Evening star., 1925-10-26
DRIVE ON AUTO TAX
FEATURES HEARING
House Committee Begins
Final Week Before Starting
Draft of Bill.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The drive against automobile taxes
was renewed today before the House
ways and means committee as it
started its second and final week of
public hearings on revision of the
revenue law.
Automobile association representa-
uVes seeking repeal of the per
cent levy on passenger cars were fol-
lowed in the committees allotment o.
time today by representatives of many
other fields of business and manutac-
ture who sought relief from the spe-
ciaI levies now applying against them
Taxes on jewelry, capital stock
arms and ammunitions, Photographic
lenses. brokers and boats all came
under fire. Twenty-Five persons We're
apportioned time in the days hear
ing to present appeals for relief from
these levies, most of them seeking
outright repeal
Hearings to End This Week.
With the conclusion of the hearings
this week, Chairman Green Will call
the committee into executive session
10 commence work Immediately upon
the drafting of a tax reduction bill.
Many of the miscellaneous rates,
such as those up for discussion today,
are expected to be reduced or re-
pealed, although Secretary Mellon
favorS repeal only of those yielding
small returns, such as the levy on
art works, in addition to the tax on
automobile trucks, tires and acces-
sorieS.
During the hearings last week the
estate and miscellaneous taxes We're
thoroughly discussed, and the com
mittee showed interest to find a way
TO lessen the burden on the people in
this respect. 1t is admitted that pro
posed changes in these taxes will be
the fight Centers when the committee
Is drafting the measure. Reduction
of the income surtaX and normal rates
is taken for granted.
Chairman Green of the committee,
one OF the advocates of Federal taxa
tfon of estates, announced Saturday
he favored modification of this levy
along lines suggested by the National
Committee on Inheritance Taxation,
which urged repeal after six years of
graduated curtailment.
Mellon Against Estate Tax.
Secretary Mellon, however, recon-
mended immediate repeal of the estate
tax, and his proposal at present ap-
pears to have the support of "a ma
jority of Republican members of the
ner of Texas, the ranking Democratic
member, like Chairman Green has eX-
pressed favor of modification along
lines proposed by the inheritance COM
mittee.
In approving the inheritance COM
mlttee report, Chairman Green said
he favored it because it allowed six
years for States to enact uniform
laws on inheritance taxation. He also
approved the suggestion advanced at
the same time that a credit of so per
cent be allowed in computing the
Federal levy for State inheritance tax
payments. The present allowance is
25 per cent.
While Secretary Mellon, in discuss
Ing the miscellaneous taxes, proposed
repeal Of the tax on automobile trucks,
tires and accessories, but not on pas
senger cars, there is a strong feeling
among committee members that per
hapS some more of the important
levies in this group, including those
on automobile passenger cars, admis-
slons and dues. might be reduced.
Witnesses Heard.
In addition to the $500 900 900 tax
reduction program advanced at the
opening session of the hearings by
Secretary Mellon, many suggestions
have come from representatives Of
industry and business, including cuts
in the corporation levy and reduction
or repeal of the rates on admissions
cigars and automobile passenger cars.
More than rs persons, representing
almost so national business and in
dustrial organizations, have appeared
before the committee, and about as
many more will be heard this week
The hearings are to be concluded
Saturday, and the committee will
start work Immediately on a bill
which it expects to have ready to pre-
sent to the House when Congress
convenes December Z.
The hearings have not brought
forth any conclusions from committee
members, aside from the declaration
by Chairman Green on the estate tax,
although various attitudes are known
to exist relative to the Treasurys
proposals for a cut in the maximum
surtax rate from 40 per cent 10 20 per
cent. and for reductions in the normal
rates.
Representative Collier, Democrat,