The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-09-26
Would Regard Republican Sue
cess in November as MAN
date" to Repeal Pres
ent Law.
WOULD FAVOR MILLlONAlREs
President Still Wants Reduc
ton of Surtaxes on Big In
comes, and Opposes Estate
Taxes and Publicity
Of Returns.


success at the polls on November 4
would be regarded by President Cool
idge as mandate to substitute the
Mellon plan" of taxation for the
present Democratic law and thus de-
prive small taxpayers of the generous
reduction in taxes they now enjoy
and instead give most Of the benefits
to the millionaires and billionaires
Mr.. Coolidge and his Secretary OF the
Treasury have frankly favored in the
past.
Partisan Republican newspapers,
evidently speaking with inspiration
from the White House, have repeat
eddy published the statement that Mr.
Coolidge's election and Republican
control of Congress will be the signal
for revision of the new Democratic
tax law and the enactment in its
stead of the Mellon scheme. The
Presidents own language in his
statement accompanying his approval
of the Garner-Simmons (Democratic)
bill is taken to justify the prediction
made by Republican newspapers.
Mr.. Coolidge declared his opposi-
tion to the surtax rates, running to
40 per cent, to the estate tax Of 40
per cent. and to publicity for income
tax returns, among other provisions
of the bill, and asserted that the
measure did not represent a sound
and permanent tax policy" In all
the objections he raised against the
new law. Mr.. Coolidge explained, Sec
rotary Mellon concurred with him.
Harvey's Paper Hints Plan
The Washington Post, whose edi-
tor in chief is George B. Harvey, ID
regarded as the most knowing spokes-
man of the White House on political
subjects. This paper on June 4, two
days after President Coolidge reluc-
family signed the new bill. published
news article in which appeared the
following paragraph:
1.-THE statement Isent to Congress
by Mr.. Coolidgel is accepted as dec
laration by the President of an cleo.
ton issue. and in this regard 1t is
considered likely that II Repub-
lican Congress 10 elected and Mr..
Coolidge ia returned to the White
House, he will call a special session
of the new Congress after next
March A."
What President Coolidge and Score
tary Mellon demanded OF Congress
was a reduction. of the surtaxes on
the incomes Of millionaires from q
maximum of so per cent. to maxi
mum of only rs per cent. thus cut
ting the taxes Of those With incomes
Of $4,000 and more by many thou
sands year at the expense Of the
smaller taxpayers. This is shown by
the fact that the Mellon Plan" If
adopted az its author and Mr.. Cool
idge urged. would have benefited S109
income taxpayers more than the Dem
ocratic bill. while the latter has act
ually brought substantial relief to
6,656,067 persons more than the Mel
Ion scheme would have benefited.
Scheme President Favors
The reduction Of so per cent. in the
surtaxes on an income of $4,000, 700,
advocated by President Coolidge and
Secretary Mellon. would have meant
saving Of $1.300,000 to that lone
taxpayer. AT the same time, had
their plan been adopted, the saving to
1866 taxpayers with an average in
come Of $4,000 a year each, aggregat-
ing $5.o00,Q00 would have been only
$4,000, The Mellon scheme with
which the President wants Congress
to replace the present Democratic
law, would have saved more money to
a taxpayer with an income of 100000
year-and there are upwards of a
thousand in this class-than it would
have saved to go taxpayers whose in
comes averaged $4,000 each.
Small taxpayers who are now get
hing the benefit CT tax reductions
yiven to them by the Democrats of
Congress- have special interest in de-
feating President Coolidge and Repub-
tiean Senators and Representatives at
the election in November. The power
full interests which have been attempt
ing to force the Mellon plan on the
peonle will succeed il Mr.. Coolidge and
Republican majority in the Senate
and the House are chosen. 1t was only
the Democrats with assistance from
certain western Progressives. that pre-
vented the enactment of the Mellon
soheme In the recent session of Con
sress,
These millionaires and hillionaires
for whom President Coolidge and Sec
rotary Mellon have fought so hard in
the last fourteen months could wen
afford to sBend millions to control the
elections In November, The saving
they could thus obtain through the re-
duction of their normal and surfaces
at the expense of thousands of smaller
taxpayers would make their contribu-
kiana IN PanuhIfnnm nrNoAau q a. a.