Evening star., 1947-07-11
Senate Passage
OF Tax Cut Bill
|sSought-1oday
One or Two Votes
May Decide Issue
In BolIot on Veto
NAM PROPOSES 50 per cent limit
on taxation Of big earnings.
Page A
By J. A. o'Leary

Truman and the Republican,
controlled Congress over passage
of a January l income tax bill
may be decided by a margin of
one or two votes.
With Senate passage of the bill a
foregone conclusion, the only ques-
ton on legislative minds today was
whether supporters of the bill could
muster two-thirds to override Presi-
dent Truman's announced intention
to veto it.
Leaders hope to send the measure
to the White House tonight and, al
though passage requires only SIM
pie majority, this roll call may indi-
cate which side will win the real
test when the veto message arrives.
Rival spokesmen are making the
usual optimistic and conflicting
claims of victory. Informal polls OF
observers on the sidelines indicate
the outcome Is so close one unex-
pected absentee might decide the
issue.
60 Votes to Override Claimed.
Despite Mr.. Truman's advance
announcement that he will veto
this bill, as he did the earlier July
tax cut, supporters of the bill
still are claiming IL Democrats they
say can be added to 48 sure Re-
puhlicans, to override.
This gives 90 votes. The two
thirds rule is based on those pres
ent and voting when the veto is
presented. With Senator ELECT Bill
bo's seat vacant and Senator Wag-
ner of New York absent because of
illness, "a may be the maximum
possible vote. With that number
recorded, 1t would take So to in
sure enactment of the bill.
As debate continues today over
a series of amendments, floor man
ayers for both sides will be watch
ing for any sign of break in ranks
either way.
One group, led by Senator NC
CleHan, Democrat, of Arkansas, is
urging an amendment to give mar
ried couples throughout the country
the privilege now limited to 13 COM
munity property States Of dividing
their incomes for tax purposes.
Adoption OF this amendment might
give the bill the added strength
it needs to overcome the veto.
Those In charge Of the bill have
showr, no signs Of accepting the
community property amendment.
They point out that the House
Ways and Means Committee has
agreed to iron out this inequity
in a general tax revision next year
and add it is too complicated to
work out hastily.
Revercomb to Offer Amendments.
Senator Revercomb, Republican,
of West Virginia also has amend
ments, seeking to give more tax
relief to married couples by raising
their personal exemption.
The Senate appears set to pass
without change, however, the House
bill, which gives fiat percentage IN
come tax cuts to 100000 indi-
viduals, ranging from 80 per cent in
the low income range to 10.5 per
cent at the top.
Senator Lucas of Illinois. Demo-
cratic whip, declared fatty the Sen
ate "can sustain" the veto, but
Senator Wherry Of Nebraska, the
Republican whip, countered by say
ing u think we have the votes
Senator Lucas suggested the
House may sustain the President
again, as it did on his veto of the
earlier bill, thereby avoiding the
need for a Senate showdown. Sen
ator Wherry replied, however, that
he is absolutely sure" the House
will override this time.
New support Received.
On the first bill, which made
the tax cuts effective this month,
the House sustained the veto by
two votes. The new January
date picked up added Democratic
support in the House, and the pend
ing bill passed that body by 26 votes
more than the two-thlrds required
to override.
Senator Morse of Oregon, one OF
three Republicans who voted against
the July bill, said he has five or
six amendments to offer, but did
not explain their provisions. He
told reporters he believes the "Re-
publican leadership is playing poll
tics" with the tax bill and expressed
fear it may boomerang" against the
best interests of the party.
The other two Republicans who
opposed the first bill are Senators
Cooper of Kentucky and LANCER of
North Dakota. They have not taken
mart in the current debate