The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-03-14
Fight Over "Pink Slip"

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Fight Over "Pink Slip"
AS II result of the present deluge, 1t
Is actually a probability and not just
a mere possibility. that the pink slip"
provision will be repealed. Not with
out fight Senator Robert NJ. La Fol-
lette and Senator George w. Norris.
both of whom at different times forced
through income tax return publicity
provisions will both fight repeal. They
will be joined by many others. But
expectancy now Is that the provision
will be repealed just1the same. The
house of representatives never was
very strong for 1t. In each case where
1t was enacted, the resulting provision
was compromise forced by the house.
Both Norris and La Toilette wanted,
and still want. the income tax returns
to be made a matter OF public record.
They resent the pink slip" idea. which
merely makes public small part OF
the entire return, bnt also encourages
newspaper publication of the reported
incomes.
Rest information Is that President
Roosevelt has no objection TO repeal.
The treasury does not like the pro-
vision. 1t forces tremendous amount
OF additional work. and SO far as the
treasury Is concerned. does very little
good. The big push for the present
law resulted from the disclosure that
Morgan, Mitchell and others had not
paid any income tax In certain years.
This was made possible by the law
permitting losses to be deducted from
income. That law has since changed.
Net losses In excess of $1,000 year
cannot be deducted any longer.
So the treasury holds that the pub
lIelty would not accomplish the cure
for the disease which caused its pass
age. the patient having already been
cured. All OF which will provide
plenty OF excuse for senators anxious
to please a good many OF their influ-
entail constituents. Not to mention
many very influential newspapers.
which have recently denounced the
pink slip provision as guide to KID
napers, etc.
His Position Stronger
President Roosevelt is not weaker In
strategic position than he was before
his two senate rebuffs. He Is immeas-
urably stronger. Stronger because he
has progressed definitely toward the
position outlined In these dispatches
right after last November's election
the happy and typically Rooseveltian
position of being In between two ex-
tremes.
Let us dismiss the World court
1t meant nothing but local senfimenthn
the states which elected the dissenting
senator's. The lineup on the st. Law
renee seaway treaty will also mean
nothing. The motives will be almost
entirely geographical. For example,
even If Huey Long loved and adored
Franklin Roosevelt, he would still have
to vote against that treaty. because al
most to d man the people Of New Or
leans think the treaty would hurt their
| city by 'dIvertng business 1t now han
dies to the new route.
But consider much more important
questionable prevailing wage fight In
| the work relief bill.
Immediately after the last election 1t
was apparent that hope for any sue
cessful opposition to the President In
| the 1896 campaign. as far as the Repub-
| lican party was concerned. was very
low. indeed. II also appeared that the
| menace Of new radical movement was
| So far nehulnns
| Hence the chief problem OF President
Roosevelt. with most fear as to 1895
opposition from purely political angles
/ eliminated, became To prevent an eco
nomic situation developing which would
/ endanger him. In short. II In some
way business could be made better. sc
| that the hope OF prosperity's coming
back under his guidance should be
strong by 1896. there would be almost
no threatening opposition to him In
that year at all.
In the Middle
| He had attained his old favorIte 20
sitIon--in the middle; with extremes
on either side-each Of which would
far rather have Roosevelt continue II
the saddle than To have the other ex