San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-12
COP. REGIME
.FACESCR|T|CAL-
SITUATION NOW
Congress Has Not Followed
Out Coolidge's Rec
concentrations.
COMPLAIN BY LETTER
Lawmakers Have Refused
to Carry Out Tax Cut.
Suggestions.
By DAVID LAWRENCE

Copyright by The San Antonio Light.
Washington, ID. C., March 12.-The
administration is face to face with a
critical situation in Congress. The
principal recommendation made by
President Coolidge in his December adj
dress have not been acted upon. Even
the intimation conveyed by the White
House last week that the President
would like to see Congress pass joint
resolution making Immediately effec-
tive the 25 per cent reduction on 1928
incomes, has thus far failed to pro-
duce action.
The utter ineffectiveness Of the leg
islative branch of the government at
this time is the subject of widespread
complaint, judging by the letters pour
ing in here from different parts of the
country. The administration is in
clined to blame the congressional
tendency to investigate instead of leg
islate. Mr.. Coolidge made pointed
speech on that phase of congressional
duty last Saturday night and it means
the administration has begun to rea-
lie the necessity of driving Congress
somewhat or at least placing the re-
sponsibility for inaction on the two
Houses.
Could Make Reduction.
Perhaps tie most fragrant case of
congressional lassitude is the record of
both Democrats and the Republicans
on the proposal to give the taxpayers
of America the benefit on March 10.
of this year, Of a reduction on the
1923 income taxes. Throughout the
United States citizens have been max
ing out their returns in the hope that
before Saturday of this week when the
first income tax payments are due.
Congress might get into action and
pass the necessary legislation.
IL Congress wanted to make the re-
duetion Immediately effective it could
be done. Joint resolutions have been
known TO pass without even the for
mality of a roll call and in war times
Congress frequently broke its own
records in passing needed legislation.
The responsibility for the delay in
making the 1923 income tax reduc-
tons effective at once is not upon the
White House or the Treasury Depart
ment, for both have urged action of
some kind at once so that uncertainty
would be removed. The proposal
originated with Chairman Green of
the House ways and means committee
who made it part of the general
revenue bill. The Democrats promptly
suggested separate legislation by
means Of a joint resolution so that
the latter might go through without
waiting for the inevitable debate on
the main revenue law affecting 1923
incomes.
The Democrats also proposed that
the German rates apply to 1923. The
ways and means committee had the
power to report out to the House a
separate resolution affecting 1925 in
comes, but did not do so, and there
is much gossip as to whether some
administration leaders used their in
fluence to keep the measure in com.
mittee or to force the proposal out.
There have been some, for instance,
who thought the provision affecting
1928 incomes might be used as lever
age to force quick action on the main
revenue bill and that the taxpayers
could not BE injured by the delay be-
cause a rebate could always be given
or else the taxpayer permitted to omit
one of the quarterly installments on
the 18th of June, September or De-
cember.
Only few days remain before the
first payments are due. If the House
wished it could report and vote on a
measure in "a hours and the resolu-
ton sent to the Senate where it is
doubtful if any Democrat or Repub-
Fan would care to take the iespensi-
biiity OF blocking an immediate cut in
taxes. But Congress is unaware, evil
IDENTIFY, Of the pressure of public opin-
ION, somewhat about which, however,
President Coolidge may find it de-
sirable the next "a hours to remind
.Snpwro~e