Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-24
TAX CUT DREAMS
ARE FADING NOW
People as Whole Do Not De.
mand Reduction in Levies,
Mail Gauge Shows.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Dreams of tax reduction are fading
| The expected deluge of letters and
kilograms from the country as a
whole has not materialized. And the
Republican leaders are convinced that
the Democrats will not get enough
names to attach to the petition re-
Gently circulated In order 10 bring
about the discharge of the commit
tee and the pro lection OF a tax meas
ure to a place on the House calendar.
A fairly heavy mail came at the
outset of the session when tax reduc-
ton was being widely discussed. but
when the Republican majority con
ference decided against any tax legis.
lation at this session the letters drop.
ped off. Since then the mail has
been scattering It comes mostly
from manufacturers. chambers of
commerce, corporations and associa.
lions who think the corporation tax
of 1914 per cent should he reduced
at least to where it was at the last
session. These letters are clamoring
for repeal Of an increase rather
than any decrease beyond what was
being paid a year ago.
Popular Demand Lacking.
other interests especially concerned
with particular levies are asking for
relief. but the people rs a whole are
not pleading for tax reduction or
criticizing the Republican leaders for
their policy-at least very little evi.
dence Of such dissatisfaction has
reached here. Every letter that
reaches the ways and means COM
mittee is being answered to the effect
that the decision has heen made and
will not he altered. If. of course.
there were large number Of letters
and the demand seemed to he wide
spread there might he a different
reply.
Two things are being inferred from
the scattering number of letters re-
ceiVed on tax reduction. One Is that
the small taxpayer realizes that the
amount of reduction he can get is
relatively small and the other is that
the people who really want tax re.
duction have failed to express them
selves
May Rely on Democrats.
There is the possibility that reli-
ance has been placed on the theory
that the Democrats by some parlia.
mentary maneuver would be able to
compel consideration of tax revision.
The Democrats cannot do anything
unless they get a majority in the
lHlS SSSUlS UNLIKELY. Ms
their efforts to get Republican votes
thus far have not proved successful
As a matter OF fact 1t Is difficult to
do much at a short session of Con-
gress anyhow and the Democrats
know that IL they force an extra ses.
sion they will have a much better
chance of getting action on tax revis-
ion. The Democrats have not shown
their hand as yet on the question of |
an extra session. There are plenty |
Of investigations and controversies to |
talk about, so that a. filibuster against |
appropriation bills would be rather a |
simple task for the minority party.
The chances are that the question |
will not be decided until along about |
the middle of February. The condi- |
ton Of business about that time will |
have an important influence on the |
Democrats.
If business conditions are as favor.
able as they seem to be today, the |
for an extra session will be |
based. entirely on political considera.
there will be advan.
tages in beginning an attack in the
Spring of this year In preparation for
1928 or leaving It till the Winter of |
that year.
Copyright. 1927