Evening star., 1952-11-25
The Political Mill
Campaign Pledges
To Swamp Congress
Senator CurIson's Tex Plan
Hinges on Developments
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln


Hinges on Developments
By Gould Lincoln
The incoming 83d Congress win be q
busy body. Crowding In on It will be
campaign pledges. They include tax
reouctlons, revision or amendment Of
the labor laws, reciprocal trade agree
ments, the restoration Of tideland oil to
the States. and. of course, reduction in
Federal expenditures.
How far Congress can 20 with safety
IN the matter Of tax reductions will de-
pend on number Of things-among
tnem the progress Of the national de-
tense program and possible peace in Ko-
rea' ana the extent Of the savings which
can pe made IN Government expendi-
lures. however, an early tax-reduction
plan mas been outlined by Senator Carl
son OF kansas. one of President elect
Elsennower's close advisers during the
recent presidential campaign. It calls for
no re-enactment Of the excess profits
tax on business which Is due to expire
June 80. 1858, and in addition. moving
up the date Of expiration of a two-year
acroSs-the-bo special tax on personal
incomes so that it. too, will die June 30
1858. AS the law now stands, it would
expire December 81, 1858.
The saving to individual taxpayers.
according to Senator Carlson, would be
about $1.8 billion. The Kansas Senator
will try to get Gen. Eisenhower's support
for this tax-reduction plan, and believes
it will be supported In Congress. He him.
self was formerly member of the
House Ways and Means Committee, and
played a major part in the adoption of
the present pay-as-you-go income tax
system Since tax legislation originates
in the House, not the Senate, that body
would have to act on the Carlson pro-
posal first. If Gen. Eisenhower should
fall in with the plan, he could recon-
mend that Congress take such action.
Oil Issue to Rise Early.
The tideland oil issue, raised particu-
larly in the States of Texas, California
and Louisiana during the campaign, is
expected to be raised early in the coming
session of Congress. Gen. Eisenhower
took the stand that the control of these
underwater oil lands should rest with
the States. Gov. Stevenson of Illinois.
the Democratic candidate, stood with
President Truman and the Fair Dealers
in favor Of ownership and control Of tho
oil lands by the Federal Government.
Twice Congress has passed bills giving
the States the control and twice they
were vetoed by President Truman. The
last time was in 1852. The incoming
Congress will be even stronger in favor
Of State ownership and control than is
the present Congress. It is q foregone
conclusion that If States rights bill is
properly drawn, 1t will be approved by
Gen. Eisenhower.
The last general tariff act was the
Smoot- -Hawley Act Of 1880. When the
late President Franklin D. Roosevelt
came into Office, instead of revising this
general tariff act. he and his supporting
Democrats used the reciprocal trade
agreements act to deal with tariff du-
ties, and under this treatment trade bar
rierS have been materially lowered Most
tariffs are now from SO to rs per cent
below the Smoot-Hawley rates. It would
be q bold administration that sought
the enactment Of new general tariff
act. Tinkering with the tariff caused
grief for two Republican Presidents
William Howard Taft in whose admin
istration the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act
was written and Herbert Hoover who
was hurt by the Smoot- -Hawley Act
at time when trade with Europe was
especially necessary. So it is expected
that the reciprocal trade agreements
act, due to expire June IL, 1853, will be
given a new lease on life by the 83d
Congress.
Peril Points Determine Fight.
The fight, If any, will come over the
so-called peril points provisions. direct
ing the Tariff Commission to determine
minimum tariff rates for protection Of
American industries. If rates were cut
below these peril points, the President
would be required to give a formal ex-
planation to Congress. The peril points
provisions are likely to be contained in
any law extending the trade agreements
act.
The labor law amendments. put on ice
by the Truman administration during
the last four years because it desired
to keep repeal of the Taft-Hartley Act
as an election issue, already are under
study by Senator Taft and other legis-
lators. Undoubtedly labor legislation
will be dealt with by Gen. Eisenhower
when he lays his recommendation before
Congress. He has promised labor q
square deal. Senator Taft has favored
amendment of the act which bears his
name. So 1t seems assured there will
be labor legislation at the coming
session.