The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-04-11
SLENDER CHANCE
FOR MELLON TAX
SENATE NOT LIKELY TO PASS
BILL AS REPORTED BY THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE.
BY EDWARD p. CLARK

one chance in fifty that the revenue
act as reported by the senate finance
committee will be sanctioned by the
upper house. In fact, the chances
seem to be that the Democrats, aided
by progressive-radical Republicans,
Will be able TO undo the Longworth
surtax compromise and to fix the sur
tax at higher figure than that pro-
vided for by house action.
There is a sharp difference of opin-
ion among Republican and Democratic
senators and representatives concern
Ing the campaign value of the Mel
Ion tax rates, especially the surtax
rate. A day or two ago the finance
committee of the senate voted the Mel
lon surtax rates into the revenue bill.
Unless the majority by which this
committee action was taken is upset
later by the votes of the two senator's
who were absent from the meeting
the report of the committee to the
senate will be, so to speak, Mellon
report.
After long struggle Representative
Nicholas Longworth, the house Repub-
lican leader, succeeded in getting a
compromise on the Treasury depart
ment's surtax proposition. AS will be
remembered, Mr.. Mellon wanted the
figure put at % per cent, the Demo
Gratis In the house wanted 1t put at a.
per cent and the progressive-radical
Republicans wanted it kept at so per
cent. The compromise at 37k per cent
was secured by Mr.. Longworth at the
expense of certain concessions made
in other matters.
Trying to Please the Voters.
If the Republicans and probably the
Democrats with them were satisfied
that majority of the voters believe
implicitly in Mr.. MELONS financial
sagacity, the chances are that the bill
as the senate committee will report it
would go through without much
trouble, but in the face of evidence in
letter and telegram form that the coun-
try stands back of Mr.. Mellon there
are many Republicans and many Dem
ocrats who hold that the voters are
more concerned about the reduction of
the taxes on small incomes than they
are about anything which affects the
upper brackets.
The Republicans on the senate
finance committee for the most part
are known as conservatives. Senators
LaFollette and Mccormick being alb
sent, the vote by which the Mellon
schedule was represented was just
what it was expected to be. 1t may be
that the Illinois senator's vote would
have offset the Wisconsin senator's
vote if both had been present, but
there is no certainty of this. The fact
is, however, the Mellon tax schedule
won in the committee.
President Coolidge has asked con-
gress to expedite its legislation so
that June 1 may witness the home
going. The older legislators here, men
who remember what happened In the
past when revenue bills of high i'm
portance were up for discussion say
the present tax measure is sufficient
unto itself in making for delay. Seem
irgly none of the old-timers believe
that the measure can be passed in any
kind of form until it has been debated
for at least two months.
Senate Has Lots to Do.
Sixty days discussion of the meas
ure would put 1t under wire before
the first of June, but there are other
matters to take up the time of the
senate, and several of them also are
charged with those elements which
make for delayed action. If the SEN
ate shall allow adjournment by June
/ the proceeding can be taken as a
prime subject for miracle play. The
revenue legislation, In whatever form
1t shall be enacted, will be made a
campaign issue by Democrats, Repub-
licans and by third party men, If such
an organization forces itself into the
national campaign.
Four months ago the Democrats
were looking about for an issue. They
had little else than the League of Ma
tons and they didn't want to make
use of it. Now they have the oil dis
closures and they are seemingly hap
py. They realize that they can't make
the entire campaign on this one Slip
perry plank, however, because already
one or two noted Democrats seemingly
have skated on 1t to their downfall
So the revenue act plus some "pop-
a. 81 oh 70 ha TIT
duced into the house during the pres
ent session for the proposed relief for
farming industries, and few other
things will be added to the weapons of
offense.
Washington politicians believe that
the presidential campaign will be
marked by exceeding bitterness. The
nature of the proceedings within the
rooms of the oil and Daugherty inves-
tigating committees have given an in
dication of how high partisan spirit
can run.
Frank vanderIip's Crusade.
A good deal has been written
about Frank A. Vanderlip's recent
activities in connection with the in
vestigations which are now in prog
ress in congress. He has been rid
iculed unstintedly. but here and there
there have been words of praise fer his
seeming endeavor to do something to
make the public understand what Is
going on and to prevent any future GO
lngs-on of like nature. One thing can
be said. there isn't any questions about
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