Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-26

Of the House to four for the Democrats
and Republican State Legislature and
Lieutenant Governor. But IL seems that
tile Republicans must tighten their belts
and quit quarreling among themselves
II the State IS to be brought back into
line for the Republican party In 1881.
~
just now the State legislature In
Massachusetts, Is doing tts best to
frame redistricting law 80 that the
State shall have only 10 instead OF Is
members Of the House, TO meet the re-
Quirements OF the new apportionment
legislative COMMITTEES. controlled By the
Republicans, has produced q plan
which the Democrats insist provides
fer only three Democratic congressional
districts, 80 cleverly have the Republic
cans "serrymandered' the state. A
committee Of four Democratic mem
bers OF the Legislature has brought
forth q plan for redistricting the State,
too. Under the Democratic plan there
would be eight definitely Republican
districts, five democratic, two districts
which would be real fighting grounds.
The Democrats insist that in redistrict-
ing there should be no division Of city
or town in making up q district, that
communities with common interests
should be In the same districts as far
as possible, and that geographical IN
congruities should be avoided.
The Governor of Massachusetts, Eiy,
Is a Democrat. II the Republicans nut
through their redistricting bill, he may
and probably will veto It. It Is up TO
the Republicans. therefore, to decide
whether they will compromise with the
Democrats and accept their plan In the
main or in part In order to get through
q rediStricting law In time for the
elections next year. II there Is no
redistricing Law, then the whole Is
members of the House from Massa-
chusetts must be elected "at large" in
Statewide election. That is something
that the members Of the House them
selves do not wish. It is something
that might result in a big Democratic
sweep. or. II the State went Republican.
in shutting out the Democrats who now
go to the House from Massachusetts,.
It's gamble, but not one that either
the Republicans or Democrats are
hankering for just now.
~ r
Senator Hiram Bingham Of Con-
necticut few weeks ago came forward
with q plan for amending the income
tax laws and the Federal tax laws gen.
orally which would place the tax
burden on more and more Of the peo-
pie. He did not propose this change
for the sake Of burdening the people,
he said, but 80 that the majority of
the people might understand what Gov
eminent financing was all about. Az
present, he pointed out, the great ma
jority Of the people pay no income
taxes at all and no other direct Federal
taxes. They can look on with ecua-
niInity while Congress authorizes huge
appropriations, appropriations which
are running the Government more and
more into o hole under present-day
conditions. Many of these appropria-
tions, he said. are made at the behest
Of minority groups of the people who
are demanding money for this or that
purpose, and bring sufficient pressure
to bear on members Of Congress to
force them to vote for the appropria-
tions. The only way to correct the
situation, Senator Bingham contended.
was to make the people wake up and
feel the direct pinch OF the tax COL
iector. Then q vast majority of them
would exert their influence against
these erasping minority groups and
Congress would cease to spend money
SO freely.
And now Secretary Mellon of the
Treasury and Undersecretary of the
Treasury Ogden Mills are singing pretty
much the same tune, although they have
not come out for a new law changing
the tax system to be submitted to Con-
gresS at Its next session. But Mr. Mel
Ions says, in effect, that the income tax
IS class tax" imposed on a very few
of the people. He says also ie is not
> practical tax, because in times Of
depression 1t fails to produce the reve-
nue. needed. When will there be
for tax increase legis-
alton? Not before the coming national
election. 1t appears, for Mr.. Mellon says
also that the Government will meet the
present deficit by borrowing money.
There Is bound TO be very wide diff
terence Of opinion regarding these sug-
yestions Of Mr. Mellon and Senator
Bingham. Those who have money and
are now paying lot of income taxes
will probably applaud. But the men
md women who have small incomes
will look askance. As there are far
more of the latter than of the former.
and the vote of. one Is as potent as Of
,he other. Congress, II 1t tackles this
problem OF amending the income tax
aw, viii have plenty to think about