Evening star., 1932-02-15

There IS no mistaking the determina-
ton of those Democrats who now
shape the destinies Of the lower branch
Of Congress to balance the budget. cost
what it may to do SO in the way Of in
creased taxes. They have subscribed
unreservedly to the proposition that a
balanced budget is the corner stone
upon which rests employment and
economic recovery: that without 1t, all
else that Congress may do in the way
of relief and emergency aid will be in
vain. The House Ways and Means
Committee listened to Secretary Mills
in executive session last week. Revised
Treasury estimates forecast further
declines in tax revenues and corre-
spending boosts in deficit. present and
prospective The Democrats voted to
ask the Treasury fer further recon-
mend tons for new taxes to bridge the
steadily widening gap. The Democrats
have ideas of their own about various
excise taxes, but concluded it was good
strategy to make the Republican ad-
ministration come forward with further
specific tax recommendations. Acting
Chairman Crisp, speaking in the House.
was greeted with applause when he de-
clared L have burned every bridge
behind me No matter what the poll
tical consequences. am going to advo-
cate the levying Of sufficient taxes to
balance the budget. We were elected
because our fellows had confidence in
us and delegated us to represent them,
and If We wear the crown must We not
also take the thorns?'
Homer S. Cumn ings of Ccnnecti-
cut. WHO was chairman of the
Democratic National Committee in
1929, and an outstanding McAdoo
manager at Madison Square Gar
den in 1924 was in Washington last
week in busy conference with Rocse-
Welt leaders. Mr.. Cummings hastened
to deny the soft impeachment that he
was by the way of becoming the gen.
eralissimo of the Roosevelt pre-conven-
ton campaign. He insisted that he
was but one Of the many Democratic
volunteers who looked upon Roosevelt
as the logical nominee and who were
doing everything within their power
to insure Rcosevelt's nomination. In
Mr. Cummings Washington pow-WoWs
we're seen further signs that the rem
nants of the old McAdoo organization
were getting together behlnd Roose-
veh This development, in the opinion
of many observers. will be apt to inten-
sify any fight materlallzlng between
Smith and Roosevelt.
* *
The assignment of press seats at the
Chicago convention is no chllo play:
The Standing Committee OF the Capltol
press Galleries, which is charged with
This trojan task, has its hands full
Depression or no depression. there is no
decline in the demand for convention
press tickets. Applications are pouring
| in from the four quarters CT the lano,
from individual newspapers, large ana
small to say nothing Of the large re-
n,irements of the regular press assocla- =
,fions for working seats for their STAINS:
| seven hundred Is the outside limit OF
! avaiIable press seats 1t may be little
| less It is estimated that before the
lists close requests for seats will run lnto
the thouands. The committees prop
lem is how to satisfy 2,7O0 apphcants
with TOO seats.
"His fellow Virginians are practically
unanimous in declaring Harry F!ooo
Byrd the best virginia Governor SINCE
Thomas Jefferson" scccrding 10 ms
publicists, and the General Assembly
Of Virginia, by unanimous resolution
| mas O11eTeQ W lilC ANoehOAA e'
DENTAL nominee of the Democratic
party" Furthermore, it appears that
Mr.. Byrd is farmer, "the largest in
dependent orchardist in the world; has
a personality as striking as that CT his
brother, Admiral Richard E. Byrd, and
the same gift of leadership; belongs to
no faction of the party and Is involved
| in no entsnglements. political or bis
torical, and since 1928 has been the
leading peacemaker among various fac
tions cf the national party" In con-
c,usion, "Virginians consider Mr.. Byrd
more than just another favorite son.
Be that as it may, the former Governor
of Virginia conferred with the former
Governor of New York last week, whil(
from the camp of the present Governor
of New York came suggestions that \
Roosevelt is nominated Mr. Byrd wa!
favorably regarded for second place or
the ticket.