Evening star., 1949-03-03
The Political Mill
6. 0. P. Comes Up Again
As Champion Of Tax Cut
Democrats Seen Labelling Proposal
as Another Rich Mans Bill
By Gould Lincoln


Republicans in Congress have again put
themselves forward as the champions of tax
reduction. Their attitude is in direct
opposition to that of the Truman Democrats.
This time the Republicans are proposing to
reduce the so-called excise taxes-which in
reality are sales taxes although the Demo-
Gratis would die before admitting as much.
These taxes fall on the poor, those in
moderate circumstances and the wealthy
alike. They are the taxes which the people
pay for telephone service, local and long
distance, for telegraphic, cable and radio
service: taxes which they pay every time
they travel by train, or buy toilet goods.
jewelry, luggage or films, plates, cameras or
electric light bulbs; taxes which they pay
for admission to the movies and other enter
tainments The Republicans propose to
reduce also the taxes on bowling alleys and
billiard tables and on purchases OF furs.
All these taxes are burden. and the
burden is particularly heavy on the little
fellow who wants an electric light bulb. or
a railroad ticket or a telephone. The Re
publicans are not proposing to wipe OUT
these taxes entirely, but in most instances
they would cut the tax in half or to one
quarter.
Rich Mans Bill.
Undoubtedly the Democrats will label the
new tax bill measure to relieve the rich
Just as they labeled the Republican income
tax reduction bill enacted by the 8Oth
Congress a rich mans bill. The TACT Is.
however that 1000 600 taxpayers who shelled
out to the Federal Government under the
Democratic income tax laval IN tne
lowest bracket-now pay no income TAX at
all because of the Republican tax-reductlon
law.
Also, other millions of taxpayers IN
slightly higher brackets have been relieved
of q considerable part of their income-tax
burden And had 1t not been for the action
of the Republican Congressional worst OF
all Congresses" according to President lru-
man-it is now perfectly clear there would
have been no tax reduction at all. Mr..
Truman is asking an increase OF $4OOO,OOO'-
000 In tax revenue-not reduction IN taxes.
How long the Democratic administrator can
get away with the idea 1t IS the protector
of the pocketbooks Of the people Is any
body's guess. ,,.
Mr.. Truman's program calls for billions
more in taxes and billions more IN GoVelh
ment expenditures. The Democrats argue
that the tax money taken from tne people
will be expended for their beneht. Inc
whole question is whether the people prefer
to have their money spent for tnem aS
the Government sees f1t, or Wnether Ciley
prefer to spend it themselves.
Ever since 1917 and the beginning OF
World War I, when the Democrats were III
power, taxes have been increased eAcept
when the Republicans were in power IL
was under the Republican administrations
of Harding, Coolidge and Hoover that IN
come taxes and other taxes were cut.
Taxes Rise Under Democrats.
They started soaring again When the
Democrats. under Franklin D. Roosevelt.
took over the Government. They kept rlght
on upward until they reached the nlghess
point In history, and no material step was
taken to reduce them-especlally the IN
come taxes. until the Republicans reganeo
control of the Congress in 1896 lncloentaAy'
President Truman vetoed the Repuohcan
tax bill and 1t was passed, with the aid OF
Democratic votes, over his veto.
That's a long high-taX record Tor tno
Democrats-extending 80 years 1t is true
that they faced depression and War-and
increases in taxes were necessary. But tlle
real point is that once they got taxes up
they didn't move to bring them DOWN
again-even when depression lessened ana
war ceased. 1t points up the old New Deal
slogan: We'll tax and tax, spend ana
spend. and elect and elect" And 80 tar
the Truman administration has done
nothing, taken no step whatever, 10 lower
any taxes on poor or rich. 1ndeeo the
program Of the Truman administration
looks to such great spending that there Is
no possibility whatever OF tax reouctlon Il
the program is carried out.
Furs and jeWelry are CONSIDERED lu1urleS.
There will be no great sympathy Tor any
man or woman who pays $4,000 for 1ur
coat or $4,000 for diamond necklace-and-
is compelled to pay high sales, or excise.
tax on the purchase. The Republicans can
easily amend their bill to remove from 1t
any vestige of preferential treatment Tor
the rich who make such luxury purchases.
All they have to do is to make the excise
+ev redrction IN onlv the cheapest furS
and iewelry-the kind of things that are
regarded almost as necessities in families
of the most moderate means or even less
Than moderate