The Colorado statesman., 1924-01-19

ment of surtaxes as ut present Inn
posed.
Nobody in congress Is opposed to
the cutting of the income tax per-
centages which are being pdid by
wage and salary earners, who as for
single men, make more than $1,000
year, and as for married men make
more than $1,000 year. Everybody
In congress desires or pretends to de-
sire that the man of comparatively
small income shall be relieved of a
part OF his burdens. There are GER
tain elements in congress, however,
which insist, as they put 1t, that
wealth shall continue to be taxed at a
high rate.
1t is an old story, Of course, but It
may be said that the members of con.
gress who think that surtaxes should
be cut are insistent in statement Of
/ belief that much money which other
wise would be put into taxes Is now
invested in tax-exempt securities.
This money, they say. If no longer
taxed would be put into Industries,
give employment to men and help I"
reduce the cost of living.
Senate Debate May Be Long.
1t is certain now that some tax re-
duction plan will be put through cUn-
gress, but 1t may be the summers
heat will be Sitting the city of WASH
ington before the senate gets through
with discussion of the matter. IL Is
understood that all but about ten OF
the Republicans in the senate are sat
sfied with the Mellon tax reduction
plan as proposed, that is, satisfied TO
put II through us 1t stands, even If
they do not entirely agree with the po-
litical wisdom of attempting to legis-
late on taxes at this time.
The few Republicans in the senate
who will fight the Mellon plan, If it
shall come over from the house OF rep
resentatives in the form proposed by
the secretary of the treasury, are op-
ponents of reduction of surtaxes. Ten
senator's can keep a debate running
for months If they are so inclined.
So long as any man wants TO talk on
the subject, the senate cannot come
to vote. SO 1t is that compromises
may be forced in the senate in order
to secure a vote at all, compromises
which may change the whole face OF
the legislation.
Naturally the Republican, majority
desires to put tax reduction through
as a measure approved by all of the
Republicans, but it is becoming evil
dent that this cannot be done. The
Democratic party is just as anxious to
support tax reduction us is the Re
publican party. The chances are that
when the bill is put to vote in the
senate the majority Of the Democrats
will vote aye"
The Treasury department has many
expert accountants in its service,
They unquestionably were put to work
to supply the material for the outlin-
ing of the Mellon plan. Congress is
doing lot of figuring on its own ac-
count, but whether it is expert figur-
ing or not is Il matter later to be de-
termined
Senate May Kill Bonus Bill.
! While the fate of the bonus bill is
undecided the members of congress
who are figuring must take account
of how much the bonus payments will
amount to If the bill shall become a
law, and how much tax reduction can
be made and yet allow for the pay
ments to the eX-soldiers.
Opinion on the fate of the bonus
bill still is on the shifting sands. AS
has been said in Washington letters
many times. the former service men
have been certain that their cause had
votes enough in the senate to negative
the presidential veto of the measure.
| The leaders of the senate are on rec
ord as concurring in this belief of the
ex-service men. Another change has
come over the face of the situation,
| however, and now it is declared that
the senate will sustain the Presi-
dents veto. veto which it generally
is assumed is certain.
During the holiday season. of course,
the ma jority of the members of con.
gress have been absent from the cap
itol, IL good many of them having gone
to their distant homes, but a certain
number were compelled to remain here
in order to work out the Legislative
program for the immediate future. 1t
may be that congress will do nothing,
but preparation for denothing con.
gress is just about as rard work as
preparing for do-something con.
rress. Proposals for legislation must
be given working attention. even if
every measure seems 10 be doomed
to failure.