Evening star., 1949-05-01

writers. businessmen and oFgAai-'
nations
From every corner O! the eoun-
try come louder demands fog sud
den death. major surgery or al
least q less buroensosne spread al
lev.es on such alleged luxuEieS as
fur coats. cosmetics. railroad tick
cts, laggage. telephone and
telegraph messages. admission
charges and electric light bulbs
But the minute congressional
and administration leaders think
Of easing the exciss they must
harken 10 the voice OF fiscal con-
science II not TO political expeSii-
ency.
President Truman warned las,
January that the Government
may so into the red $500 600 900
at the end OF the fiscal year. June
80. The defeit could 80 further
because Of greater outlays for
foreign assistance as well as en-
larsed domestic programs, not TO
mention national defense.
Tax Revision Remote
Preventing q deficit will b dim
cult In any event without raising
taxes. What chance. then. Is there
for whiting down some excise
taxes9 Revision Is remote but
not impossible. say the experts on
ways and means Of coping with
budgetary headaches.
Congress has done little more
than talk about the climate, -
favorable or unfavorahle to tax
cutting. The President has not
budged from his stand for some
higher taxes, Republicans and
several influential Democrats such
as Chairman George o! the Sen
ate Finance Committee. favor
slashes in International and ma
tional spending. Senator Taft,
whose word goes a long way in
COP policymaking. has said he
would support a tax boost II that
were the only alternative to q
deficit.
In brief. the tax cut is on the
outside looking in while Congress
waits to see what May and early
June will do TO clarity the income
and outgo picture In the Govern
ment.
All the more significant. then.
although not surprising TO hard
ened and harried veterans OF the
House Ways and Means Commit
tee. Is the pronounced speedup
of the ''hope-sprines-eternal
drive to eliminate or amputate
excise taxes.
About 50 Bills Pending
Congress itself sits on at least
50 bills ranging from proposals for
modest trimming TO outright
abolition OF many OF the levies.
The oleomargarine tax repeal bill.
with a lot Of ramifications OF Its
own, is In the thick Of the matter.
Senator johnson. Democrat. OF
Colorado wants the House -ap-
proved bill amended by Q rider re-
ducing some Of the wartime
excuses.
Pleas and protests pour In
largely from constituents. The
letters often originate with trade
groups. complaining that the con-
tinued high rates hurt business.
just about as often they come
from citizens. especially women.
who say they are penalized by
having TO pay supertaxes for
everyday needs.
And. the women add. q fur coat.
lipstick. rouge and face powder
and q leather handbag certainly
aren't luxuries: they are essential
for q fighting chance In the
human battle TO maintain looks
and make a living.
The problem. even In It's sim
plest form. has two intimately re-
lated aspects. The first Is whether
there can be any reduction at all
and whether the Nation. in view
of world conditions and the in
nation vs. denation uncertainty
in the United States. dares risk
deficit financing at this time.
Methods Start Argument
Assuming for the sake Of arau-
ment--and what an argument Il
Is at the Capitol!--that some de-
gree Of tax relief Ia feasible. the
second question Ia whether II
should be direct. such as lowering
income taxes, or. comparatively
indirect, such rs pruning excises.
Proponents of excise cuts be-
lieve the principal hardship re-
suits from retaining the raises
made on many items early In the
war and frozen In is47 by Con-
grcss.
The wartime increases aimed
not only at getting revenue but
also at controlling consumer de-
mand for scarce goods and serv-
ices. Those rates were TO have
reverted July l. Is47. 10 is$3
levels. The Republican soih Con-