Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-09
HOUSE LEADERS
!. (Continued from PAGE One)

that I'VE have you beaten and will
show you Thursday night"
The discussion was had after II
had been announced at the white
house that President Coolidge was in
hearty support of plans to give tax
legislation right OF way over the
bonus. At the S: ne time, white
house Spokesman. in discussing the
tax situation, said = president con-
sidered that the surtax schedule car
ried in the Garner Democrat substi-
tute for the Mellon bill would tend
to discourage the investment OF
capital in business enterprises rather
tlan in tax-exernpt securities.
The opposition OF organization
leaders to it's program failed to alter
plans of the Republican soldier bloc.
Those who went over the situation
with Longworth later held confer
ence and determined to go into the
PARTY conference prepared to bring
about a vote on the priority Ques-
ton.
Another meeting of members of the
group will be held before Thursday
nights meeting. At that time ii will
be decided what sort of a resolution
will be presented. Leaders in tie
movement tonight declared they
would either call on the ways and
means committee to report bonus
bill by January 81 or recommend its
passage as soon as 1t completes con-
sideration OF the administrative fea-
lures of the Mellon tax bill.
If a resolution. offered by the war
veterans, Is rejected by the confer
ence bonus proponents plan to bring
their fight to the floor Of the house.
StInt, a or thayy onnfnnH would ha
possible as new house rules, which
are expected to be adopted next week,
undoubtedly will make provision, they
predict, for the discharge of commit
tees.
A motion to discharge the ways
and means committee from consider
alton of the Mckenzie bonus bill.
which is essentially the same as the
compensation measure vetoed by
President Harding, would bring about
record vote in the house, Republic
cans favoring the bill counting on the
support of Democrats to put the meas
ure through.
Mr.. Longworth. declaring he was
in thorough accord with the admin
istrauon tax program. said he and
other party leaders had not consult
ed as to the feasibility of holding
Thursday nights conference. Today's
meeting with the three former SER
vice men was at their suggestion,
he aid, adding that there was no
doubt in his mind that the country
was demanding action on tax reduc-
ton ahead of the bonus.
At Thursday nights conference,
Mr.. Longworth will propose that the
ways and means committee be in
structed to complete consideration of
all features Of the tax bill. report it
and then determine whether passage
of bonus bill should be recommend
ed. He declared today that once re-
ported that tax bill would be given
priority on the house legislative pro-
gram. He made the prediction that,
barring instructions to take action
on the bonus. the committee would
have the revenue measure ready for
the house by February /, or shortly
afterwards.
The ways and means committee is
considering the tax bill under an
agreement to pass first on its admin
istrative features, which are now I'M
der discussion, then to reach a deci-
sion as to a report of the bonus. and
finally to take up proposed revision
Of tax rates. Some members of the
committee have indicated n willing
ness to divide the tax bill into two
measures-one containing purely adj
miniStrative provisions and the other
rate chanGes-and to report them
separately with the bonus bill sand
WICKED in between, a program which
Mr.. Longworth opposes.