Evening star., 1935-03-03
ACTION HELD NEAR
ON SECURITY BILL
Witte Tells Interstate As.
Sembly Delay Has Not
Doomed Program.
Indications that the administration's

Indications that the administration
economic security bill will be acted
upon in Congress within the next few
days were given last night by Edwin
E. Witte, executive director Of the
Presidents committee on economic
security, to the second interstate as
sembly in its final session at the May
flower Hotel.
Witte denied reports to the ef-
feet that delayed consideration Of the
bill by Congress has doomed the en-
tire program. He said reports had
been current in many sections Of the
country that delayed action Of Con-
gress had precluded action Of the vari-
Gus State legislatures. He said these
stories have little foundation in fact.
OF the 43 legislatures which con-
vened in January, only one, Wyoming,
has already adjourned, he said, and
this legislature passed an act prior
to adjournment authorizing the Gov
ernor to accept any Federal leg1sla-
ton which may develop out OF the
economic security bill. Three other
States have sessions limited to 40 or
so days, which will expire IN the
near future. Fifteen have 60-day ses-
sioAs which will end by the middle Of
this month. he said A substantial
majority of the State legislatures
would have sufficient time to act upon
the security act before adjournment,
he asserted.
New Policies Involved.
1.-THE economic security bill Is
measure of great importance tnvolv-
ing entirely new policies" he said.
"The administration has not expected
the congressional committee or the
Congress to merely rubber stamp this
bill, but has sought their cooperation
in perfecting the legislation recon-
mended. And carefully considering
every section Of this bill. the House
Ways and Means Committee has only
performed its constitutional duty.
with the bill about ready for action
inthe House, and the Senate COM
mittee's vote TO take up this bill as soon
as 1t is reported to the House, there is
every reason to expect the Federal bill
will become law in sufficient time to
enable a substantial majority Of State
legislatures to act upon this legislation
before adjournment of their regular
sessions"
In the afternoon session Of the In
terstate Assembly yesterday, several
resolutions affecting widely varying
subjects were adopted. Chief among
these, in the opinion Of officials of
the assembly, were the two relating
to gasoline taxes.
One provided that the Federal Gov
eminent should relinquish all taxes
on gasoline effective June 80 Of this
year, thereby making available more
extensive taxation by the States, max
ing possible greater revenue for their
treasures.
Ask Restrictions Removal.
A related resolution was one calling
upon Congress to remove the restric-
tons against diversion of gasoline
taxes from highway construction.
Under the present set-up, the Fed
eral Government, in effect dictates
the manner in which gasoline taxes
collected by the States shall be
expended. Unless the States devote
their gasoline tax to highway con-
struction they cannot benefit from
the Federal highway aid
Another resolution called upon the
State Legislatures to enact legislation
which would provide for the tabula-
ton and publication of complete
statistics of State and local taxation,
expenditures and debt. The States
would be barred from benefits of
additional taxes on tobacco, this reve-
nue. being confined to the Federal
Government, under the terms Of a
resolution on that subject passed by
the assembly.
They also passed a resolution call
ing upon State and local Govern
ments to refrain from imposing
heavy taxes on beer, unless they i'm
oost such taxes for regulatory purposes.
In other resolutions they condemned
the policy OF conflicting and multiple
taxation and called upon the State
Legislatures to pass laws which will
make possible the cooperation and
coordination between the States and
the Federal Government, so that the
tax burden can be more equitably
distributed.