Evening star., 1924-01-16
Politics at Large
BY N. O. MESSENGER

portance gathered in Washington to
attend or observe the meeting Of the
national comWittee to select the con-
ventiop city and issue. tho call for. the
convention which will nominate can
didates for President and Vice Presi-
dent are congratulating themselves
that they came at an opportune and
Interesting time. They find them
selves hero to see the G. o. p. with a
heap sight O. trouble on the old mans
mind" they say.
The observation has reference to the
condition the republicans are in with
regard to the tax-reduction bill. The
action of the insurgent republicans
in the House Monday joining with the
democrats in abrogating the rule
which limits amendments to and de-
Date upon revenue measures is classed
as opening the way for offering of
amendments in the line of the demo-
higher than the figures stipulated i'm
the Mellon plan. and thereby casting
vivid democratic tinge over what
ever legislation Is effected and de-
prtving the republicans Of claiming
all the credit for reducing taxes.
The democratic leaders are delight
ed with Mondays exhibition OF the
power Of the republican insurgents in
the House, following so soon after
the demonstration In the Senate in
the case OF the selection Of a demo-
crat, Senator Smith Of South Caro-
lima, as chairman Of the republican
GTISmmittee TS on interstate commerce.
aney see in these two incidents in
mite possibilities Of combination
with insurgent republicans to en-
barrass the majority.
y 4 \
Chairman Green of the House COM
mtttee on ways and means says there
Is grave menace to the tax-reduction
Dill In the repeal Of the rule. He ap-
prehends that the way will be open
to such an avalanche of amendments
and flood Of debate that it's passage
will not only be delayed, but actually
imperiled.
In that view Of the case the uues-
tlon may arise whether there Is
ground for congratulation among
democrats over the insurgent-demo-
cratic coup. 1t Is said the republicans
VIII lose no occasion to point out to
the country dilatory tactics against
the tax bill or harmful amendments
! that may be offered.
y x X
There is no question that the voters
are thoroughly aroused over the tax
reduction proposition of the admins
tration. 1t was suggested at a. time,
when Congress was not in session, and
the people rose to il" with wonder
full enthusiasm. It was thoroughly
explained and by the time Congress
! assembled the senators and repre-
| sentatives found themselves deluged
with communications from constitu-
ents approving reduction of taxes.
The mass of the voters are not GO
Ing to be so much Interested !n how
| much of the surtax Is or Is not Topped
on as they are in whether the smaller
| incomes are actually reduced. Any
party or faction which defeats this
reduction Is going to catch IT, at the
polls" is the way one republican
leader puts 1t.
x X = X
The meeting of the democratic ma
| tional committee brought to Wash
ington many familiar figures Of old
time war horses of the party. From
the Pacific coast came Isidore Dock
weller. called "the democratic party
In southern California" Mr.. Dock
weller made the treasurer Of the ma
tional committee lift. up his heart by
exhibiting a certified check for $780,
900 to be given the committee if the
convention should choose San Fran
cisco. Thomas Taggart of Indiana
an "old-tmer" for fair. was>on hand.
one OF the best known and greatly
try. Everybody wanted to see Boss
Murphy" of Tammany Hall. An
other popular man was Norman Z.
| Mack Of New York. The successor of
the late Roger Sullivan, the Illinois
; leader, is George Z. Brennan of Chi
cago, who was much sought after.
Two former chairmen of the commit
tee were on hand, Homer S. Cum.
mings of Connecticut and George
White of Ohio.
xx* *
It is generally conceded that Mr.
McAdoe is the favorite OF a majority
Of the national committee for the
presidential candidacy. This is not
conclusive Of his nomination, but is
regarded as giving him a good run
ming start toward 1t, by virtue oe the
influence the committeeman WELD in
their states.
A democrat, who does not support
! Mr.. McAdoo. however, made this
| comment today: "Mr. McAdoo has the
good fortune to have a strong and
militant organization, which has been
at work for him for four years. while
his rivals are in groups with no pur-
! McAdoo's getting the two-thirds vote
| and then fighting each other for the
plum. To be sure, 1t Is q case of Nc
Adoo against the field but the field
! Is outside the breastworks where Mr..
McAdoo is intrenched.
= X *.
| The democratic national committee
| Is trying to shoot the Mellon tax re-
duotion plan full of holes. while the
! republican national committee is
stoutly defending 1t, both issuing
| current statements on the subject
| THE features OF the Mellon plan
which stand out" says, the demo-
cratic committee, are first. reduc-
/ tion OF the higher surtax from so to
25 per cent, which means a reduction
Of 100000 on surtax incomes Of big
taxpayers, and. second, q. reduction of
Is per cent on earned incomes as diff
ferentiated from unearned incomes.
| The first proposal, the reduction of
tho higher surtax. was attempted in
| tho last Congress when Secretary
| Mellon made the same reduction he
Is making now, and the republican
l tax bill provided for q reduction of
tho higher surtax from 66 per. cent to
81 per cent
President Harding made a personal
appeal for such reduction. The
democrats In the Senate offered an
amendment fixing tho higher surta.x
at so per cent, which was accepted: