Evening star., 1946-11-13
'Acrossille Board cul
In Al Income Taxes
Backed by Martin
By ]. A. oLeory

by J. ~ Ole0ry
The Republican move to GU
taxes 20 per cent had the in,
dorsement today of Represent,
ative Martin Of Massachusetts,
slated to be the new Speaker o.
the House.
The smiling little New Highlander
who led the House Republicans dur,
ing most Of the New Deal era, tols
his first press conference late yester,
day he thinks such a slash in incom,
taxes straight across the board car
be made for the calendar year l947
'"This immediate step should be fol
lowed by a scientific revision of tn,
revenue structure as a whole" h,
said.
Representative Knutson of Min
nesota. who is in the line to be chair
man Of the Ways and Means Com.
mittee, where tax bills are written
promised the 20 per cent tax GU
during the campaign and has ad.
vosated 1t since the election.
MIR. Knutson declared last nigh
that President Truman will not b,
able to dissuade the Republican,
from their avowed purpose of cut.
ting Government costs and taxes,
The Republicans, he said in a ra.
dio interview over WRC, plan to cuI
taxes, balance the budget and reduc<
the Federal debt ''by cutting out al
needless spending"
Spending Cut Also a Goal.
Other goals Mr.. Martin set for the
Republican-controlled Congress in.
clude reduction in Government
spending and the "curbing of bu-
reauracy."
The Republican leader said there
must be savings in Government
but added that every agency Is en-
titled to, and will receive, q fair
hearing on its needs.
''If they Cooperate with us by
coming in and showing where saw
ings can be made, it viii help all OF
U.s." he went on.
MIR. Martin repeated his personal
desire to see the Congressional Re
organization Act carried out, includ-
ing the elimination of many stand
ing committees through merger OF
functions.
He admitted he had heard some
rumblings" of proposal to exempt
the Military and Naval Affairs Com
mittees, which are slated to be COM
bined into one Armed Services Com
mittee. If any fight develops to
change the Reorganization Act, he
said 1t probably would be over those
two committees.
He expressed his belief, however.
that the Republican victory makes
1t easier to streamline the commit
tees than If the Democrats had won,
because it would have been more
dlmcult to take chairmanShips
away from Democrats who already
held them than to abolish the COM
mittees before Republican chairmen
are named.
AS to details Of the legislative
program for the coming session, Mr..
Martin said the Republican Steer.
ing Committee, at its meeting to-
morrow, will appoint a series Of
subcommittees to make intensive
studtes Of specific subjects.
In this way, Mr.. Martin explained,
the leaders should be able to start
the business of the session much
earlier. in January than If advance
spade work were not done.
The House Republican Steering
Committee meeting probably will be
followed by conference Friday be-
tween representatives of the Sen!
atesand House steering groups. Mr..
Martin indicated, however, that the
full gathering of all newly elected
House Republicans tentatively set
for December 2 may be called OF
until after Christmas.
A reporter asked Mr.. Martin II
he thought the regular Monday
morning White House conferences
between the President and the ma
jority leaders of Congress would
continue, now that the President
and congressional leaders are from
different parties.
Up to White House.
The prospective Speaker cautious
ly replied that the invitation for
continuation of the conferences
should come from the White House.
ut would be presumptious of me
10 tell the President who he should
gee," he said.
Would you welcome an invita-
tion?" queried another.
81 never invite myself anywhere, ,"
was Mr.. Martins response, but he
added that he thought it would be
helpful.
The purpose of these weekly con-
ferences has been to talk over the
legislation pending In both Houses
and to keep the congressional lead
ers informed as to the Presidents
attitude toward these issues.
The continuation of this custom
oAtAooSsC1Ay WSOAA PlOfluC q ClldIl-
mel for reducing friction between
a Democratic President and a Re-
publican Congress, but it is doubt
full If such conferences could be
more than an exchange of views,
especially on any major issue on
which the two parties take diver
gent stands On such issues the
conferences would present a situa-
tion far different from a Demo-
cratic President planning legisla-
tive strategy with leaders of his
own party.
When reporters asked MIR. Martin
If he thought the proposed tax cut
would apply to corporation rates
as well as individual income, and
whether it would include excise
levies, he said he could not attempt
to go into the details, which is the
job Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee.
Mr.. Martin avoided any expression
of personal choice for the post Of
House majority leader, for which,
at least three of his colleagues are
being mentioned.
Army Separation Center
AT Fort Meade TO Close