Evening star., 1926-12-05
Continued from First Page.)

from T lISl IdSeJ
it is to beat thu McNary- Haugen bill
finally. it must have a substitute
measure of it's own, or all farm legis-
lation must fail. While 1t is possible
that something will be done at this
session, the proba abilities appear to be
no farm legislation before March 4.
owing. in part, to the brief time and
physical impossibility to consider fully
this matter if all the appropriation
bills are to be dealt with.
Tax Reduction Plan.
Notwithstanding the drastic cuts al
ready made IN Federal taxes, it now
appears there is to be a surplus in the
Treasury al the close of the fiscal year
amounting to little less than $400000,-
900. Either this surplus will be used
to retire some of the public debt or
will be appropriated for river and har-
Dor improvements, etc, or 1t will be
used to grant the people further tax
reduction. The President has advanced
a plan whereby the taxpayers would
be given a reduction in the taxes they
are to pay during the first part Of
next year The Democrats, on the
other hand, are demanding immediate
Legislation reducing SLlIi luItHeI lIiS
tax rates in the law.
In order that they may not be
charged with playing partisan politics
on the tax issue, Senator Simmons of
North Carolina, ranking Democratic
member of the Senate finance com
mittee, and Representative John
Garner of Texas, ranking Democratic
member of the House ways and means
committee, last night gave out a
statement in which they invited the
Republicans to join them in a non
partisan way to frame tax reduction
legislation.
Tax Cut Statement.
The statement said:
THE Democrats in Congress, not
having had in view at any time any
attempt to make a partisan tax re-
duction bill, in order to make their
position perfectly clear and fully un-
derstood, now extend an earnest lnVl-
tation to the Republican membership
in both Houses to join with them in
making the reasonable reduction in
internal revenue taxes which the con-
stantly mounting and now gigantic
surplus in the Treasury fully war
rants.
1T is Senator Simmons opinion
that Democratic members of both
Houses will be found to be willing
to ignore entirely any partisan feel
ing in giving to the American tax
payers the reduction in their taxes
to which they are entitled.
According to Senator Simmons
view, Democratic opposition to the
Presidents plan of rebates and credits
(Which plan now faces certain defeat)
is not partisan opposition, but is
founded upon principle and in re-
sponse to the demands of a sound and
wise fiscal policy.
Up to G. o. p.
THE Democratic view. according to
Senator Simmons and Mr.. Garner, is
that the present voluminous revenue
act need not be disturbed as to it's
general structure, and that tax re-
duction can be effected in a very sim
pie manner-by merely amending GER
tain rates and repeating certain pro-
visions imposing the taxes that now
ought to be repealed in full. The
Democratic plan. so Senator Simmons
stated. involves no highly contro-
versial subject. and need not-and
probably will not-cause any lengthy
discussion or delay.
1T may also be said that it is not
lne lDtSIllltI VI tIiS lcdO-
ers to scrape the very bottom of the
Treasury; but they are convinced that
the administration political piece
meal policy. of reduction and rebates
year by year. ought to be discarded
once for all, and the subject dealt with
in an honest and non-partiSan way.
Senator Simmons. in cooperation
with Representative Garner and their
colleagues in both Houses, thus puts
the matter of the non-partisan tax re-
duction. which the Democrats favor.
suuarely up to the administration and
the Republican leadership in Con
gresS.
Politics Is Active.
There is politics. however. even in
the plea of the Democrats for non
partisan action on the taxes. They
are merely seeking to get the jump on
the Republicans in this matter.
That politics will play important
part in the debates in this session of
Congress almost goes without saying
The recent elections. the senatorial
investigation of "slush" funds used
in the primary campaigns this year
the wet and dry issue, all are vehicles
for partisan political debate. as well
as farm and tax relief regislation.
Manifestly there is an effort toward
greater harmony on the Republican
side of the Senate and House cham.
bers. In the Senate the margin of
control hangs by an eyelash in the
next Congress. Where year or two
ago, flushed with the victory OF 1924,
the Republican organizations of the
Senate and House were disciplining
the Republican insurgents vigorously
and ousting them from the party
councils, there is now a movement on
foot to bring back into the fold all
these insurgents who insist they are
still Republicans. The Democratic
jibe, divided in principle. united for
Doodle" will be flung at the factions
many times.
Harbor Bill Fixed.
The Senate has made the river and
harbor bill q special order Of business
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