Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-15
RETROACTIVE TAX CUT
PREDICTED BY SMOOT
Reductions Will Be Refunded. He Says.
Though Bill Will Not Come Up
Until March.

/ answer to the second question will nc
definitely known to the finance com
mittee. Ii will not he possible to esti-
mate quite SO exactly at that time
! how much this Congress will spend.
/ since the session VIII run for at least
/ TWO months beyond that date. but the
/ leaders feel that by the end Of March
| they will have a far better idea of
total expenditures than is known
F! now.
/ They hope To have .most of the
REGULAR annual appropriation bills
considered by that time. and will have
some opportunity nf learning. what
the House plans to do on such special
problems as flood relief. legislation to
improve agriculture. proposed naval
program. Boulder Dam and similar
measures
The Democrats in the Senate favor
immediate consideration of the tax
bill according to Senator Harrison
of Mississippi. minority member of
the finance committee. Expression
also was given TO this view few days
ago hy Senator Walsh. Democrat. of
| Massachusetts. who took the position
the revenue hill is the most important
measure before the present session.
and. therefore. should he considered
promptly.
See Delay Until March.
Observers n the Capitol believe.
however. that the tax hill will not he
reported from the finance committee
until March. During a recent debate
ii was argued from the Democratic
side that the tax bill will require sev,
eTal weeks Of committee considera ton
and several more weeks of discussion
m the floor. and that delay in taking
it up might result in the bill not be.
coming law until mid Summer
To this Senator Smoot replies that
he expects Congress will have con.
Cluded its work by June Is. and he
feels sure the revenue hill will be
passed well before that date.
The Senate Democrats. II is under
stood. have not decided since the hill
passed the House what total amount
of reduction they will advocate when
the measure gets before the Senate.
There probably will he a conference
Of the minority members of the
finance committee soon tn discuss what
total amount of reduction they be.
lieve the Treasury can stand and
where they may seek TO amend the
House provisions. Individually. Dem
ocratiC members during recent months
have urged much greater reductions
than the administration regards fea.
sible They have not disclosed yet
exactly what Senate notifications
they have in mind.
Long Debate Seen.
One thing seems certain, that when
the tax bill is taken up in the Senate
II will be marked by lengthy and live
~ debate. There are some members
OF the body who incline to the belief
that curtailment of the national debt
should be borne in mind i'm disposing
Of the Treasury surplus
Senator Smoot has emphasized In
recent discussions OF the tax stua
ton that he is as anxious as any one
10 see the rates reduced. hut he sees
danger in attempting TO complete the
tax bill without knowing how far
Congress Is going in approving the
large undertakings that confront il.
Senator Borah. Republican. of
Idaho entered into the exchange of
views on the question during the past
week 10 express the opinion that Con
eress should turn attention 10 build.
ing up the Internal resources and 10
the internal improvements Of tn.
country He indicated that he did not
see how the proposed obligations can
he met and SIN permit Of tax redl,r.
ton that would be real and perma men.
Thea tax bin promises to continue
one or the outstanding themes of de.
bate in the Senate from time 10 time
as the session continues.