Evening star., 1936-03-27
Tax Return Little Higher.

4AAnV "Oh4O NC u, III
some OF the estimates previously made
by Treasury officials could be forgot
ten. One Of the top Treasury men
figured week before the returns were
filed that total Treasury income for
the month would be between S438.-
000,000 and $450,0O0,O00. That is
what they really expected. The other
day he had collected exactly $780,
100000. He may get slightly more
than s4oo,oo0,000 by the month end
In any event he will be far more than
nine-tenths of per cent below expec-
tations.
The truth is the returns were
somewhat disappointing. Business
has not improved as much as then
thought.
The way Congress is slyly easing
Itself out from under the drastic Rob-
inson-Patman business practice (mis-
called the chain store) bill is clumsy,
but indicative Of change of heart.
You may recall that no hearings
were held on the Logan version of it,
which was reported to the Senate sew
eral weeks ago. Senators behind that
move would not admit that such
streamlining of legislation was un-
democratic. Nor would they agree to
send the bill back to the judiciary
Committee for hearings.
Hearings Authorized.
So they authorized hearings on the
Borah-Van Nuys bill, which is a sub
stitute for the Robinson-Patman bill.
This saved their faces. BY similar
devious means the original bill will
be modified considerably in conform
ity with the Borah-Van Nuys bill be-
fore 1t is passed
Note-Ultimate effect of the legis-
lation will be to Standardize price dis
counts by manufacturers and prevent
unjust determinations in favor of
chain stores. The broad price fixing
implications of the original bill will
be eliminated.
A drawing room story is going
the rounds. You tDil hear it it you
haze not already. 1t implies that
Senator Borah may be expected to
take his foot ball and 90 ouer to
the Roosevelt side after the Repub-
licdn conpention. That is, he is er-
pected to accumulate sufficient po-
tticdl strength in his current CAM
pdion to become a major influence
in the Roosevelt second term bJ
sUap.
The yarn was probably invented by
Borah's opponents to shake Republic
an confidence in him, but a lot Of
well informed persons expect it to
come true.
Republican authorities have become
somewhat more disturbed about the
Borah candidacy during the last few
days. The promised Townsend sup
port for the Idahoan is what did it.
However, the general inside impress
sion here Is that the Townsend move
ment is near the breaking point.
Within 80 days the House Investi-
eating Committee expects to develop
evidence injurious to Townsend po-
litical prestige.
Supposed Maneuver.
The resignation Of Robert Glenn
ents as secretary and treasurer of the
Townsend organization is supposed
to have been a maneuver in antici-
patton Of House evidence.
If everything works out as House
investigators expect, the Townsend
support will hardly be an asset to
the Borah candidacy.
Strategists of both political par.
ties are quietly getting ready to
make the ether sizsle during the
campaign. 1t is not ready for an
nouncen,ent yet, but Claude Bow-
ers tOiH be brought back from Spain
to take big position at the Demo-
cratic microphone. The Ambassa-
dor 1Don reputation as a Jefer-
sonidn Cicero uhile keynoter at
ttDo conventions.
Republicans also are beginning to
line up talent. One ether artist they
have in mind is nationally unknown
official Of a large life insurance COM
pany in New York (not Hoover). They
would also like to have Lewis Douglas,
Ohio's Attorney General Bricker and
President Glenn Frank Of Wisconsin
University.
You haven't heard anything yet.