Evening star., 1933-02-05
DOUBLE TAX PARLEY
PLANS PROPOSALS
Recommendations to Be Made
Before Special Session
of Congress.

Climaxing two days discussion of the
problem Of conflicting taxation, the
Interstate Legislative Assembly late yes
today put Into motion machinery
through which it is hoped to go before
the anticipated special session of Con-
for curbig duplication of tax levies
gress with specific recommendation
by Federal and State Governments.
through coordination OF the taxing
systems.
The assembly, which brought together
lawmakers and fiscal officers of 20
States under auspices of the American
Legislators Association, provided for a
continuing committee to handle this
issue Of overlapping taxation and 1t Is
hoped to have action from this group
within three or four months. Concur
rently with the Inauguration Of this
program, resolution was adopted call
ing for reduction of the tax burden by
q reduction of expenditures In Federal,
State and local Governments.
In deciding on the continuing COM
ties was devised with adoption of
proposal to seek contributions of from
$1,000 to $4,000 from State Legislatures.
Asks Congress for $4,000.
The conference alsoSadopted a reso-
luton asking Congress to appropriate
Research Bureau in Chicago, which
serves the legislators association and
keeps State legislative bodies in touch
with each others activities. This re-
search work now is privately financed.
The bill to authorize the appropriation.
1t was said, has already been reported
to the House from its Library Commit
tee, while similar legislation Is pending
In the Senate.
The assembly, which was the first of
Its kind held, was brought to q con-
clusion with q dinner last night at the
Shoreham Hotel, where sessions have
been In progress since Friday morning.
mittee to survey the feld of double tax
alton, before any recommendations were
made, the conference followed general
sentiment Of those participating who
opposed setting down any definite policy
on taxation, before the matter had been
given study.
The resolution under which the COM
nittee was created sets forth In the
preamble that the present tax burden
of the country is about $9,500, ,000, 900
annually and that it has become nee
essary to recognise that there must be
some agreement between Federal and
State governments on conflicting and
overlapping levies.
Probably Is In Group,
To do this. It points out, the first
essential Is that the States place them
selves IN position to negotiate with
the Federal Government, and for that
reason the committee is being set up.
The group, which will be composed Of
probably Is members OF State legisla-
tive bodies. will be appointed by william
B. Belknap Of Kentucky, president of
the American Legislators Association.
Mr. Belknap plans to confer with other
leaders in the movement here today on
the appointments and the date and
Before the committee is empowered
to negotiate with Congress. two-thirds
OF the members must be in agreement
on . program, which must In turn be
Endorsed by q two-thirds vote Of the
delegates, which will be taken by mail.
The resolution on this subject empha-
sized that there must be continued CO.
operation between all the States
through the American Legislators As
sociation. On the question Of reduced
taxes, the conference resolution fol-
lows: Reduction of the tax burden
first by reduction of Government ex-
penditures, Federal, State and local.
to bring such expenditures more in
pay; second by the development Of
more orderly, systematic tax system,
through coordination and agreement
between the States and the Federal
Government, and third by eliminating
50 far aS possible the expense and az.
gravation caused the tax payers by
multiple collections and assessments
from the same sources Of revenue"
In general dicusxion from the floor
on the problem OF financing this COM
mittee's activities, some delegates ex-
pressed doubt as to what support could
be expected from their States, but all
pledged themselves to make strong
representation in behalf OF the move.
10 Per Cent Is Limit.
1t is provided that if the money nee
essary cannot be obtained from the
States, that contributions may be sought
by individuals, corporations and trade
bodies, but that no subscription may
be accepted from an individual. corpo-
ration or trade association exceeding
10 per cent OF the total amount re-
Geived from such donors. Fullest pub
licity also is to be given such contrtbu-
tions.
The Committee on Committees Of the
assembly In report expressed the hope
that studies other than taxation might
be taken up at some future time.
Among those suggested were simplifica-
tion Of local government, moderniza-
ton of law-making machinery, protec-
tion Of bank deposits, employment, re-
habilitation and effective relief policies,
cost of education, State highways, pro-
lection Of insurance policy holders, re-
organization of State governments, CO.
operative labor legislation and one
Federal policy on $3.50 appropriations.
The assembly adopted resolution Of
thanks to President Hoover. who on
Friday spoke at the opening session, and
also to President-elect Roosevelt, who
in q letter Endorsed itS aims.
At the dinner which concluded the
conference. the speakers were Repre-
sentative Luce OF Massachusetts,, who
is sponsoring the bill In the House for
tho $4,000 appropriation for the In
terstate Legislative Research Bureau;
Representative Nolan of Minnesota,
Representative Keller Of Illinois, State
Senator George Woodward of Pennsyl-
vania, Dr. John c. Merriam, president
Of Carnegie Institution and Henry w.
Toll. director of the research bureau.
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