The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-06-04


mer, since the members are a.
fraid of what the public reaction
would be if they declared a re-
cess, there will be series OF I'M
official "coasting'' periods during
the summer to provide time TOR
electioneering.
The first one, just completed
was arranged primarily because
of the primaries in Iowa and re-
suited in a general showdown IN
both houses of congress wnere
comuaratively unimportant mea-
sures. such as the one to increase
the enrolment at West Polll''
.s,ara made to consume a Today
period. +,,o+
Official Washington regrets cnat
such an important election as the
nre in November comes up TINS
wear for there is no doubt that
both houses will have one eye on
fhe ballot box in every move that
thew make from now to NoVem-
her At the November election
ali seats in the house OF repre-
centatives and one-third OF the
seats in the senate will be at
stake. o.oa
A month ago it was expected
that a general recess, even tnousi,
q short one, would be declared
This summer to give the mem
hers of congress an opportunity
to campaign, but the recent CRIT
icism of congress over the X "a
ton cards resulted in the aoope-
ion of the unofficial recess meth
nd There is much anxiety among
congressman over the eiecuon'
nany members expecting to be
widely criticised at home TOT
their x card stand and for tnell
recent action to vote retirement
bonuses for themselves.
With the election looming SO I'M
nortant in their minds, members
of both houses are partlularly
worried about being called upon
to vote for the heaviest tax pro-
pram in the history of the coun-
trv. They realize that no matter
what tax proposals are approved,
there will be groups which Will
feel they are being asked 10
shoulder more than their share
of the burden-and that is going
to mean loss of votes. 1t is clear
that the treasury wants actlon
taken on the new taxes before
November and favors a plan
whereby the government Woulo
begin collecting new taxes out OF
salaries and wages as soon as
possible.
Although the committee IN
charge is still putting the finish
ing touches on a proposed tax
bill. it seems likely that exemp-
tions will be decreased and the
small and medium income groups
will be called upon to pay at
least double the tax they PAID
this year. It may work out SO
that 10 per cent of salaries ana
wages are deducted at source Tor
tax purposes, the same as IS done
with social security, and the a
mount paid in this way Will be
deducted from the amount the
taxpayer figures he must pay next
March.
In addition to greatly lncreas-
ed taxes, forced savings plan for
buying bonds may soon be put
through. Whether war bona
sales will continue on voluntary
basis will depend largely upon
the amount of sales between now
and the first of July. If the aV-
erage wage Garner puts less than
10 per cent of his earnings IN
bonds during that period, it IS
expected that a mandatory plan
will be put through forcing all OF
us to invest 10 per cent in these
bonds.
What the new method of gas
oline rationing will be after the
first of July is still question,
but there is no doubt that it will
be more stringent than at present
and may be extended to include
the whole nation. Although 1t
is true that there is plenty of gas
oline available in some sections,
gas rationing is seen as the only
feasible way of preserving the
vast rubber reserve on the wheels
of the nations 34,0OO,O0O auto
mobiles. The present ration sys-
tenn in use in the East has been
found to include many flaws
which will be corrected and It's
operation shows that large num-
Der of people are continuing to-
use their cars for many purposes
other than necessary ones.
It is impossible to determine
whether the gasoline and rubber
problems will become less acute
as time goes on, for the reports
from different authorities" are