Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-12
.BONUSPUT ASIDE
FOR TAxD|SCUSS|ON
House Committee Decides to
Delay Measure Until
Settlement of Issue.

The soldiers bonus bill was side
tracked by the ways and means COM
mittee today until after the revenue
measure is disposed of on the floor OF
the House
Chairman Green said the COMMITTEES
was of the opinion that sufficient
time could not be given to considera-
tion or the compensation measures
win the tax question occupying the
attention of memb ers on the floor. He
announced, however, that it would be
taken up Immediately after the rev
ehue measure is out of the way, which
leaders estimate will take up at least
two weeks.
| The republican steering committee
| considered today the impending floor
HSht on the income tax rates and
aithough apparently agreed that the
Melon surtax rates cannot stand, it
old not announce that a definite COM
promise rate had been agreed upon.
PRESIDENT Coolidge is disposed to
a liberal attitude" regarding the tax
bill now before the House, "recog-
nizing that Legislation is made in
Congress and not art the White
House," his secretary c. Bascom
Slemp, gathers from 1.-The Presidents
discussion of the subject"
This was transmitted in a reply
to Representative Martin J.. Davey
democrat, of Ohio. Representative
Davey has asked whether President
Coolidge would veto any tax reduc-
ton bill that differs materially from
so called Mellon plan
| Secretary Slemp replied: TT is
impossible to determine in advance
what might be regarded as material
differences" and later in the letter
he points out that the function of
the White House in approving or
disappearing is not required to be
performed until after that OF the
Congress has been performed"
Revenue Bill Reported.
The revenue bill containing all Of
the Mellon income tax rates, as well
as a provision for a % per cent re-
duction in the 1923 taxes payable this
year, was formally reported to the
House yesterday by Chairman Green
Two additional reports by other re
publicans of the committee and
democratic report also were sub
mitted.
1t was announced that the demo
Gratis would hold a caucus tomorrow.
at which an attempt probably would
be made to bind their members 70
the democratic tax reduction plan as
of Texas and outlined in the minority
report.
Leaders expressed little hope of OBJ
tanning an agreement for limiting
general debate on the revenue OIL.
which will start Thursday: Char
man Green said he expected the de-
bate to continue at least for three
days, after which he thought an
agreement could be made to restrict
it, and then take up reading OF the
RI aTfE
Representative Davey also made
public letters from William G. NC
Adoo. John w. Davis and Senator
Underwood, democrat, Alabama. CIV
ing their opinions on tax reduction
Mr.. McAdoo declared Hthe Mellon
argument about the high surfaces in
terferring with business is the sheer
est bunkum-" He urged the demo
Gratis to agree on a program. but IN
regard to the Garner plan said ne
saw no reason why there should
not be a difference between tho
100000 and S10o0.000 incomes
which would be taxed on the same
rates.
Mr.. Underwood said he was heart
lily in favor of the reduction policy
and shall support the measure pro
posing the greatest cut possible"
Mr. Davis said democrats occupy
the vantage ground OF liberalism and
we must not let ourselves be driven
from it
Text of Letter.
The text of Mr.. Slemp's letter to
Representative Davey follows:
IT am very much obliged to you for
your letter of the 26th instant l
shall bring it to the Presidents per-
sonal attention at the earliest oppor-
tunity that may present. l do not
understand that the President wishes
at this time to go into further detail
concerning his attitude toward this
legislation. He has talked very
frankly about it to the newspaper
men, but I think is averse to making
any unqualified statement that would
seem to commit him to course OF
edge of the form the legislation will
take. Even your own inquiry IN
cludes a qualification which would be
subject to much discussion and rea-
ask whether he would veto any tax
reduction bill that differs materially
from the so-called Mellon plan 1t is
impossible to determine in advance
what might be regarded as materlat
cussions of the subject have indicated
that he is disposed to a liberal att
tude. recognizing that legislation is
made In congress anu lOI al lHH
White House, and that the function
of the White house in approving or
disapproying is not required to be
performed until after that of the Con-
eress has been performed"
Republican leaders in the House re-
iterated after checking up a poll of
their delegat lions that there was
slight hope of passing the Mellon sur
tax rates providing maximum of %
per cent Advocates of these rates
in the bill as reported by the commit
tee based hope of their adoption on
the forcing of a record vote, claiming
there were at least 120 republicans
who favor them. Representative
Longworth. republican floor leader.
reiterated the opinion, however, that
their adoption was not possible.
The course of procedure on the
revenue bill in the House, Mr.. Long
worth explained, would force votes
first on amendments to the rates as
contained in the bill. This would
mean. it was said, that the repuh
licans must unite on compromise
rate or bow to the united democratic
stand, claimed by their leaders, for a
maximum rate of A per cent If the
compromise rate We're adopted there
would be no chance for a separate
vote on the original rates carried in
the bill.