Evening star., 1935-03-01
LAW UN|F|CAT|0N
IN STATES ASKED
| BY ASSEMBLY
Reforms in Divorce and
Extradition Proceedings
Are Sought.
enhancement is SEEN
IN CRIME PREVENTION
Fair Distribution of Taxes
Throughout Nation Is Urged
by Two Representatives.

Discussion looking toward reforms
in the divorce and eXtradition laws,
which would be brought about by CO.
ordination between the various States.
took place at the second session Of
the Second Interstate Assembly at the
Mayflower Hotel today.
William B. Belknap, speaker of the
assembly, said such coordination Of
laws would greatly enhance crime pre-
vention and law enforcement. He said
the assembly is working with Attor-
ney General Cummings on the extra
dition law investigation which was
suggested at the Presidents Crime
Conference.
Belknap said several moves were
afoot to change several of the State
laws affecting health. He called eSpe-
cial attention to the interstate milk
regulations and said that by overlap
ping territory milk producers were able
to gouge the public on milk prices.
New Divorce Laws Sought.
Belknap said there was a great need
for some change in the divorce laws,
pointing out that many States did not
recognize the divorces of other States.
Representative Fred NJ. Vinson,
chairman of the subcommittee on
double taxation Of the House Ways
and Means Committee, told the dele
gates this morning that some system
of distribution of taxes must be
worked out between the States to re-
lieve a very definite burden of double
taxation.
"A plan which looks toward ma
tionally collected taxes with grants
in aid to the States in q manner
similar to the English system is
worthy of consideration, Vinson said.
Another plan proposed is to allocate
the various subjects of taxation be-
tween the Federal Government and
the States. Both of these plans have
We will finally have to proceed on a
combination of these plans"
In any event, since the total bur-
den of taxes must obviously be high
for number of years, it is absolutely
essential that the tax burden be
equitably distributed. 1t can never be
equitably distributed unless the prob
lem of the duplication and overlapping
Of Federal and State taxes is solved. -
Representative Vinson urged the
group to concentrate on the subject
of conflicting taxation and the prob
lem of devising ways and means of
bringing about actual improvement
in the present situation. He said the
time fol action is here.
Urges Fair Tax Burden.
Representative Robert L. Doughton,
chairman of the House Ways and
Means Committee, also made a plea
for a more equitable distribution of
the tax burden, saying mo persons
or class ought to be preferred and
allowed a proportionate share of the
tax load while those who are less
fortunate are burdened with double
taxes.
I'VE fail in our duty unless we
keep the taxpayers viewpoint, and
not only try to distribute the tax
load as equitably as possible, but also
try to give the taxpayer his moneys
worth when we spend his dollar"
Representative Doughton said.
He referred to the taxation system
now as common hunting ground
for the State, Federal and local gov
ernments.
The second Interstate Assembly
which opened its sessions yesterday,
will take up several widely varying
matters of coordination between
States before adjournment Saturday
night. The assembly,, which is COM
posed of State legislators and experts
on various phases of State law and
regulation, was called by the American
Legislators Association and the Coun-
Gil of State Governments.
Throughout the session the speak,
ers have urged prompt action to clear
up chaotic situation by eliminating
State and Federal tax conflicts.
Mark Graves. president of the New
York State Tax Commission, urged a
general sales tax similar to that in
New York as a solution for the
problem,