Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-01
Republican Chiefs
Meet 10 Expedite
Tax Legislation
Rx ]. a. o'Leorx

House and Senate Republican
leaders met in an emergency
l1uddle today to expedite tax
legislation. in view of the fact
that corporation and excise
levies producing SO billion year
expire on April l.
There are two phases to the
tax problem-a complicated
overhaulineIof the entire revenue
code, and the need for extending
the taxes expiring April /.
Following a conference with
the President this morning the
congressional leaders met again
in the Office of Chairman Milli-
kin of the Senate Finance Com
mittee. Secretary Of the Treas
ury Humphrey joined them.
The leaders made no an
nouncement as to whether the
House will pass two bills, or sep
arate the April tensions from
the general revision.
March l. Target.
But House Republican Leader
Halleck told reporters it was de-
cided to get the entire program
through the House in March.
Senator Millikin said he did
not care whether the House puts
everything in one bill OF two. He
also expressed the belief that if
the House acts in one package
the Senate could split it into two
bills in view of short time re-
naming before April l.
Informed sources said it will
take two months or more to get
the general revision bill through
the Senate committee.
Obviously, the April l extern
sion of the SO per cent rate on
corporations and the excise rates
which go down on that date will
have to be handled separately in
the Senate.
Senator Millikin admitted that
the Republicans discussed the
controversial Democratic moves
to raise the personal exemption
Of individuals and dependents,
but did not reveal how the COP
proposes to meet that issue. The
Democrats could raise that issue
on the emergency extension bill
or the revision measure.
x Those at Conference.
Among those attending the
policy huddle were Speaker Mar
tin and Chairman Reed, of the
Ways and Means Committee.
With Chairman Millikin from
the Senate side were Republican
Senators Flanders of Vermont.
Bennett of Utah, Williams of
Delaware. Carlson of Kansas and
Malone Of Nevada.
After the Sessino at the White
House this morning Mr.. Martin
said he has no doubt that Presi-
dent Eisenhower still is opposed
10 any cut IN personal income
taxes at this time.
Senator George, Democrat, of
Georgia. backed by some of his
Democratic colleagues, has pro-
posed that personal income taxes.
be cut through larger personal
exemptions. His plan calls for
increasing the exemption from
the current $500 a year to $500
for 1854. with a further increase
in the exemption to $1,000 next
year.
Secretary Humphrey is on
record against any change in
the personal exemption at this
time.
Mr.. Martin said there was
mo question" in his mind that
the President, too, still is OPP
posed to reducing personal in
come taxes.
Turning to White House Press
Secretary James c. Hagerty, the
speaker asked whether Mr..
Hagerty didn't agree with him
on that.
The press secretary replied
that an increase of even 500 in
the personal exemption level
would cost SIS billion in reve-
nue.. Mr.. Hagerty added it
seemed clear to him that a reve-
nue. reduction of that kind could
not be permitted.
Committee Meeting Cancelled.
The Ways and Means Com
mittee, meanwhile, cancelled
without explanation a meeting
today at which it could have
considered a strongly backed
move to whack many excise
taxes.
Cancellation of today's COM
mittee meeting followed Mr..
Humphreys statement yesterday
that there is no justification for
an across-the-board cut now, al
though some selected reductions
might be justified.
In a CHS television interview
he said Congress should enact
the administrations tax program
and "see what happens. He pre-
dicted it would stimulate bust
ness and so create more jobs.
He said he was optimistic that
things are picking I'D already.