The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-02-14
Senate DEBATES
PROPOSED TAX
REDUCTION BILL
'MilliOnaries' Club Cuts
Contribution to State
CspeoIaI q The paIIy workerl


WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. t2-The
"Millionalres' House." as the senate
has been we'll designated, thru its ap-
proyaI of the tax reduction bill, has
saved its wealthy patrons sums run
ming up into the millions. Members Of
the senate itself, such as Smoot, will
benefit substantially.
The principal fight occurred over
the question of repeating the Inherit
ance or estate taxes. Senator Fletcher
Of Florida, demanded that the federal
government should not have the right
10 levy higher tax on inheritances in
state than was levied by the state
itself Florida has passed consti-
tutional amendment prohibiting the
laying of such duties. This was done
TO attract the wealthy into making
that state their legal residence. Hun
dreds Of millionaires have taken adj
vantage of the law and settled within
its limits. Fletcher. who is a hireling
of the white aristocracy of Florida, be-
lieves it is undemocratic. to confscate
even for the use of the politicians who
serve the wealthy part of the values
extracted by them from the workers
during their life.
Senator Lenroot, Wisconsin's anci-
ent mariner, brot out the fact that
the inheritance tax law was passed
during the year that Professor Wilson
ruled the country under the slogan
of HE kept us out of war" Senator
Simmons, of North Carolina, whose
state lynches a negro now and then
to demonstrate its high civilization,
strobe up and down the aisles of the
senate for As minutes talking for the
benefit of the Congressional Record.
The growing ill-feeling between the
millionaire senator from Michigan,
Couzens, and the well-fed apostle of
the Mormon church, Smoot, over the
tax controversy nearly led to blows.
Couzens has threatened to drive a
golf ball thru Shoots head" rather
an easy job, it might be concluded,
from the Utah mans exhibition Of
mentality.
Andy Mellon, whose financial rela-
tions to the government have been
under investigation for some years,
has been repeatedly referred to in the
course Of the debate. Senator Reed,
of Pennsylvania, who in addition to
representing" the $4,000 striking
miners of that state is a director in
the Mellon banks and law partner Of
the firm which obtained for the sec
rotary of the treasury a refund of
$4,000 in federal taxes, became so
alarmed by the publicity over this rul-
ing that he proposed an immediated
investigation of the facts in the case.
Not to be outdone by the other ora
tors. Windy" Jim Reed, of Missouri,
who is sometimes termed "Gumshoe
Bill" delivered a Enthusiastically
demagogic speech in the course of
which he declared that There never
was a time in the history of this re-
public when the great financial inter
ests were so completely in control of
the government as the present hour"
Jim can weep gallons Of briny tears
ever such issues and never lift a fin
ger to help the workers Of his state
Altogether "a grand and glorious
time was had by the representatives
of the dear "peepu" in the extended
discussion of whether Rockefeller's
taxes should be cut 40 or so per cent
or eliminated entirely.