Evening star., 1936-01-05

ment even more, so as to make up Tor
the increases.
One of the early questions for Con-
gress to dispose of will be to lay down
a neutrality program designed to pre-
vent this country from becoming en-
tangled when war breaks out IN some
other part of the world.
In the hurried closing days OF last
session we put through bill, hastily
compromised, intended to accomplish
this. This measure, which the Presi-
dent signed, has many omissions and
in some respects is too inflexible. This
law expires next month. The Presi-
dent will find Congress standing
squarely behind him, am confident,
in his desire to 60 as far as possible
in maintaining the neutrality of our
country during a war, without un-
necessarily cramping our export trade.
Delicate Balance.
Obviously, the rules must be laid
down in advance-for We are not
thinking so much of the present con-
f1ict as of some possible world con-
fiagration which might suddenly
burst upon us, threatening our impli-
cation through some overt act or
false construction as to our motives
There is delicate balance involved
in laying down the rules before the
conf1agration and yet maintaining
sufficient hexibility.
The veterans compensation will, OF
course, be one of the spectacular fea-
lures of the early part of the ses-
sion. Everything will be done to
facilitate vote. and I am hopeful
that a compromise will be worked out
which will be acceptable to every one
concerned
With respect to the agricultural ad-
Justment act, most of the limelght
has been turned on the Supreme Court,
which Is expected before long to de-
eide as to the constitutionality of the
| processing taxes. Until that decision
there is little that can be said. But
entirely aside from this question there
are some necessary perfecting amend
mentS which Congress must enact at
| this session.
Amendments must also be made to
the social security legislation. 1t will
be recalled that in the hurry at the
close of last session the so-called
Clark amendment was not adopted
with respect to exempting employers
/ operating their own retirement sys-
TENS from the pay roll taxes, etc. Ex-
pertS were appointed to study this
question, and while they have not
reported, I am confident that a way
to protect such private concerns in
the carrying out of their own pension
! systems will be found.
There seems to be a great deal of
| interest in taxess-~My own conviction
| is that no new taxes will even be con-
sidered at this session. In the first
place. the revenue bills already writ
ten on the statute books are abundant
| ly justifying the estimates laid before
the Finance Committee and the House
Ways and Means Committee.
Due to the very considerable prog
ress toward a return to prosperity
made under this administration, taxes
are now running at approximately
$200,000,000 year in excess Of the
estimates made before the effects of
this administration program were
so apparent as they are today.
So that, as a matter of fact, If the
Supreme Court should happen to sus-
tain the constitutionality of the proc
essing taxes, the Treasury would have
$2Gn, 900. 900 of leeway, as against our
estimates one year ago. At any rate,
| however, no more taxes are neces-
Sary at this time.
Congress will give some time to
consideration of some more effective
method of developing an American
merchant marine. There has been
dissatisfaction for long time both
with the results and the methods.
The American merchant marine has
not grown, and few will defend the
present very substantial expenditures
by the Government actually aimed at
encouraging such growth. though
under another pretenseS
| (Copyright 1895. by the North American
Newspaper Alliance. Inc)