Evening star., 1943-04-10
T axes
Continued From First Page.)

veloped over the previous attempt to
pass pay-as-ycu-go legislation.
Scott Protests Delay.
Representative Disney was one Of
four Democratic members of the
Ways and Means Committee who
conferred at length yesterday with
Speaker Rayburn.
The discussions on taxes was
touched off by Representative Scott
Republican. of Pennsylvania, who
protested against delay in acting on
the issue representative Scott
blamed obstinate" members of the
Ways and Means Committee.
On the surface, there were few
indications of a crack in the dead
lock which has persisted since the
House rejected the Republican,
backed Ruml skip-a-year tax plan
and tossed back at the committee a
no-abatement proposal drafted by
the Democratic majority.
But Speaker Rayburn yesterday
called in four Democratic members
of the committee for a tWo-hour
conference, amid rumors that he was
insisting on top priority for tax
legislation despite a crowded cal
endar.
Action Tomorrow Hinted.
Mr.. Rayburn declined to divulge
details of the discussion and Chair
man Doughton of the Ways and
Means Committee offered no in
dIcatlon that he was budging from
his position that the tax bill must
be sidetracked for other business.
However. one of the conferees,
asked whether a bill would be
brought out soon, replied, Il
wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps YOU
will hear something about that to-
morrow"
Majority Leader Mccormack has
called for a compromise. So have
several other Democrats. among
them Representative Hebert of Lou
lslana, former supporter of the
Ruml plan, who philosophical on
the floor that 'if we can't have the
whole loaf, I think it is best to
take half of it,"
But the question of whether the
closely-knit Republican minoritv is
ready to compromise remained un-
certain. Mr.. Martin said that, no
matter what bill the committee Of
fered, the Republicans would insist
on an open rule, a parliamentary
procedure permitting amendments
to be offered from the floor under
which the Republicans could, il
they chose, make a second trv for
the Ruml plan.
Compromise Urged.
Nine OF the 10 Republicans on the
committee-all but Representative
Gearhart of California-held a
separate huddle and issued a state
ment urging the majority members
to join them 'in seeking to obtain
committee consideration on the
(taX) subject before the House re-
cesses for the Easter holiday. y
The House itself can easily dispose
OF the subject in one day"
Asked whether the Republicans
would support discharge position
to force the tax fight out of the ccm-
mlttee and onto the floor again. Mr..
Martin declared no parliamentary
device should be overlooked.
There existed a strong chance that
such strategy. if attempted. might
succeed. More than three score
Democrats signed their name to a
letter drafted by Representative An
derson. Democrat, of New Mexico.
asking the Ways and Means Com
mittee for action on the issue.
DOughton Maintains Stand.
Mr.. Doughton offered no indica-
ton that he was planning to retreat
from his contention that the COM
mittee should take up first legisla-
ton dealing with renewal of the ad-
mlnistration's authority to write
reciprocal trade agreements, and of
the Guffey Bituminous Coal Act.
Such a course would delay COM
mittee and congressional action on
pay-as-you-go legislation until long
after Easter, and possibly until the
committee tackles the job of writing
new wartime revenue act on the
basis of President Roosevelt's re-
quest for $4,000, 900, 900 in new
money this year.
Meanwhile. more compromise pro-
posals appeared, with two freshmen
Representatives, Newsome. Demo-
crat. Of Louisiana. and Compton, Re-
publican, Of Connecticut proposing
the latest-a plan which would re-
tain the committees Withholding
tax plan, collect 1912 taxes on the
basis Of 194l rates and exemptions,
and spread payments over period
OF years.