The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1926-11-18
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Nov. 17-If you be-
iieve everything you hear in Con-
gressional and political circles, they
will tell you that the crying need in
Washington today is strong party
leadership. Some profess to note
the pendulum swinging from frac-
tlonal control to conferred and respon-
Sible leadership. So numerous and
varying are the opinions advanced by
members of Congress and political OBJ
servers here that it is difficult to fore
cast what the next session of Con-
gress will bring forth.
1t is said that the forced retire
ment of Senator Butler of Massachus-
sets by the electorate leaves Presi-
dent Collidge without a personal
spokesman in the Senate. The regu-
lar Republican organization favors
the bestowal of authority upon Senat-
or Curtis of Kansas as the leader of
the majority. He is recognized as
one of the old warehouses" of the
upper chamber and has given long
and faithful service as a Republican
whip. 1t is currently reported that
there are other aspirants for this
high honor which must be settled by
the Republican caucus.
The caucus is a conference of all
Senators or Congressman as the case
may be, to determine the general
policies of their party for the coming
session. The course of important
legislation, however, is chartered by
the Steering Committee consisting of
five organization Senators who han
die the business of theh Senate. In
recent years the growth of the bloc
system has clipped this power of party
leaders.
A few years ago it was customary
for "Uncle Joe Cannon" then the
speaker of the House and Senator
Aldrich, Republican leader in the
Senate to take hikes along the Po-
tomac and in an hour or two shape
the course of legislation. The day
of the cars of legislature are past.
g.
No secret is made of the fact pro-
posals to contest the seating of Sen
ator-elect Ware of Pennsylvania and
Smith of Illinois contains political
dynamite for both parties. Senator
Blease, Democrat of South Carolina,
has brought a division in the ranks
of Democrats by the contention that
the seating of the Senators is mat
ter of State rights. On the other
hand few Republicans have revived
old animosities by starting to ques-
tion the rights Of certain Southern
senators to their seats involving the
enforcement of the 18th amendment
to the Constitution, which deals with
suffrage for negroes. Senator Nor
ris of Nebraska listed as Republi-
can, but recognized as a leader of
the so-called insurgents" is trying
to reopen the Ware case before the
Select Committee on Elections head
ed by Senator Reed of Missouri. The
Nebraska Senator contends that
fraud existed in the elections in Phil
adelphia. The whole unsavory mess
will be aired in the public prints
soon.
There are rumors in official circles
in Washington to the effect that Pres
ident Coolidge and Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon are at odds over
the latest proposition to reduce taxes.
The President has suggested that in
come taxes, individual and corpora
ton, payable in 1926, might be cut
10 or IL per cent. Comments from
the leaders of both parties at the
Capitol indicate quite strongly that
tax reduction will be the football OF
politics during the next 18 months
especially in view of the approach
ing presidential election. 1t is rep
resented that the tax on corpora
tions is bothersome to the President
as the last tax law reduced the cap
itol stock tax but increased the cor
poration income tax which it is
claimed affects 20,000,000 security
holders. Fiscal experts have esti,
mated that the proposed tax credit
on individual income, affecting ap.
proXimately 80 per cent of the tax,
payers, would amount to only a few
cents or few dollars. Although the
Treasury has not boosted the Cool
lidge proposition, it is expected thai
officials will fall into line and AID
vocate the applying of 10 per cen
discount on income taxes paid il
1926 to the March 1927 installment
or perhaps distribution over othe.
installments in 1927. 1t is doubtful
that any tax reduction or rebate bill
can be passed by Congress between
Dec. 6, the date of converting ant
Dec. Is, when the final 1926 tax in
stallment is due. Therefore, if tn
reduction or credit plan is approve,
it will necessarily apply next year.
The Democrats now are arguin,
for a permanent, rather than a tenn
porary reduction in taxes. The bus
mess organizations feel that corpora
lions deserve first consideration O
any tax reduction, because they con
-yena the corporation rates are out o
line with the individual tax rates.
is also stated that certain groups i
Congress will oppose tax reduction
on corporations, and working in al
liance with the Democrats they coul
hold up the tax measures indefinitely
o.
The oil lease scandals which shock
ed the country two years ago ar
again conferred in Washington. Are
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