Evening star., 1932-04-02
Now for Senate Action.

4AlC I1OhoC VA CoSAAAo'AHNS AANS
passed the revenue bill in terms which
1t regards as assuring balance Of the
Federal budget. The Treasury, in esti-
mates submitted yesterday on the eve
of final action, holds that the measure
as finally framed in the lower branch
of Congress will fall short Of bal
ance, as the costs OF Government are
now fixed, by some $71.1o0,000. The
bill goes to the Senate shorn of its
manufacturers sales tax feature. but
with the addition of numerous virtual
sales taxes, with inposts on stock
transactions and issues of stocks and
bonds and so per cent increase In
the first-class postage rate. The bal
ance" is effected according to the esti-
mates of the House, by a reduction in
expenditures to the amount of $780,
100000, while the Treasury computes
that reduction at only S125000 900.
Therein lies the chief difference be-
tween House and Treasury in respect
to the capacity Of the tax measure to
u1e6J tIlc VI
ton during the next fiscal year.
1t is now a question of whether the
bill, which is certain to be subjected
to considerable change in the Senate,
can be finally passed before the pro-
spective adjournment of Congress on
the eve of the national political con-
ventions, which are to be held In June
If it is not enacted by that time Con-
eress must reassemble after the con-
ventions and proceed during the Sum-
mer to perfect the measure and effect
Its final enactment. There is the ut
most urgency that the bill be made into
law before the preconvention adjourn
ment. Otherwise in all likelihood Sep
tember will have arrived before the
measure can be completed.
A minimum Of two weeks, 1t is esti-
mated, will be required for hearings be-
fore tie Senate Committee on Finance,
those hearings to be started about the
middle of next week Nobody. can
possibly foretell the length Of time that
will be required in the Senate for the
discussiona of the measure, that body
having no cloture rule. If the COM
mittee makes report by the goth of
April six weeks will remain before
June 1. Passage of the bill by that
date would be an unusual achievement
in ordinary circumstances, leaving only
two weeks before tbs first of the two
conventions, that of the Republican
party, which meets June IA, in which
to perfect the bill in conference.
1t will require constant enterprise on
the part Of the Senate to get the bill
TO the President for signature before the
pre-convention adjournment. 1t can be
done if the will prevails. 1t cannot be
done If time is wasted in political de-
bate. This is an emergency measure,
as vital to the national welfare as any
that was ever considered by the Con-
gress. From political point of view
there Is urgency in getting final action
before June IA. The country demands
the balancing of the budget. The party
SAA0N SANSNo O4AoO ACoOlS Wy OAAS
of June will be given credit by the peo-
pie for good government. The party
that prevents it will be blamed for the
prolongation of a dangerous situation,
which retards the recovery of business
and prolongs the desperate condition
from which all the people have been
suffering for the past eighteen months
Responsibility for delay will be placed
upon those who insist upon prolonged
discussion, which cannot make for
better legislation but adds to the con-
fusion.
The Senate will set an inspiring ex-
ample if now it will proceed with the
consideration of this measure in busi-
nesslike spirit seeking the enactment
of the measure in the soundest terms
In the shortest possible time, putting
aside politics in favor of the national
welfare and making record for prompt
fiscal legislation in this grave national
crisis.