washington, D. C., Dec. 27.--Presi dent Coolidge will not, approve an, tax bill which is merely q patchwork based on political eYpediency. Ht wants sound downward revision o the taxes along the lines suggested b, Secretary Mellon.
 Mir Coolidge is not captious ovcl procedure or results so long as the, are in consonance with the Adminisn tration program. This has been madc known to White House callers. Tn, President will take no hand in fram- ing the legislation. He will not in sist on the exact terms of Secretary Mellon's proposal.
 A tax bill to get his signature will have to carry out in the main tho Mellon suggestions. which have re- ceived such widespread support as tc convince the President Of their desir- ability.
 Taxes and Bonus Discussed
 Taxes and bonus were the subject of several White House conferences today particularly one with Senator Shoot (Etah). chairman of the Fiji nance Committee. Senator Shoot said after the conference that the Admin istration forces lack two votes of the necessary number to sustain a veto of the bonus bl.
 He added that sentiment in favor of tho Mellon program was growing and that many Senators and Representa- tives were being swung to it by the reaction from their constituents
 ''If a good tax bill is passed by Con gross it will become law" said the Senator.
 That was regarded as concise statement Of the general attitude Of the President and as indicating that he would veto any bill which carried into effect the radical ideas advanced by one or another of the bloc organi- cations which run contrary to iudgc- ment and recommendation Of Secre- tary Mellon.
 Treasury experts told a Ways and Means subcommittee that thousands of bankrupts have been made in the last few years by the Governments methods of collecting income taxes Secretary Mellon has recommended drastic changes as means Of corr . ing the defects.
 Must Pay First Now
 Taxpayers in the future. if his plan becomes a law, will have the oppor- tunity of giving bond and appealing to the courts before making their pay ments. Now they must pay what tho Treasury officials decide they owe and snn atterward.
 X board of appeals to review con- tested cases as an intermediary step 10 court action would be created in the Treasury Independently of the Income Tax Bureau. to be composed of from seven to twenty-eight members at sl0.00n n year each. They would be appointed by the Secretary of tho Treasury and not by the President with tho advice and consent nf tho Senate, so that they. might be chosen as experts without political intorfe- rcnce.
 As a means of speeding this and ether forms of administrative relief to taxpayers who are obliged 10 make Frequent trips to Washington. mem tors Of tho Ways and Means Commit ter are giving serious consideration to proposals for splitting the Mellon biil into two measures. The administrative sections would bc reported. so far as they could be agreed on by tho com mittcc without serious controversy. and put through the House immedi- maiy. l'y this method the legislation nffording relief could be advanced to- ward passage while the rate making sections Of the bin arc being drafted. Favorable consideration was given to- day in the same connection to throw ing open the tax rate features to pub lie hearings
 Insurgents to Fight IrUgIam
 Representative frear tWis.) leader of the insurgents" in financial mat trrs. made known their plans for fighting the Mellon tax bin today by announcing that as soon as Congress rcconvencs he will open an attack gainst it Oil the House floor.
 f.nmors were circulating that some advocates Of a bonus, chagrined over the heavy bombardment of opposition from the country, were planning a counter stroke by which they hoped to force the House 10 vote for higher surtaxes than the present 50 per cent
 The Ways and Means subcommittee is giving attention to proposals Of Sec rctary Mellon that taxpayers be allow ta to make the same deductions for capital losses as for capital gains. The present rate is 12 1-2 per cent It is believed this will be recommended.
 Difficulties arc expected from the senate over the proposal to create a board Of appeals thr membership of which would he for ten years. This period Of time is to avoid what has been the source of a common com plaint among taxpayers IL is direct ed against tbe practice of sending different auditors a number of times t0 review cases.
 It is planned to have the board Of