Evening star., 1925-05-13
Politics at Large
BY n. o. MEsSENGER.

Wn1Cn the average man can lake III
Iterest, because the pocket-nerve thrills
to the touch in discussing 1t. When
you talk lower payment Of the voters
income tax you will speak the Ian
guage of his tribe" 1t Is something
he can visualize, something tangible.
Therefore the administrator plans
for lower taxes is likely to MI the
popular eye for the months to come
while the work of sharpening the
way.
Every Republican leader is interest
ed in the Administrations plans and
policies, not only on account of the
intrinsic merit of the subject as at
fecting his own pocketbook, but for
it's bearing on the prospects of the
party and the work of the next Con
gress, Secretary Mellon is regarded
as the spokesman Of the admfn1stra-
ton on tax-reduction affairs. Since
his return from Jackson, Miss. where
he addressed the annual convention
of the Mississippi Bankers Associa-
ton May 8, there has been renewed
speculation in official circles over the
administrations plans as to taxation
reduction outlined by him.
Attention is especially drawn to Sec
retary Melons admission that the
proposed insistence upon a constltu-
tional amendment inhibiting the fur
ther issuance of tax-exempt securi-
ties will be abated. The administra.
ton has not relinquished it's BELIEF
+, that such an amendment should De
adopted, but is convinced that 1t can
not be accomplished now. A more
| feasible method than the passage OF
| a resolution for submission of the con-
stitutional amendment Is to be substi-
4 vi ts<r, Ex-in
! to attract capital back into productive
enterprises by a resdjustment Of sur
taxes which ever since the war have
been so high as to drive capital into
productive fields.
The existence of $4,000, 100000 Of
Itax-exemption securities, mostly state
| and municipal bonds, which sum is
growing at the rate of about $1,000
| 600 900 a year is held to constitute
menace which should have been
f, eliminated several years ago, but the
administration recognizes the futility,
/ in view of the fate of it's former rec
| ommendation on the subject, or
| hoping for restrictions on further is
sues of tax-eXempt securities as a
basis for the tax reform that will be
sought next Winter.
The administration has made sew
eral futile attempts in the past to
secure legislation warranting the low
ering of the high surtaxes to a ma
| terial degree, but Congress provided
only grudging relief. In his Jackson
speech. Secretary Mellon admitted
| that there is no counting on a con-
| stitutional amendment for the present.
Consequently" he went on to say,
there is no immediate remedy for the
situation within the power Of the Con
gress except a readjustment or the
! surtaXes on a basis that will attract
! capital back into productive business
! and keep IL from eXhauSting itself in
| tax-eXempt securities or from taking
| advantage Of the many other matters
Of investment by which taxes are
avoided. This is the second course
| and the only one now open to us"
| 1T is obvious" the Secretary said
later in his address, that we must re-
form the tax system by lowering the
rates to a point that will bring wealth
back under taxation and force it to
| carry its share of the burden
y Il x
Mayor Hylan, whose candidacy for
a third term as mayor was going
| along swimmingly, waited by a favor
! ing breeze in the support of William
!, r. Hearst. is getting into his first
cross current of resistance. 1t came
from a Democratic source of impor
| tance and power. The Women's s
! Democratic Union has thrown the
first barrier across the Hylan path.
This is the same Democratic opposi
ton which fought William r. Hearst's
nomination as governor three years
ago. Mr.. HearSt'S alignment with
Mayor Hylan has transferred TO the
mayor the opposition of the union.
The organization consists of Demo
cratic women who are prominent and
potential in the party. There were
rumblings week or so ago of the pos
sibility of their swinging into line
against the mayors denomination.
These were confirmed last Monday,
when the union had it's annual meet
ing and emphatically placed itself on
record as supporting Gov. Alfred E.
Smith, thereby inferentially repudiat-
ing the mayor, whose denomination
Gov. Smith is opposing. The resolu-
tion declared I'VE are proud of the
achievements of our great leader, AL
fred E. Smith. We congratulate him
on his distinguished record of public
service and assure him anew Of our
our readiness to follow it"
The Democratic women in their
resolution went on to say that they
earnestly "desire a complete Demo
cratic victory in the New York City
election in November. 1t must be a
victory which will be signal to the
country that the Democracy of this
State is united and triumphant under
harmonious leadership. We. there
fore, urge the nomination of men and
women who will thus unite the party
and give assurance Of the best type
of municipal government. We call for
candidates Of such high standard that
Democrats and Independents alike
will be glad to follow them to vic
tory"
Which would seem to be by way of
putting UP the bars against Mayor
Hylan, in view of the present rift in
! the party occasioned by his insistence
upon denomination, and the threat of
his ally Mr.. Hearst, to run him as an
Independent candidate if his own
party does not nominate him.
New York Democrats do not under
| estimate the Importance of this drive
of such prominent Democratic women
| as constitute the union against Mayor
Hylan's candidacy. 1t is thought to
presage a counter attack by the wom-
en- in the Hearst organization, who
also sway many votes in New York
City.
:. Coincident with this outbreak
: against the mayor in Democratic cir
cles was an attack from Republican
quarters on the mayor. At a meeting
3 of Republicans Representative Ogden
L. Mills opened a vigorous fire or
) "Tammany Hall and Hylanism.'' In
) his address Mr.. Mills quickly shifted
his attack from Hylan as an individ
/ ual to Tammany Hall as an organ
; ization and held that the discrepan
cieS and shortcomings of the mayors