Evening star., 1938-12-13
Dirksen Would
Start Work on
DC. Tax Bill
Committee, However,
Is Not Organized
And Lacks Leader
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

"A reported rift in the Commits
sioners' Advisory Committee on Tax
alton over the type of tax legislation
1t should recommend to Congress,
today led Representative Everett M.
Dirksen, Republican, of Illinois to
suggest that the House District Com
mittee undertake to write it's own
tax program without further delay.
Although the Advisory Committee
as well as the Joint Congressional
Committee on Internal Revenue
Legislation are working on new tax
recommendations, Mr. Dirksen, rank
ing minority member of the Dis
trict committee, declared:
"The House District Committee
has got to write a tax bill anyhow,
and it might as we'll get to work as
soon as possible. From press reports,
1t seems to me that every organiza-
ton and individual has a different
view over the tax problem. Perhaps
the committee can frame program
that will be given some unanimity
OF approval"
income ana sales lax.
The very heart of the tax program
being considered by both the Ad-
visory Committee and the tax ex-
perts of the Joint Congressional
Committee on Internal Revenue
Legislation, calls for a combination
non-wage, non-salary personal in
come tax, and a retail sales tax
exempting food and medicine.
First, Mr.. Dirksen is of the
opinion the proposed non-wage,
non-salary income tax cannot be
counted on as substantial pro-
ducer of revenue. And he is even
more definitely of the opinion that
Congress will not indorse a retail
sales tax unless it is made strictly
selective, and embrace only such
items as fur coats, liquors and meals
that exceed certain amount in
price.
Even with such a sales tax" he
declared, "it would be virtually i'm
possible to estimate the amount of
revenue 1t would yield. The most
conservative figures might fall short
by $750.000 a year."
Advocates Graduated Tax.
Mr.. Dirksen is strong advocate
OF a graduated income tax. and de-
spite the action of the House in
twice turning it down, he indicated
he would continue his efforts to
have it adopted in the District.
For the last two years, Representa-
tive Dirksen has served on special
subcommittee of the House District
Committee, which wrote the So
called stop gap" tax legislation de-
signed to keep the municipal gov
ernment out of the red In both
years he sponsored a graduated in
come tax, only to see it fall by the
wayside and business privilege tax
on gross receipts substituted.
In the new Congress, he also prob
ably will serve on the special sub
committee, since his seniority and
rank as minority member No. l
gives him the privilege of selecting
his own subcommittee assignments.
Vacancies in Group.
Despite Mr.. Dirksens suggestion,
the committee cannot very well be-
gin consideration of tax program
until it is organized for the new
Congress. There are several va
cancies in personnel due to resigna-
tions and the November election de-
feat of other members. But more
important is the fact that a new
chairman has not been named to
succeed Representative Vincent L.
Palmisano, Democrat, of Maryland,
who will give up his House seat to
the youthful Thomas D'Alesandro of
Baltimore.