Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-28
HOOVER ACCUSED
Of "BROWBEAT|NC"
|NSALES TAXF|GHT
Harrison Demands Show
down, Shouting "You
Haven't the Votes"
POLL SHOWS as OF So
MEMBERS FAVOR 1T
limitations Reach Capitol Hill
That President Will Make
Views Known Shortly.

Senator Watson of Indiana, the
Republican leader. informed the
Senate today in the midst of an OFT
break over the impending sales tai
controversy that Secretary Mills
says the revenue bill must raise
s56,000,000 more than 1t now pro-
vides in order to balance the budget.
By the Associated Press
Advocates Of the general sales tax
were challenged in the Senate today by
Senator Harrison of Mississippi, Demo-
cratic tax leader, for an immediate
showdown as he shouted you haven't
got the votes"
He accused President Hoover and the
sales tax advocates of attempting to
"browbeat" the Senate into supporting
the controversial sales levy after the
Senate had already voted enough levies
to balance the budget.
As the Mississippian opened the frst
debate on the LIS per cent sales tax
advanced by Senator Walsh, Democrat,
Of Massachusetts,, leaders hurriedly
checked over their polls. Both sides
claimed victory. but the most accurate
poll available showed 46 Of the 90 Sen
ators for it-less than the required ma
jority.
As Harrison questioned the position
OF the President on the disputed levy,
intimations reached Capitol Hill that
Mr.. Hoover was prepared to make clear
his position at an early date on this
contest.
Many Rumors Of Hoover's Stand.
Senator Harrison pointed out the bill
balancing the budget and said II addi-
tional taxes were needed when the Job
Is concluded he was willing to vote
higher income rates such as proposed
by Senator Connally, Democrat. Of
Texas.
Now. after we have voted an almost
complete bill we read that the President
has called in the publishers Of the
country and discussed the sales tax" he
said. I'VE hear many rImors Of his
position.
But the President has not come out
for the sales tax. The Treasury has
been against it, agreeing only to accept
it as necessary means Of balancing
the budget.
I'VE see that every effort and in
huence is being employed to browbeat
us and have the Senate undo the work
it has done and force sales tax.
You know you haven't got the votes
Yet you go out and tell the newspaper
men you have. The big papers Of the
country are exploiting it and propa-
paOdizinO the country
If you have the votes challenge you
now to roll call without further argu-
ment. No, you want to put 1t of to
browbeat us. II there Is any further
delay in enactment of this bill it will
rest on those very ones who have been
crying here for US to balance the
budget at once"
Cites Newspaper Story.
Harrison called attention to news
paper story quoting Senator Fess. Re-
publican, of Ohio on leaving the White
House last night as saying President
Hoover favored the sales tax.
Fess, who was presiding, left the chair
to reply.
He said he did not know the Presi-
of the opinion Mr.. Hoover would favor
sales tax over the excise taxes now in
the bill
Il said the sales tax was not dis
cussed," Tess said. Il was asked the
position of the President I frankly
stated the opinion that as between the
excise and sales tax, the President
would be in favor of the sales tax
Il did not quote the President Maybe
I should not have said what did. I
gave the opinion as my own.
Wouldn't Quote President.
Now I am quoted as stating the
President is behind the sales tax There
Is no truth in that. I wouldn't quote
the President and he didn't say any
thing about that.
II don't know the position of the
President on the sales tax"
Fess, who Is chairman of the Repub-
lican National Committee, told the Sen
ate he had called at the White House
to discuss arrangements for the Repub-
lican national convention with the
President.
1T now appears that Congress is not
going to get through" he said. and he
and Senator Dickinson Of Iowa, the
keynoter, would have to go to the con-
vention anyway.
The Ohio Senator said he had denied
talking about a referendum plank with
the President, but that he was quoted
in the same newspaper story as dis
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