The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-01-23


ment of s%urtaxes as al present i'm
posed.
Nobody In congress Is opposed to
the cutting of the income tax per-
centages which are being paid by
wage and salary earners, who as for
single men, nuke more than $1,000
a year, and as for married men make
more than $1,000 a year. Everybody
in congress desires or p~retends to de-
sire that the man of comparatively
small income shall be relieved of a
part OF his burdens. There are GER
tain elements In congress, however.
which insist, as they put il, that
wealth shall continue to be taxed at a
high rate.
1t is an old story. of course. but ii
may be said that the members Of con-
gress who think that surfaces should
be cut are insistent in statement OF
belief that much money which other
wise would be put into taxes is now
Invested in tax-exempt securities.
This money, they say. if no longer
taxed would be put into industries.
give employment to men and help TO
reduce the cost of living.
senate Debate May Be Long.
1t IS certain now that some tax re-
duction plan will be put through con-
gress, but 1t may be the summers
heat will be sitting the city Of Wash
ington before the enate gets through
with discussion of the matter. Ii Is
understood that all but about ten OF
the Republicans in the senate are sat
isfied with the Mellon tax reduction
plan as proposed, that is, satisfied TO
put 1t through as it stands, even If
they do not entirely agree with the po-
litical wisdom of attempting TO legis-
late on taxes at this time.
The few Republicans in the senate
who will fight the Mellon plan, If 1t
shall come over from the house of rep
r~esentatives in the form proposed by
the secretary of the treasury, are OPP
ponents of reduction of surtaxes. Ten
senators can keep a debate running
for months If they are so Inclined.
So long as any man wants to talk on
the subject, the senate cannot come
to a vote. So it is that compromises
may be forced in the senate in order
to secure a vote at all, compromises
which may change the whole face OF
the legislation.
Naturally the Republican majority
desires to put tax reduction through
as a measure approved by all of the
Republicans, but it is becoming evil
dent that this cannot be done. The
Democratic party is just as anxious to
support tax reduction as Is the Re-
publican party. The chances are that
when the bill Is put to ii vote in the
senate the majority of the Democrats
will vote AYE"
The Treasury department has many
expert accountants In its service.
They unquestionably were put to work
to supply the material for the outlin-
ing of the Mellon plan. Congress is
doing a lot of figuring on its own &C
count, but whether ii is expert tigur-
ing or not is q matter later to be de-
termined.
Senate May XIII Bonus Bill.
- 50
While the fate of the bonus bill
undecided the members of congress
, who are figuring must take accoun
of how much the bonus payments vii
, amount to if the bill shall become
r law, and how much tax reduction ca
, be made and yet allow for the pay
: ments TO the ex-soldiers.
: Opinion on the fate of the bonu
, bill still is on the shifting sands. A
. has been said in Washington letter
many times. the former service mel
have been certain that their cause hai
votes enough in the senate TO NEGATIVE
the presidential veto of the measure
) The leaders of the senate are on rec
! ord as concurring in this belief of TIL
, ex-service men. Another change haI
come over the face of the situation
however, and now it Is declared tina
the senate will sustain the Presi
dents veto. a veto which 1t general.
is assumed Is certain.
During the holiday season, Of course
the majority of the members of con
gress have been absent from the cap
itol, a good many of them having gon'
TO their distant homes, but a certail
number were compelled to remain her
in order 10 work I the Legislative
program for the immediate future. I
may be that congress will do nothing
but preparation for a do-nething con
gress is just about as lard work a.
preparing for a do-something con
gress. Proposals for legislation mus
be given working attention. even 1
every measure seems to be doomed