Evening star., 1955-03-03
The Political Mill
Two Democrats Save
President on Tux Cut
George and Byrd Align
Themselves With 6. O.P
The Political Mill
By Gould Lincoln


Themselves With 6. p.
By Gould Lincoln
Two of the Senate's most respected
and most able Democrats. Byrd Of vir-
ginia and George Of Georgia. have
aligned themselves against the Ray
burn-C Cooper proposed $40 slash in in
dividual income taxes.
Senator Byrd is chairman Of the
Senate Finance Committee, which deals
with all revenue-raising legislation.
Senator George is chairman Of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Both of them are vitality interested in
the country's economy-which is first
and basic line Of defense. Certainly the
decisions Of Senators Byrd and George
to oppose this tax reduction now are
not based on partisan political advan-
tage. Like President Eisenhower. they
do not believe that tax cut. which
when operating for full year will re-
duce the revenues by some S2.2 billion.
should be written into law until the
Government and the country have had
a look at the fiscal situation of the Gov
ernment next year.
The President has denounced the
action Of the Democratic House, under
the leadership Of Speaker Rayburn and
Ways and Means Committee Chairman
Cooper. as irresponsible. Other Repuh-
lican leaders have charged it Is cheap
politics. to attract votes.
nefeaf Seen
II several other Democratic Senators
go along with Senators Byrd and
George on this issue. this tax cut will be
defeated In the Senate. in all proba-
bility. Further, the country will decide
for itself which wing of the Democratic
Party is playing politics with proposal
that could disastrously upset the coun-
try's economy.
Supporters Of the $40 slash in income
taxes have claimed that they put it for
ward to forestall a Republican-spon-
sored tax cut next year-when an elec-
tion will be Just around the corner.
Their cry has been that they are just
as much entitled to political advantage
from tax cuts. if any. as are the Repub-
licans. And so they are. But they are
not on sound ground if they insist on
putting into effective law today what
may be a detrlment to the country
when it goes into effect next year. They
are asking the taxpayers of the country
to buy pig in poke.
Notwithstanding Democratic claims
that Mr.. Eisenhower has indicated he
will propose tax cut next year. it is a
fact that the President has stood firm
against Republican demands for a cut
in taxes in the past when he did not
believe the fiscal situation of the Gov
eminent and the condition of the coun-
try's economy could stand it, He may
take similar position next year. If he
does. he will undoubtedly again have
the support of Senators Byrd and
George. And both of these Senators
will be in far stronger position to attack
a Republican-proposed tax cut, should
it be attempted next year, than will be
those Democrats who are clamoring
for cut now.
.s. Foe of Deficit.
Harry Byrd has been an uncompro-
missing foe of tax reduction until Gov
eminent expenditures have been re-
duced to a point where a balanced
budget is in sight, whether the reduction
be proposed by his own party leaders
or by Republicans. Indeed. he has
been. in season and out. year after year.
strong voice for sound financing Of
the Government. Now he has come up
with a proposed amendment to the
Constitution giving the President the
power to veto single items in appropri-
alton bllls-as means of reducing
nonessential spending. It could be
greatly effective in saving the tax
payers money. At present, President
of the United States has to swallow an
appropriation bill whole-even though
it contain billions of dollars of appro-
priations. some of which the Chief
Executive considers unsound.
The Virginia Senator might have ex-
tended his proposal so as to permit the
President to veto items in revenue bills
and riders" attached to other legiSla-
tion. Such power would have enabled
the President to dispose of the $40 in
come tax slash, which was tied onto the
administration hill to continue certain
excise and corporation taxes in an
eleventh hour political move. The rider
has been used often in the past to get
unwanted and unwise legislation en-
acted This proposed $40 income tax
cut is a case in point. The need for the
extension of the excise and corporation
taxes, due to expire the end of this
month, is acute unless the Government
deficit at the close of the next fiscal
year is to be very much greater than
now expected.
But Senator Byrd has confined his
constitutional amendment to appropri-
alton bills. He hopes to get it through
with the support of both Democrats
and Republicans who are economy
minded. It's not a new proposal. For
100 years Presidents and other leaders
have urged something be done about it.
Many Of the States have given their
Governors similar authority in dealing
with appropriation bills--and much
good has come of it. Senator Byrd's
amendment proposes that Congress
have the power to give the right of item
veto to the President-and that Con-