Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-06-04

David Lawrence. sion of Congress
beginning next January.
For a veto of the tax bill means a
much more drastic revision of taxes
next time and much more difficult
bill for Mr.. Truman to sign in 1913.
The veto game Is one that can be
played by both sides and 1t would
be most unfortunate If the President
made the veto power a major issue.
To veto a bill that is desired by
virtually two-thirds of the member
ship of both Houses but on which
q veto cannot be overridden because
q handful of members over and
above q one-third minority Of one
House sustainS the veto means that
a President is more powerful than
two-thirds of one House of Congress
and more powerful than a group
that is two or three votes less than
two-thirds of the other House. This
is considerable power for one man to
use capriciously.
Only in an extreme case Is the
use of the veto power justified when
sentiment is so preponderantly in
favor of particular measure.
Urged To Veto Both Bills.
The President is being urged by
some members of his cabinet to veto
both the labor and the tax bills.
While there Is a two-thirds vote to
override a veto of the labor bill,
there is not such vote for the tax
bill. Mr.. Truman will be in the posi-
ton of saying he is willing to have
tax bill passed that takes effect
January /, 1948, but he is unwilling
to approve one that takes effect only
six months earlier. 1t Is improbable
that Mr.. Truman can write a veto
message which can persuaSively
argue that tax reduction would ruin
the country now but would not hurt
six months later. Mr. Truman could
argue, of course, against any and all
tax reduction either now or in 1948,
but that would be even more diff
cult to justify from political
angle.
AtCRAHlAkullc AldVC d oEl
Of applying about half the surplus
to debt reduction and about half to
tax reduction. The President is on
the spot, because nearly all the
Democrats have gone on record in
favor Of some kind of tax reduction.
While the bill proposed in the
Senate recently by Senator Lucas,
Democrat. did not favor the Repub-
hcan formula, 1t was nevertheless
bill to reduce taxes. Mr.. Tru-
man cannot ignore the record made
by his own party in favor of the
principle of tax reduction.
To deny 100000 taxpayers a
reduction in taxes which would
amount to $4,000, 100000 a year is
very arbitrary step for g. Presi-
dent to take unless he can make a
clear case Of fiscal danger to the
Nation. Certainly the reduction of
the $3.50 900, 100000 debt by $1,000
100000, under the Republican plan.
instead of $4,000, 900 900 for debt
reduction with no relief in taxes,
is not enough of difference to
justify an argument of peril to the
country's financial structure. The
Republicans would have all the
better OF that argument, especially
since the Truman doctrine favors
the idea of spending billions for
relief Of peoples in foreign coun-
tries.
Could Avoid Antagonist.
II Mr.. Truman signs the tax bill.
ne will avoid antagonism among
conservative and liberal voters
alike, for they will all benefit. If
Mr.. Truman vetoes the tax bill,
however, there will be no tax
reduction law this year and maybe
next year. because the Republicans
will present Mr.. Truman with a
much sitter bill next time and
really put him on the spot. They
will do so because they will feel
he began playing politics this year
with the tax problem-assumin
that he, vetoes the present bill.
To veto the labor bill, on the
OeilCi lIdIiO, Will IlOU cause MI.
Truman much political injury. For
when the measure becomes law over
the veto, as seems certain. the rec
ord of friendship with the unions
will have been maintained by the
President and after the bill has
been law for few months, most
people will forget that there ever
was veto if the legislation works.
If it doesn't work, they will Ger
tainly not blame Mr.. Truman.
The logic of the situation po-
litically-that is, from Mr.. Tru-
mans own ANGELS to sign the tax
bill and veto the labor bill. To
veto them both is to pile up trou-
bic and commit political suicide,
giving the Republicans a veto issue.
Signing both would send Mr.. Tru-
mans popularity curve up 10 points
and mean that the conservative
vote In both parties would, in large
part. swing to Mr.. Truman aud
probably would be enough to re-
elect him.