New Britain herald., 1924-02-19
TILSON BITTER END'
 LEADER ON TAXES
Urges President to Issue State.
 nent for No Compromise
BY GEORGE II. MANNING.

Washington Bureau of N. F. Herald)
 Washington, Feb. 19.--Representa- tive John c. Tilson of New Haven came to the front today as the undis- puted leader of the bitter end" re- publicans in the house who will ac-
 cept no compromise on the Mellon plan for tax reduction.
 They will stand or fall on the Mel- lon plan, providing a maximum Of a5 per cent surtax rates, as opposed 10 the democratic plan presented by
 Representative Gardner, democratic
 leader on the ways and means com
 mittee, providing q maximum surtaA
 O! fl per cent, and the E'reer plan,
 adopted by the northwestern insur- gents cmbodying a maximum surtaA rate Of 35 per cent
 The other republcan members of the house from Connecticut, Congress-
 mon Merritt, Freeman and Fem, are standing by Mir. Tilson.
 The Tilson stand, though courag- eous, is undoubtedly doomed to de- feat, and will most likely be defeated by compromise plan, providing Il maximum Of about 37is on surtaxes.
 Representative Tilson, ono of the leading members of Inc ways and means committee, called at the White House yesterday 10 talk over the Mel lon tax plan again with President Coolidge. He urged the president to come out openly in demand on con- gross for no compromise on the Mel lon plan, but, it is understood, was unable to coax Mr. Coolidge into that attitude.
 Upon returning to the capitol he issued statement asserting that he was die hard" and would oppose to the bitter end any compromise on tho Mellon tax reduction plan.
 Later in the afternoon ;herc was q meeting of the leaders of the dlffer- ont groups, attended hy Speaker Gil lett, Republican Leader Longworth. Representative I'reer, leader of the northwest insurgents: Representative Tilson and half dozen others, who gathered in an effort 10 reach some agreement.
 The meeting broke up abruptly and all discussion of compromise was abandoned when Mir Tilson let it be | understood that he was opposed unal- 1 terably 10 any compromise and that l a large body of the republican mom- | bership stood with him.
 1t is generally agreed now that | there is no further hope Of adopting | the Mellon plan, and that compro- misc on the Freer plan, put forward | by the northwestern insurgents. stands | al the present time the best chance of | adoption.
 Representative Tilson's statement reads as follows:
 ''G had no objection 10 compromis- ing on matters of organization. and did what little 1 could to promote harmony at the start of the session when no vital principles were nt stake. With respect to the tax bill there is a principle at stake. and whatever anyone else may decide 10 to. l prefer 10 stand up for the prin. riplc and go down with the ship, if Inc ship goes down at all.
 '1 do not mean 10 say that if de- featcd on the bill as reported I will Ii not use my vote to get what I believe Is the next best thing obtainable, but do mean 10 say that I do not wish { To be d party 10 any agreement 10 gain support by promising in advance , o vote for a plan unsoUnd 10 meet Inc conntry's financial needs. do lot wish 10 bind myself in advance Co 'ote for bill believe to be unsound md inadequate as a revenue pro. lucer. I am not at all sure that I would not rather have the democratic Jill rammed down my throat and feel rec 10 emit groan or two than to wallow an unsatisfactory substitute, l ,artially of my own making. and then I ry and make people believe I like n." f