The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1937-07-01


of fighting the measure on the floor
In manner seldom seen in the
congress. These opponents from the
Democratic ranks got together and
chose Senator Wheeler of Montana
as leader of the Democratic oppo-
sltion to the Democratic Presi-
dents court revision program. They
gave him full authority to act, in
Guiding the selection of a steering
committee, a committee on STRAIT
egg, to aid him.
Thus, in the senate now we have
three major leaders. Senator Wheel
er will speak for the court opposi-
ton; Senator Robinson of Arkansas
as the leader of the Democratic
party in the senate will lead the
fight for passage of the court bill;
and Senator McNary of Oregon will
head up the Republicans as usual.
Since all of the Republicans and
Independents excepting only Senator
La Toilette, Progressive, of Wis
consin, are opposed to the court
revision plan, Senator McNary and
Senator Wheeler are working hand
in glove against the regular Demo-
cratic lineup headed by Senator
Robinson.
1t appears that the President is
going to be badly defeated on this
piece of legislation, but it is too
early to be sure. Mr.. Roosevelt is
powerful figure and he has politi-
cal knowledge that must be de-
scribed as remarkable. He has with
him in the senate some exceedingly
able political strategists. 1t is thus
battle of wits.
Mr.. Roosevelt has said several
times that he will accept no COM
promises. There is a very definite
feeling at the Capitol, however, that
the President will be glad to have
compromise if he can get one
and save the bill from complete
wreckage. On the other hand, Sem
ator Wheeler and his strategy
committee have announced in no
uncertain terms that they will de-
feat the bill or any compromise that
is offered. Time alone can answer
the question of what will come out
of the Presidents proposal. At this
writing, the odds certainly are
against the President on the
proposition.
Speaking of taxes and the selfish
ness that was evident in the house
p, action, as men
Hunf ak toned earlier,
EUdders calls to mind the
investigation by
the joint house and senate COM
mittee that is now under way. This
committee, made up of five repre-
sentatives and five senators has be-
gun a search to find out how tax
payers avoid taxes or reduce the
amounts they would otherwise have
to pay by various trick schemes.
The committee has been given fifty
thousand dollars with which to
make the investigation and it is re-
ceiving able assistance from Under
Secretary Roswell Magill and other
Treasury experts on taxation.
Contrary to the outlook when Mr..
Roosevelt released a vicious attack
on tax dodgers and tax avoiders,
this committee is getting down to
real business and there is every
reason to believe it will be able
to recommend to congress changes
in the law that will stop some of
the schemes and tricks to which
large taxpayers have resorted.
I have sat in on a number of the
hearings thus far, including the
opening session when Secretary
Morgenthau made the opening state
ment and disclosed to the satisfac-
ton of everyone that he was not
conversant with the problem at
hand. Like the President, Mr.. Nor
genthau attempted to place the tax
problem confronting the govern
ment on moral grounds. His state
ment did not click with the COM
mittee at all. With two or three eX-
ceptions, the committee members
recognized the problem as purely a
question of law and Senator Pat
Harrison, Democrat of Mississippi,
vice chairman, said that there was
no point in making the investigation
"a Roman holiday" Therefore, the
thing settled down very quickly to
an earnest study of cases where
men have resorted to various kinds
of subterfuges of law, to reduce
their tax liability.
In this connection, it seemed to
me that too much credit cannot
be given Under Secretary Magill
who apparently is anxious to get to
the bottom of the problem.
Let me give you picture of that
opening session as I saw it: The
-. great ways and
outing IN means committee
on Hearing room was made
ready several days
before; press tables were arranged
for on correSpondentS land % yyaro