The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-06
REPUBLICANS RETAKE POLE
POSITION

In the matter of income tax re-
vision the Republican administra-
ton got the jump" on the politi-
cal opposition some weeks ago
when Secretary Mellon came out
with his comprehensive plan bear
| ing the Endorsement of President
| Coolidge. The Mellon plan pro-
posed a reduction of all schedules
from the highest to the lowest,
with particularly deep cut on
taxes on earned incomes
Democratic leaders in Congress
Immediately became busy, and in
the course Of time they trotteu
forth the Garner revision scheme
which proposed to reduce the
higher bracket" rates to a. per
cent in lieu of the 25 per cent
mark suggested from the Treasury
department, and to make a still
deeper cut than the Mellon plan on
the smaller incomes. This bill
looked mighty good to the Demo-
cratic politicians as bait for
votes In the coming election. The
sponsors believed they hal taken
the wind out of the Republican
sails with the Garner substitute.
There was one thing, however,
which both parties appear to have
overlooked, and that was a plan
whereunder there would be q re-
ductiOn. of income taNeS due and
payable this calendar year. 1t is
to he borne in mind that both the
Mellon and Garner bills contem-
plate reductions in the taxes to be
paid in 1925. but not in those of
1924.
Now come the Republican mem-
bers OF the Ways and Means com
mittee of the House with new
plan which, If approved by Con-
gress, will make cut of 20 per
cent in the taxes for 1924, the first
installment of which is due on or
before March Is. This plan fur
Their provides that If congressional
approval is forthcoming after
March rs, there may he a rebate of
any surplus payments which may
have been made.
Here is something of more i'm
mediate interest to income taXpay-
ers than either the Mellon, the
Garner or the insurgent Republic
can plan. Democratic leaders
were quick to discover that the Re
pu'blicans, by stealing a march on
them, had again placed themselves
in a strong strategic position with
reference to the favor of the tau
payers. They are saying now that
they were preparing to do some
thing OF this kind on their own ac-
count, but had not gotten around
to it. Be this as it may, the Re-
publicans have beaten them to it,
and they have jockeyed the Dem
ocrats out OF the pole position.
1t is now UP to the latter to devise
something even more to the liking
of taxpayers If they can do it. 1t
would seem that about the only
chance they have is to propose
that the cut of 25 per cent agreed
on by Republican members of the
House Ways and Means committee |
be made 30 or 35 or some still |
higher percentage.
1t begins to look as if it might :
have been better for the Demo-
Gratis in Congress to work hand in !
hand with the Republicans in de-
vising an acceptable nonpartisan
measure, or to agree to some Sort ,
of compromise between the Mellon
and Garner revisions, effective on
taxes to be paid next year. In
stead of that the Democrats have
rejected any overtures to reduce
the maximum surtax below the "A
per cent mark set by them in the
Garner bill. They have elected to
make revision partisan issue, be- t.
lieving good politics" for the
Democratic party dictated that
course. 1t appears now that the
Republicans have picked up the
gauntlet tossed in their direction
and tacitly suggested to the Dem
ocrats that 1t is the latter's move.
Truly, the lay of the blocks on
the checkerboard is becoming more
and more interesting. - Minneap-
oils Tribune.