Evening star., 1947-11-08
Martin Quietly Spiked
Tax Move by Knutson
Two Good Reasons Seen for G. o. p.
Change in Congress Tactics
The Political Mill
Bv Gould Lincoln

By Gould Lincoln
Speaker Joe" Martin quietly called 8 halt
on Ways and Means Chairman Harold Knut-
sons Paul Revere act-the speedy passage OF
a tax reduction bill during the coming special
session Mr.. Martin figured there would not
be time for dealing with the tax measure
when he told newspaper men the tax bill
would have to wait until the. regular session
which begins in January.
Two good reasons, at least, both political.
exist for this tactical change on the part OF
the Republican leadership. First, 1t does not
wish to be In a position to be blamed for
sabotagng the Administrators program for
aid to Western Europe by bringing In tax
bill which could only use up time which other
wise would be given to consideration OF the
aid bill or bills. Second, 1t requires two
thirds vote to pass bill-in this case a tax
reduction bil-over a presidential veto. IL
has occurred to some of the Republicans that
it would be far easier to get such a vote the
nearer the vote comes to election day-ln other
words, in June or July rather than In De-
cember or January Further, the Republicans
have reaped all the political benefit they can
out of President Trumans two vetoes OF income
tax reduction bills put through at the last
session of Congress. A repetition OF this ma
neuver right now would add little
Recommendations Slated.
Administration sources have indicated that
the President himself will make tax recon-
mendations in his message to Congress when
the regular session begins the f1rst week IN
January. Whatever his recommendations, the
Republican Congress will write the bill. II
1t is such bill as the President deems ne
must veto-then the responsibility for tax
f,i1s,1 OH m,
But no one knows now what the administra-
ton will propose The President, by his vetoes.
has been able up to the present time to deny
the Republicans the opportunity OF saying to
the American people; 1--WE reduced your taxes"
1t would not hurt Republican feelings too
much If he continued to prevent any reduction
in the ack-breaking tax burden now imposed
by the Federal Government.
The President himself muddied the waters
for speedy action on foreign relief when ne
included imitation and high prices in his call
for the special session of Congress. He has
since said he believes the right of way should
be given to the relief measures This Is all to
the good-if the aid so greatly needed during
the coming winter is to be given.
The Democrats hope to gain much political
ground over the issue of high prices and in
fation as the Republicans figure to gain over
high taxes, It is difficult to understand how
this is coming about. When the people are
sore, they take it out on the Administration
that happens to be in the White House. And
certainly the people are sore over high prices.
The Republicans point out that during the first
session of the present Congress-which they
control-they made great efforts to cut Govern
ment spending and to cut Federal income taxes
both in aid of better economic conditions for
kl,1,r rncie tod
and checkmated by the Truman administration
and its followers in Congress.
Truman's Ideas Unrevealed.
The Presidents recommendations for dealing,
legislatively. with prices and imitation have yet
to be revealed. If he follows the advice of the
more ardent New Dealers-and he seems to
have done so when he included high prices and
imitation in his call for the special session-he
will ask for restoration of price control and
probably, rationng. The four top officers of
Americans for Democratic Action Wilson w.
Wyatt, Leon Henderson, Franklin D. Roosevelt.
ir, and Mayor Hubert Humphrey, wired the
President: I'VE sincerely hope that your adj
ministraton will present to Congress a bold
and fortnight program asking for the i'm
position Of price controls, rationing or what
ever measures are needed to assure domestic
stability and generous assistance to Western
Europe"
Price controls and rationing will be vigor
ously opposed by the Republicans in Congress.
But that is not all. The Administration would
have hard time lining up the Democratic
members for return to these controls in time
Of peace. Nevertheless, there are those who be-
lieve that the President could put the Repub-
licans in hole politically If he proposed price
controls and rationing, and let the Republicans
In Congress knock them down.
One thing is quite clear-the American people
will be less and less happy-and less inclined
to support the party In control of the Govern
ment-the longer they are forced to pay war
time taxes and to pay high prices for everything
they buy.