Evening star., 1933-10-18

Nuisance taxes'-on bank checks
gasoline and the Nke-are doomed II
the subcommittee Of the Ways and
Means Committee can have its way.
Under the Craftsmanship Of Representa-
tive Sam B. Hill, Democrat, of Wash
ington State, the subcommittee. which
is studying revision of the revenue laws,
will resume its sessions next Monday.
Mr.. Hill said to this observer at the
Capitol yesterday: 1T is our purpose
and hope to save enough revenue.
through plugging up loopholes in the
income-tax structure and securing ad-
ditional revenue from liquor, to make
it possible to eliminate or substantially
reduce the nuisance taxes. Early in Its
sessions the subcommittee will take up
the readjustment of taxes on 1ntoxlcat-
ing LIQUORS, imported and domestic, in
anticipation Of repeal. The scope OF
our studies embraces particularly in
come taxes and all administrative pro-
visions. The subjects OF investigation
cover, among other things, corporate
partnership and individual incomes;
capital gains and losses. inheritance and
gift taxes, consolidated corporate re-
turns. postponement Of taxes through
reorganization Of corporations and other
devices, wash sales and the general
question Of exemptions, deductions ana
credits, including depreciation, OBJ
solescence, etc"
Attorney General Cummings has re-
ceived a letter from citizen with novel
ideas about Alcatraz Island, in San
Francisco Bay, which the Department
of Justice is about to convert into
prison for dangerous Federal convlcts.
Mr. Cummings correspondent wants
the island rechristened Shark Island
and gives his reasons, with accompany
ing pictorial diagram. He would popu-
late the swirling waters surrounding
Alcatraz with man-eating sharks, TO
be kept half-fed. so that they always
would be hungry and on the LOOKOUT
for escaping prisoners. the SHARKS
would be fenced in, to avoid danger
of their own escape: The patentee OF
with a design for the fence. This
would contain loopholes for fish, on
watch the sharks would lead an un-
dernourished existence. While ponder
ing over the shark suggestion. the At
torney General soliloquizeS he may
have made a mistake in recommending
Alcatraz as an abode for our toughest
hombres. Mr.. Cummings remembers u
the ambition of the average human TO
live. on an island in salubrlous
climate, far from the distractions ana
madding throng of mainland existence;
"And here I've gone" ne says ana
provided an ideally situated island Ior
what suppose, without o1ense, may oe
described as the least desirable eieHen'
of our citizenship"
Word is afoat that a recent news
paper poll of the country revealed Two
thirds majority in favor Of recognizing
Soviet Russian impressive reversal OF
sentiment sounded in similar quarters
on a previous occasion. Recognition ad-
yocates claim a significant supporter IN
the Louisville Courier-JournaA property
of Col. Robert w. Bingham, American
Ambassador to Great Britain and con-
fidant of President Roosevelt in the
realm of foreign affairs. An impression
is current in Washington that trouble
in the Far East, with the possibility OF
q Russo japanese war, has inclined
many Americans to a friendlier attitude
toward Soviet recognition.
While Col. Edward M. House was
President Roosevelt's guest at the White
House last night, It's safe guess that
events in Geneva and foreign affairs
generally bulked consnicuously In their
heart to- heart talks. The colonel rep
resented President Wilson at the Paris
Peace Conference in the preliminary
meetings which incubated the covenant
Of the League Of Nations. Once upon
q time Col. House thought 1t would
answer every requirement If this coun.
try were to become an associate mem
Der" Of the League. with correspond
ingly limited liabilities There's reason
to believe the Texas colonel at one
time vainly urged that solution Of
Americas League problem upon Presi-
dent Wilson. Few Democrats have q
stouter claim than House to the rank
Of Original Roosevelt man." The Dase