Milford chronicle., 1936-10-30
O04htnQto1s
aSnN5hoh
~ JAMES PREsroN


tions, if governmental expenses con
tinue to mount with the legislators
believing they can simply load more
taxes onto the rich, was pictured
graphically when the will Of Jesse
I. Straus, New York merchant and
until a few months ago, ambassador
to France, was fled II was found
that, in a codical to his will, Mr.
Straus had revoked charitable be-
quests amounting to millions of DOL
lars. His action was the more tell
ing, as one paper expressed il, be-
cause Of "his universally respected
record as a public servant and phi
lanthropist."
AS one tax bill after another has
been enacted recently in futile labs
at the mounting deficits, tax authori-
ties and charity workers have scited
the danger to private institutions
which depend for their activity
among the poor and helpless upon
gifts and bequests in wills. II has
been pointed out that if government
takes more and more, there must
necessarily be less for the great
American hospitals. schools. re-
search institutions, etc Mr.. Straus'
action gave point to the danger, and
trainers of new tax legislation at the
next Session of Congress undoubted-
ly will have this situation called
pointedly to their attention.
At the present time. taking New
York state as an example, the COM
bined Federal and State taxes on an
estate of $1.O0O,OO0 amounted to %
per cent. A tax of SO per cent is
levied upon an estate of $4,000. 900,
with progressive rate increases up
to 20 per cent for estates of $15O.O00,-
600 and over.
Almost with the closing of the
polls and the counting of the ballots
the new Administration whether
Democratic or Republican-will be-
gin thinking of the coming Congress, !
of fiscal problems, and of the new
alignment of the House of Represen- |
tatives. Much of what transpires
legislatively will depend upon the
House representation. Since 1880 the |
large majority. Since 1884 1t has |
been the largest in history, so that |
the party could enact any legislation |
ii chose. Not even Democratic lead |
ers doubt that this majority will be |
curtailed in November, for Demo- !
Gratis are sitting in the House from 1
many normally Republican districts. |
How far the swing goes is important. |
If the Republicans should gain a ma
jority. no matter how the Presiden- !
tial election goes, we would have |
approximating a coalition |
The Democrats will |
control the Senate under any circum-
as there are not enough |
seats in contest this year to change
the balance. So the picture at the
next Congress must be one of four
ways: President Roosevelt re-elect-
ed with Democratic House and Sen
ate: President Roosevelt reelected
with Republican House and DEM
ocratic Senate; Governor Landon
elected with Republican House and
Democratic Senate, or Governor Ian
don with a Democratic House and
Senate.
The new Administration will be
the first inaugurated under the Con-
amendment OF a few
years ago eliminating the lame
luck" sessions of Congress. Instead
Of the President taking office on
March 4th, as in the past, he will be
naugurated on January Goth. AS a
'esult. President Roosevelt, in his
present term, will serve about five
weeks less than past presidents. For
he first time a new President and a
lew Congress will come into office
almost simultaneously, since Con-
yTess will convene early in Janu-
.rv with ifa nauIu aIacfad rnamhara