Evening star., 1951-06-20
ST. Billion Tax Bill
Ready for Debate and
Early House Passage

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The $7.2 billion tax increase bill.
third during the Korean fightingI
and biggest of its kind in this
country's history. headed for the
House floor today for greatly lin
tied debate. but with prospects Of
passage late tomorrow or Friday.
Nevertheless, 1t seemed due for
unusually hard pounding. Repub-
licans declared they were deter
mined to defeat its raises or att
least force revisions by sending i'll
back to the Ways and Means Com
mittee. Some Democrats said they
were dissatisfied because the meas
ure contained too many reductions
and exemptions.
Democratic disappointment. as
voiced by Chairman SABBATH and
several other majority members
of the Rules Committee, centered
also on the shortage of time al
lowed for general debate and the
ban on consideration OF any
amendment unless offered by the
Ways and Means Committee.
Closed Rule Granted.
After long public and closed ses-
sions yesterday, the Rules Com
mittee granted the Ways and
Means Committees request for al
closed rule. This allowed two days
of floor discussion, but also or
dered that general debate must
end by 4 pm. of the second day.
House leaders observed that this
did not necessarily mean a hnal|
vote could be taken soon after
4 pm. tomorrow, although they
regarded that as likely. It is
possible, they explained. that
parliamentary moves might delay
the start of debate until tomor-
row.
The main question was whether
a two-thirds majority OF the
House would agree to immediate
consideration of the tax bill in
stead of the calendar Wednes-
day" arrangement under which
committee chairman can call up
pending measures. Representative
Rankin, Democrat. of Mississippi,
chairman of the Veterans Affairs
Committee, said last week he op-
posed waving the Wednesday
rule.
The Rules Committee heard
suggestions from several Demo-
cratic members that it allow floor
amendments on a few selected
provisions in the tax bill. Ways
and Means Committee Chairman
Doughton, as well as Representa-
tive Reed, Ranking Republican
member, urged the same kind OF
a closed rule arrangement that
has been followed on every major
revenue bill during the past 20
years. T
Reed to Oppose Bill.
st don't like this bill and ]
am going to vote against it," Mr..
Reed told the Rules Committee.
"But it's my honest opinion that
If you want to create hell on the
floor of the House and have a
devil of your own, just throw
this bill open to amendment.
His fellow members on the Ways
and Means Committee declared
that even a limited open rule
would prolong debate for at least
a month and probably result in
a hodge-podge bill that eventually
would have to be sent back to
committee.
Mr.. SABBATH told reporters later
he voted with greatest reluctance
to grant closed rule. A bill OF
such magnitude and Importance
he said. deserved more than two
days of floor debate. He declared
that he supported the overall
measure but felt that almost $40C
million in proposed tax reductions
proposed in the bill were unneces-
sary. .-
Mr.. Reed issued a statement
making clear that he thoroughly
opposes the bill, despite Mr.
Sabath's comment that it wa:
illogical" for Republicans tx
favor closed rule banning
changes but at the same time wan
to prevent passage.
Enactment of the increases II
corporation taxes will scuttle tn
administrations wage stabilizatior
program, Mr.. Reed contended
The new tax bill, he said, vii
stimulate imitation.
"If we cannot hold the line OF
wages, we certainly cannot holt
the line on prices" he declared
"The tax measure reported by tn
Democratic majority Of the Way
and Means Committee in effec
says to the corporations either yo'
give your employees more, squande
your money foolishly or pay ou
your money to the Federal Treas
ury and let. the bureaucrat
sn,iander a lot of it foOliShly."