The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1953-06-04
THE GREAT
GAME OF
POLITICS
Ike And The Tax Fight
BY FRANK II. KENT
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Ike And The Tax Fight
I'm the matter of taxes, it is now
perfectly clear that, despite the
really great economies which the
Eisenhower Administration has
made all down the line. there will
be uo reduction in taxes on mdi-
vduals or corporations this year
Nor will the budget be balanced.
These things have been made plain
hy the President.
It is true that in the Republican
platform ana campaign promises
of early tax reduction and budget
balance were held out to the
people. 1t is true that if these
promises are not carried out many
persons will he deeply disap-
pointed. 1t is also true that no one
will be more disappointed than Mr..
Eisenhower. 1t is also true that
his enemies will denounce him for
failure to make good on party and
personal pledges. We may be sure
they will make the well-known
ucIkiu ring on this charge. How
cvol, there is good reason to think
that politically this will not be too
effective.
First, because Mr.. Eisenhower
has succeeded in pretty thoroughly
getting the facts to the country;
second, because the facts are such
as to Justify his failure and fortify
his program. They can be summed
up as follows; "a That the Fed
cral financial mess which he in
heritcd from the Truman Admins
ration is very much worse than
he or anyone else suspected; GU
that it would seriously damage
the national interests to attempt
to carry out his promises this
year; GO that national security
and national solvency are linked
and must come first.
Accepting these points as true
and Except to the professional
Democratic partisans) they seem
indisputable, there is just one thing
that could weaken the Eisenhower
position. That is failure to eli
inmate waste throughout the
whole governmental structure and
insist upon the most rigid economy.
If he failed in that it would be
impossible to Justify his failure to
reduce taxes and balance the
budget But most decidedly he has
not failed in that. On the contrary,
the huge sum Of SS,5OO,00O, 900
has been carved out of the Truman
budget. Three and half billion of
this has come out Of domestic ex-
penditurcs Not a single depart
mcnt or division has escaped a
heavy cut. But $5.1O0,000,O00 has
come out Of defense appropri-
atoms.
Most Of this comes out Of the
Air Force and there will be deep
feeling and long and lusty pro-
test. Nor is the strength Of the
protcstants in Congress to be dis
counted Nevertheless, in the end
it seems likely that Congress and
the country will accept the Presi-
dents Judgment that this cut will
not lessen our air strength. As an
acknowledged military expert he
insists its scheduled increase will
be maintained and asserts that if
this were not so he would not add
vocate it. 1t would seem worth
while to take his word about both
and most persons will That the
public sentiment behind General
Ike has not diminished since his
election is generally admitted.
This means that, Notwithstanding
opposition to his tax and economy
program by some powerful mem
bers of his own party, it will go
through.
OF course there will be a fight,
but it is interesting to note that