Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1923-12-06
TAX REDUCTION
IS POPULAR

4 Washingtan.-Tha extraordinary
popular response with which Secre-
tary Melons tax reduction proposal
has been met has been the occasion
wonder in Washington troughout the
week. Mr.. Mellon does not profess
| to be politician and ne was the
last source from which so popular a
| proposition was expected. Carried
into effect his proposal would re-
duce the income tax of him who now
pays s28 to S15.75, of him who now
pays SOS to $38.25 of him who pays
| 1928 to $72 and so on up to the man
who pays $456. His tax under the
Mellon plan would be reduced tol
| 1924. The Mellon plan would also
wipe out all the annoying little taxes,
| such as 10 per cent on movies and
theaters, telephones, kilograms, etc.
OF course the fact is that the people |
are overburdened with taxes and |
such a reduction would afford great
relief. Consequently messages, let
tiers, kilograms, etc. are pouring in
urging the adoption of the Mellon
plan. The support is by no means
partisan. Democratic as well as Re-
publican papers are urging their
delegations in congress to Import the
plan The administration, which /
had been fearful to open up the tax
question, has heard the popular de-
mand and the prospects are that the
Mellon plan will be enacted into law.
Secretary Mellon followed up his
proposal for tax reduction with
warning that it would be impossible
to reduce taxes and also pass bonus
bill. He pointed out that even il
the bonus were provided for by
bond issue the interest and sinking
fund would absorb the present sur
plus of S30O,00O,000 receipts over
expenses. This phase of the situa-
ton is occasioning much embarrass-i
ment TO President Coolidge. He had
about made up his mind to approve
a bonus bill but there are so many
more taxpayers who would be re-
lieved by the reduction of taxes than
there are soldiers wo would benefit
from the bonus that the choice is
a peculiarly difficult one. Thus far,
none of the leaders of the House is
willing to commit himself on the
question, and being a revenue mea-
sure the Mellon scheme would have
to originate in the House.
1t is already evident that the
bonus cannot be abandoned without
severe opposition, especially from
the more progressive Senators. Sena-
tors Johnson of California and Dill
of Washington have announced
themselves as asolutely for the
bonus. Senator Johnson, who is
Mr.. Coolidge's likliest rival
for the Republican nomination, de-
clares that the Republican party
stands pledged to give the bonus to
the soldiers and cannot repudiate its
pledge. Senator Curtis of Kansas,
Republican whip, advocates a COM
promise whereby income taxes would
be reduced approximately s200,060,-l
600 year and some form of bonus
bill passed. Mr.. Curtis advocates
an increase of the customs duties on
Injuries sufficient to offset the re-
duction in income taxes. Altogether
there are the makings of very
pretty fight in this situation and the
coming season of Congress gives
promise of being repiete with inter-
est.
ne ldl6ol tNepuUllCdH Cduuiudlei
for the presidency according to his
own announcement IS Senator Jim
Watson of Indiana. Mr.. WatsonI
represents the extreme stand pat ele-
ment of the party and it would be
hard to find anyone who believed he
could win the nomination. In fact,
he frankly states that he is out for
the Indiana delegation chiefly ito
keep Hiram Johnson from getting
it." From Massachusetts, S come
word that Senator Johnson's friends
will make determined effort to
capture the Bay State delegation,
while in the Coolidge camp it is
learned that the Presidents friends
will make like effort to capture the
California delegation.
Thus far the developments in the
Democratic field are all in favor of
Grown Prince McAdoo greatly to the
CONSERVATION of the anti-McAdoo-
ties. Mr.. McAdoo has announced
that he is for the bonus, tax-re-
duction and a bond issue, although
how he would accomplish these con-
flicting ends he does not explain,
Woodrow Wilson has Just written
the Brooklyn Democratic Club a
letter indicating that he intends to
take an active part in the Demo-
cratic campaign greatly to the sor-
how and dismay of the McAdoo-dle-I
ties. Since Mr.. Wilson made it plain
in his Armistice Day speeches that
he still regards as fools all Ameri-i
cans who do not think as he does
about European entanglements, the
kind of part he would play can be |
| imagined. IncidentaNy, Cox of
Ohio, has announced his candidacy
again on a straight League of Ma
lions platform. Truly, tits merry !