The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-19
Ia Is
7 s rsed
L :
by Leaders
Senator Smoot, Who Will
Head Finance Committee,
Will Support Mellon
Program.
Regulars Now Back Plan
BY Universal Service.

Washington, Nov. 1S.-Tax reduc-
ton legislation at the coming session
of congress seemed almost certain
| ty tonight.
The announcement OF Senator Reed
Smoot, who will be the chairman Of
the finance committee, that he will
get behind the Mellon program in
the senate. II 1t is passed by the
house, was believed to have given ir-
resistable momentum to the move.
ment.
Shoots change of heart means
that Senator Lodge. majority leader,
Senator Curtis, whip, and others
among the regulars" or conserva-
tive republican leaders in the senate
| likewise have abandoned their orig
inal idea OF preventing consideration
OF the proposals before the presiden-
| tial election.
This reversal Of attitude was In
| terpreted as signifying that word had
been received that the Mellon pro-
gram was an administration propo-
stion and that the president will
urge 1t vigorously in his message.
Politics Is Feared.
Senator Smoot. 1t was pointed out.
would not have assumed responsible
Iity for announcing the matter will
have to come up unless he thoroughly
understood this to be the desire of
the other leaders with whom he has
been cooperating. Smoot was tho
RET - w.t,t q
ment that the Mellon plan would not
be acted upon because Of the danger
Of the La Toilette progressives and
democrats playing politics with it by
tacking on obnoxious amendments
increasing. rather than decreasing.
taxes. This same view was reiter-
ated after a conference between
Smoot. Lodge. Curtis. Warren and
others when the majority leaders ar
rived Friday. ss-sa.-~s
Now that these forces are deter
mined TO get behind the bill In the
senate, IL 1t comes over from the
house. there is believed to be little
or no doubt that II will go through
the lower branch. although there may
be some notifications. There has
been no attempt TO commit senators
and representatives to the exact de-
tails Of the Mellon suggestions.
Representative Martin b. Madden
or Illinois. chairman of the appro.
priations committee, announced to.
night that he is in favor of the Mel.
ION program except the proposed re.
peal of the amusement taxes, and
with this exception he will give 1t his
full support.
Confers With Coolidge.
Senator Lodge had luncheon con.
ference with President SoolidgeC to
day. The tax reduction program was
thoroughly thrashed out and a num-
ber OF other legislative matters to
be treated in the presidents mes
sage gone over.
Lodge was understood to have told
the president the exact situation in
the senate and 20 have ascertained
Mr.. Coolidge's definite views. The
executive Is expected TO Insist upon
action at the coming session and
exert the full power of the admins
tration's influence to that end. With
the president and the conservatives
In the senate. as we'll as Senator
Borah. progressive. who has taken
a lead In tho fight. making common
cause OF the proposed relief. II is
believed a satisfactory bill can be
passed
Senator Smoot asserts. however
that this will require the support of
nine or ten conservative democrats.
steps now are being taken to ascer.
tam whether that many minority
members will agree TO forego politics
and go along with the plan. Senator
Glass OF Virginia, former secretary
OF the treasury In the wilson cabinet.
and king Of Utah. form a powerful
nucleus for this force.
Smoot Explains Stand.
Explaining his position tonight sen.
ator Smoot said that he not only
agrees with the principle OF the Mel
ION plan, but he would favor going
a little further than the secretary.
Some taxes which Mr.. Mellon has not
included might be cut down. the sen.
ator said.
His only objection from the begin.
ming. he emphasized, has been the dan.
ger OF having the measure made
palitical measure and n lot OF obnox.
ious amendments added to II. But.
the senator now believes tho promo.
sition must be taken up In spite OF
this danger and he. with the other
regular leaders" are going TO fight
to see II through.
Discussing the soldier bonus. which
II IL declared In some quarters would
interfere with the proposed tax reduo.
tions, Senator Smoot Hald II the bonus
advocates will accept sales tax. he
viii be glad TO vote for the bonus.
Many OF the other bonus opponents
would do the same thing.
The point is made that by carry.
Ing n sales tax TO finance II, tho bonus
would not block the tax reduction pro.