Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-29
CAPPER URGES TAX
INCREASE INFORUM
Kansan Says Expenditure Cut
! Is Impossible in Radio
Address.

Senator Arthur Capper, Republican
of Kansas, sized up the reasons for tar
increases in a radio speech last night
with the blunt assertion that while il
might be possible for the administra-
ton to reduce governmental expendi-
lures, on paper, by $90o,o00000 to take
care of the Treasury deficit the mem
bers of Congress know it cannot be
done and so does the average citizen
His address was delivered in the Ma
tllonal Radio Forum arranged by The
Washington Star and broadcast over
a Nation wide hook-up of the Column
bia Broadcasting System.
Taking a decided stand against the
imposition OK general sales tax. Sen
ator Capper coupled his own outline of
a taxation program with a plea for "a
cooperative Congress that will suspend
partisan activities and have in mind
the general good Of the country in its
time of need"
Let me say that I propose to CO.
operate with any member, any group or
any party that has anything to offer
for the general good" he added.
Pledges Arms Cut Efforts.
Admitting that there is justification
for the general cutlery for reduced
taxation, Senator Capper pledged him
self to work for a reduction in Army
and naval expenditures in the new
Congress, but reminded that the deficit
in the Treasury only can be met by in
creased taxation.
Il am fundamentally and forever op-
posed to a general sales tax" Senator
Capper declared, adding that 1t places
the tax burden still more heavily on
the persons least able to afford it and
Z lit falls lightest upon those with the
largest incomes, on those whose prop
erty the Government protects at the
3 largest expense. on those who profit
most from Government protection and
are best able to pay for Government
protection"
In lieu of a general sales tax, SEN
ator Capper suggested that it may be
that the Government will have to levy
some luxury or excise taxes. There is
justification for such taxes when the
necessity is great" he explained.
His own personal plan for taxation,
Senator Capper said, would call for
higher inheritance taxes and higher in
come tax rates on incomes in the
higher brackets. "The higher bracket
incomes can and should pay a higher
rate of income taxes than they now do, -
he asserted.
Along with increased income and in
heritance taxes, Senator Capper de-
u
taxes to prevent evasion Of the inheri-
tance taxes.
Reviewing the administration efforSs
to reduce governmental expenditures,
Senator Capper said, however, he wsN
opposed to any reduction in the SALARIES
of Government employees, except in TIM
case Of thigh salaried officials"
Senator Capper heartily Endorsed
President Hoover's attempts to bring
sy. al
ments and praised his cutting of the
Army and Navy budgets. He declared,
however, he was not In sympathy with
any pr posal to cancel the debts of for
eign governments owing to the United
States.
No Sympathy for Bankers
''Those debts are not Cancelled" he
said. 'Those debts Just will be trans
ferred from thu taxpayers of those for
eign governments to the taxpayers OF
the United States. For that reason
myself am not in sympathy with the
demands Of international bankers-that
the United States cancel the war debts
OF Europeen aticns owing to the
Declaring he would work In Congress
penditures, Senator Capper said that
the United states is leading the world
in expenditures for the next war.
"Of course, measured IN the number
of men in arms, and IN terms Of battle
ships and other war vessels, we do net
dead the world In preparing for war"
he said. But IN downright cash expen-
ditures for the next war that every one
breads, but nearly every one. locks for
ward to, Uncle Sam Is the biggest
spender among all the natiors" The
United States spent 500, o0o, 900 last
year for preparedness, he pointed out,
against 100000, 900 by Soviet Russia,
which ranked second.
The text of Senator Capper's speech
is printed In the editorial section Of
today's Star.