The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-08-01
(By Staff Writer)


work in the steaming, misamatie
swamp which is Washington ir
the dog-dRys, the members Of
both houses of Congress are tax.
ing stock of the political situation
and reluctantly approaching the
big job which the President had
dumped on their desks in prepa'
ration for making the national de-
tense program effective.
1t is no exaggeration that all OF
them wish they were somewhere
else. Few of them see that they
can do much in Washington to
further their own political pros
poets or those of their respective
parties; and most of them are
afraid that if they don't stay on
the job something will happen
overnight to give the war situa-
ton an entirely different aspect,
from the American point of view.
The biggest Congressional task
is that of tax revision. The coun-
try has committed itself to ex-
penditures for defense almost as
great as all that we spent in the
World War, and the question now
is where to get the money. The
Ways and Means Committee OF
the House, where all revenue bills
must originate, has had a staff OF
financial and tax experts working
on the problem for weeks. So has
the Finance Committee of the Sc
nate. Thousands of proposals
have been offered by representa-
tives of the Executive depart
ments. Only two facts stand out
clearly so far.
First, every department or bu-
reau of the Government which
has to do with spending public
money is prepared to resist to the
bitter end any reduction in their
respective expenditures. Second,
no matter how successful Con-
gress may be in reducing unnec-
essary expenses, the new taxes
will have to be imposed will be
staggering in their immensely.
Debt Limit Raised
No doubt remains here that an
increase in the borrowing auth
ority of the Treasury will have TO
he voted. A national debt of 81
billions or even more by the
time the next Congress meets IN
January and the President to be
elected in November is sworn IN,
seems to be on the cards.
However the new taxes are
disguised, they will fall ultimate
" upon the consuming pubic
That is automatic. Every effort
will be made in Congress to tell
the people otherwise, but prl-
vately every Senator and Repre-
sentative admits that when the
war spending really begins every
citizen fill feel the pinch OF
higher prices for everything ne
buys.
Depending upon how imminent
the threat of involvement IN the
European war appears, Washing
ton looks for long-winded and
partisan speeches when the tax
measures come to the floor for
debate, in the effort to convince
the voters that it all isn't gong to
cos them anything and, anyhow
he other fellows are to blame.
Greatest Emergency
The wisest observers here ap-
prehend that the mixture OF
Presidential politics with what
most regard as the greatest ma
tional emergency the nation has
faced in a quarter of century and
more will result in failure to car
ry the war preparations to the
necessary point of completeness
and at the same time compllcate
the political situation. 1t is poln-
ted out that the present Admins
tration has it in its power to az
gravate the war situation to the
point where public opinion Will
demand action that would involve
the nation actually in war.
Unless such a situation arises,
however, the seasoned observers
of the political scene give Mr.
Willkie and the Republican par
ty at least an even break with
Mr.. Roosevelt and the Democrats
On the war question, as stated in
the platforms of the two parties
and expressed by their respective
candidates, there is so little diff
ference that they may be regar-
ded as unanimous. That leaves
the Presidential campaign to be
fought out on domestic issues and
the personalities of the candi-
dates.
So far, there has been no re-
volt in the Republican ranks. ME-
Willkie comes nearer to having g
united party behind him than any