Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-21
SEPARATE SILVER
ACTION IS SOUGHT
BY SENATE BLOC
Bill on Calendar Would Re-
place Discarded Tax
Amendment.
OPPOSITION MAY
START FILIBUSTER
McCarran Says Tactics Are Not
Relished, but Situation De.
mands Consideration.
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

McCarran silver amendment in the
$3.50, 000, 900 tax bill would be carried
out. Is the price to be asked by mem
bers of the Senate silver bloc in re-
turn for allowing approval in the
Senate of the conference report on
the revenue legislation, it was learn
ed today.
The McCarran amendment. which
would repeal certain sections Of the
silver purchase act OF 1884. was &C
cepted during Senate consideration of
the tax bill, but was thrown out in
conference. There Is pending on the
Senate calendar. however, separate
bill introduced by Senator McCarran.
Democrat, of Nevada, and reported
favorably by Senator Thomas. Demo-
crat, of Oklahoma, for the Committee
on Agriculture. which has the same
content as the discarded tax amend
ment. Consideration of this measure
not on the administration list of
must" legislation. is the objective of
the silver bloc.
Unless the wishes Of this group are
met. a silver filibuster is almost certain
in the closing hours of the session, it
was indicated.
Anxious for Action.
Although Senator McCarran de-
clined to tip his hand completely, he
said today he is very anxious to get
action on the silver bill.
I'm working on the proposition
right now" he said, land I can't tell
you just yet what we will do. I'd prefer
having separate measure rather than
an amendment to the tax bill. don't
like flibustering tactics at this stage
Of the game. but I do want some action
on this silver situation"
Senator Thomas, however, went .
step further in declaring, There are
10 Of us ready to make speeches on
the silver question IL Senate leaders
refuse to consider our proposition
either a. an amendment to the tax bill
or as a separate measure. We don't
intend to give up on the matter with
out some fight"
The provisions Of the silver pur-
chase act which the bloc seems to re-
peat are the sections levying q tax
Of so per cent on all profits on silver
transactions. authorizing the PreSi-
dent to nationalize all silver owned
within the United States. and au-
thorizing the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to regulate domestic silver deal
inpS Thrush q HeanSa syetar,
Further Delay Possible.
In addition to the danger of trouble
from the silver bloc. the tax bill re-
port may run into further delay from
those who supported the Borah
amendment to ban further issuance of
tax-exempt Federal securities. This.
like the McCarran amendment, was
thrown out in conference. 1t was
adopted in the Senate by vote of 40
to 80, with the Idaho Republican in
dicating he might take some verbal
action II the Conference Committee
should see At to abandon the proposal.
Immediate action on the revenue
conference report, however, is being
delayed pending completion Of the
ma ority report by the technical con-
sultants of the conferees. Repre-
sentative Doughton, Democrat, of
North Carolina, head of the House
conferees. said he hopes the report
will be completed by this afternoon
and that 1t may be called up in the
House tomorrow.
Senator Harrison, Democrat, of
Mississippi, head of the Senate con-
ferees. already has announced that
the report will not be considered in
the Senate until disposition is made
in the House 1t is believed, however,
that such consideration Is being de-
layed until virtually everything else
on the must" list is cleared away, the
feeling being that the Roosevelt re-
quested legislation to soak the rich"
is to be the final straw to break down
the present session of the Congress
and allow the legislators to return to
their homes.
Minority Attitude.
In spite of the reconciliation of
differences between majority con-
ferees of both House and Senate yes
terday, the Republican minority still
refuses to take any part of the
blame" for the revenue bill. To
make their position certain, there
fore, Senator Metcalf of Rhode Island,
Representative Treadway of Massa-
chusetts and Representative Bachrach
of New Jersey, Republican conferees.
issued q blistering statement against
the measure last night and refused
to sign the conference report.
Terming it an "absurdity," they
(See TAXES, Page So