Evening star., 1943-01-01
Roosevelt Reported
Likely 10 LET Congress
Write Own Tax Bill
Move Viewed as Part
OfNew Trend in Executive,
Legislative Relations
BY the Associated Press.

Congress may be called on to
write its own tax ticket under a
broad request from President
Roosevelt for about $4,000, ,000,-
600 to finance the war this year.
The view that Congress ought to
be permitted, without undue prod
ding from the Treasury or other ex-
ecutive agencies, to make its own
decisions on new taxes was reported
today to have been taken by James
r. Byrnes, the economic stabilization
director who has urged adoption Of
fiscal policies that will lessen the
threat Of imitation.
Mr.. Byrnes' reputed attitude COIN
cides with what was regarded in
some quarters as the beginning Of
a new trend in relations between
the Chief Executive and Congress,
marked by the Presidents statement
this week that the legislators would
have to decide where to make econi-
mics in the forthcoming budget.
Some legislators estimated this
budget total at around $95 900 0O0,-
600, pointing out that Vice President
Wallace had set $50 0OO, ,0OO, 900 in a
recent speech as the probable rate
Of annual war spending in the peak
year of hostilities-generally re-
garded as likely to be 1943.
rs Billion This Year.
Direct Federal taxes are expected
to raise approximately $26 6,0O0, ,000,-
600 under present laws and Secre-
tary Of the Treasury Morgenthau
said last fall, even before the Presi-
dent signed a record-breaking new
revenue bill, that at least $6OO0,-
100000 more was needed. That esti-
mate may be increased greatly and
an additional request made for
compulsory loans in some form.
The Treasury is known to have
made an intensive study Of proposals
for q tax on spending, expansion Of
the present withholding machinery
developed to handle the per cent
victory levy, and Of various types
of sales taxes. It also has given
consideration to suggestions for put
ting regular income tax payments
on current basis.
In the past, Congress has waited
for the Treasury to make recon-
mendations. Last year 1t ended up
with a new revenue bill that omitted
many of the Treasury's favored
plans.
Left to its own devices, it seemed
headed toward a sales tax, rejug-
Cling Of the victory tax into some
kind Of compulsory loan plan if nee
essary, and compromise plan by
which at least the lower bracket
wage earners could pay their tax
bills currently.
Meanwhile, with the new Congress
convening less than a week hence,
number of Democrats searched
today for remedy for a lingering
estrangement between the White
House and segment of the major
ity party on Capitol Hill.
Unless an adjustment is made,
they said, prospects Of teamwork
between the executive and legislative
branches will be jeopardized in the
vital two years ahead, when America
not only must fight a worldwide
war but may have the large respon-
sibility of planning a global peace.
Labor Day Talk Recalled.
The schism between several prom
inent Democrats and the White
House dates back to the Labor Day
message, in which Mr.. Roosevelt told
Congress in effect you do it or I
will" in calling for anti-inf1ation
legislation.
Congressional tempers flared, on
both the Republican and Democratic
sioes-even among some members
hitherto almost unsWervingly re-
sponsive to White House requests
and advice. And the intervening
months have not altogether cooled
the indignation Moreover a num-
Der Of members have voiced ag-
gravation at administration dealing
with wartime plIUe controls, ration
ing and labor problems.
While declining to comment di-
rectly on the estrangement between
the two ends of Pennsylvania ave-
nue., Representative Ramspeck,
Democrat, of Georgia, the House
majority whip, said
Despite the close political divi-
sion in the House, I anticipate no
difficulty as to legislation the pur-
pose of which is clearly necessary
for winning the war.
IF we are to be successful in other
matters Of more controversial ma
ture, there must be better under
standing and more teamwork be-
tween the White House and the
Congress. Unless we can attain this
close working agreement, it is prob
able that great dif1iculty will result
as to legislation not clearly neces-
sary to the war effort.
Peace Issue Cited.
If Congress should be called upon
to pass upon questions after the
successful conclusion of the war
can think of nothing more impor-
JdIlI Okldll ClldG tlllo SllOulu llhfC
been preceded by a period of CO.
operative feeling between the White
House and Congress-"
The Georgian expressed particular
concern lest the teamwork not func-
ton If this Congress were to write
the peace, saying that the attempt
at world order after the last wal
failed when Congress and the
White House, then occupied BY
woodrow Wilson, could not agree
A number Of members on Capito
Hill say Mr.. Roosevelt could make
the largest contribution to party
solidarity and better relations with
Congress by seeking more Frequently
the advice of Senate and House
leaders, especially before making
major decisions on national policy