Evening star., 1923-11-05

sible to reduce income taxes when
Congress meets early next month is
increasing every day. The extreme
differences in opinion among leaders
of the Senate. the House and the
President and members of the cabi-
net naturally add to the variety OF
the general discussion by editors who
have opinions on the subject. Incl
dentally there Is general note Of
criticism aimed at those who would
reduce surtaxes and maintain the
present rate on the smaller incomes.
while the majority of the nations
editors are firmly convinced taxes
should be cut.
Congress can reduce taxes, but It
won't" AYERS the New York Evening
Post independently. What it seems
impossible to drive into the con-
sciousness of Congress is that Secre-
tary Mellon Is not proposing to re-.
duce the amount OF taxes that are
collected from the rich; he is pro-
posing to increase that amount. He
Is urging that the surta0 figures as
they appear in the income tax law be
lowered in order that the money re-
turn from the law be raised. At pres
ent the farm bloc is not proposing
or to allow the Secretary of the
Treasury to get more taxes out of the
rich man.. 1t Is dropping the SUBJ
stance in order to grasp at the shad-
ow." This is also very much the
opinion of the Kansas City Times (re-
publican), which insists 'the longer
the income tax scale stands as it
does now, the longer will those of
small incomes have to bear the ma
tional burden" To which the To-
ledo Blade independently adds, in
discussing criticisms Of Secretary
Mellon: mo assauing of a govern
ment official has ever been less JUS
titled by facts"
While the Norfolk. Neb., News (re-
publican) feels the public will greet
with enthusiasm any reduction" it
recalls "there can be no tax-cutting
without economy of expenditure"
thus placing the burden directly on
Congress, and this will be very diff
cult" as the New Castle Herald Gre
publican) reviews the outlook, be-
cause when economy is attempted
there is blame for the government
on the one hand and no praise on the
other" In addition any citizen who
studies the figures. the Akron Beacon
Journal (republican) feels. will agree
with Senator Smoot that there Is no
prospect Of an immediate cut In taxa
ton. But every citizen can do his part
to prevent the tax rate from going
higher" It also 'fs easy to under
stand" the New London Day (inde-
pendent) points out, that the cham
pionb of lower taxation will have q
support at the polls. for no matter
how we'll able q person may be to pay
taxes it is seldom that there is any
pleasure in performing that practical
duty"
position Of half a billion dollars of
unnecessary taxes for another year,
Just because 1t appears politically ex-
pedient to do SO, will be resented by
the 100000 citizens against whom
Just as surely as the Treasury hnds.
itself in the possession of few hun,
dred millions in excess Of appropria atfons
will new appropriations be author
ized to absorb all available funds and
probably to require the imposition Of
additional taxes as we'll" 1t should
also be remembered, the Walla Walla
Bulletin Undependent) points out,
that ;"the stimulation Of the sale of
tax-exempt securities is adding to
taxpayers burdens by increasing local
and state as wen as federal taxes,
It il q good thing, as the Lexington
Leader ldemocratic) analyzes the OUT
look. that the people have several
months In which to think this problem
through and in which to make their
wishes known to the men who; with
1924 in mind, will be peculiarly sensitive
to any rumbiings or ground swefls, and
who. can be absolutely controlled by q
public sentiment which Is vocaR and
positive" Agreeing that this Is the
truth, the Coshocton Tribune and Times
Age Independently suggests ''how much
the taxes can be reduced depends
upon how much party leaders and
congressman really desire to reduce.
The best card either party can play
10 the straight card Of patriotism anu
honesty. Political bunk will hurt far
more than It win help. But aheAl