Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-05
U. S. Extravaganza" Played
by Senator in Proposal to
Arouse Public.
OLD NUISANCE" LEVIES
TO IRK PAYERS SOUGHT
Scheme Will Be Unpopular, But
Would Result in Curtailing
Appropriations, He Says.
BY J. GOULD LINCOLN.


A sweeping increase in the number
Of Federal taxpayers is the remedy pro-
posed by Senator Hiram Bingham of
Connecticut, for governmental ex-
travagance."
In statement made public last night
the Connecticut Senator, who is Re-
publican member of both the Senate
Finance and Appropriations Commit
tees, advocated lowering the brackets
for normal income tax payments. cut
ting down the exemptions now allowed
and thereby increasing enormously the
number of persons who pay Federal
income taxes.
He proposes increases, too, in in
come tax rates, "aIl along the line"
He advocates also q restoration OF
some Of the so-called nuisance taxes, :"
which were operative during the war,
so as to bring directly home to the peo-
pie who demand large appropriations
from the Federal treasury that they, in
the end, have to foot the bill.
Party Heads Opposed.
Senator Bingham's proposals viii
have a sour note IN the ears Of some
Of his own party leaders, who have de-
clared against an increase IN taxation
in the coming session of Congress, de-
spite the fact that the Treasury now
faces an $500, 000. 900 deficit at the close
of the present fiscal year.
Nor is 1t likely to find favor with
those members of the Progressive group
In Senate and House, who have been
clamoring for an increase in taxes.
The Progressives have been in favor,
as a general thing Of raising the tax
rates on the big incomes, the surtaxes.
So far none of the Progressives has
advocated levying taxes on the little
fellow.
The Treasury Department q short
time ago made public the figures avail
able up to August 81, 1880, for Ameri-
cans making individual income tax re-
turns and paying individual income taxes
to the Federal Government. 1t was
shown that out Of 122, 900 900 people
plus. only 4,034.TO2 made returns, and
Of these only 2,463, 1886 persons actually
paid Federal income taxes. Exemptions
and deductions made it possible for
1,569,317 of those who filed returns
with the collector Of internal revenue
not to pay taxes.
Aims at Expenditures.
It Is Senator Binghams contention
that If a very much larger number of
the people in this country pay direct
Federal taxes, the demand for large ap-
preparations now made by many groups
for all kinds Of things would fail on
perceptibly.
President Hoover recently issued
statement in which he said that II the
people of the country would insist upon
holding Congress down to the budget
prepared by the administration 1t would
not be necessary to increase taxes.
Senator Bingham's desire Is to ham,
mer home to the people the need of
holding Congress down to the budget
and of avoiding excessive appropria-
lions. This can be done, he insists, by
the simple process of making the peo-
pie pay some part of the appropriations
directly.
VIII Be Unpopular.
However sound Senator Bingham's
proposal may be-and there will be
many to commend it-as a political or
popular move 1t Is not expected TO be
any great success. Certainly the mil
lions who are now paying no direct
Federal taxes will not look with favor
on it. His proposal will not be popular.
He breaks with his party leaders in
demanding that taxation be increased
instead OF meeting the QeIlClJ In the
Treasury through borrowing money.
Personally" says Senator Bingham,
81 am opposed to increasing the public
debt, particularly when we already have
a stupendous war debt resting on our
shoulders. II the people, through their
representatives in Congress, are going
TO demand larger and larger expendi-
lures, leading to annual deficits, 1t
seems to me that our policy should be
to meet these demands with increased
taxation"
He says that the only way to avoid
an increase in taxation Is to make
drastic cuts in expenditures. Can It
be done?" he asks He points out that
In the last appropriation bills the War
Department received q cut of more
than 100000 and the Navy Depart
ment a cut of $4,000, 900. The De-
partment of Agriculture, on the other
hand, had an increase of more than
$50, COO 900 over the previous year. Mil
lions more were given the Farm Board.
Seeks to Arouse Payers.
"The pressure on the Appropriations
Committee" continues Senator Bing-
ham, SIS terrific It comes from organi-
cations and citizens all over the United
States. How are we to meet 1t?
ut seems to me that the surest way
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