Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-04
THE PURITAN ETHlc
So Who Wants a Tax Cut?
BY RAYMOND J. CROWLEY
Associated Press Staff Writer

The Puritan ethic seems
likely to suffer a defeat this
year.
The betting on Capitol Hill
is that the American people
will have to take a tax cut.
whether or not they regard it
as sinful.
Many Of them do so regsrd
It, at a time when the Govern
ment is using red ink by the
bucketful. This is shown by a
rather extensive peek at letters
received by Congress members
and other officials.
Most Of the letters-whether
inpeccably typed. handwritten
on, yellow ruled paper or
sorawled on postcards - say
taxes are too high and need
cutting However, many of them
contain large "buts:"
Spending should be slashed
to offset the revenue loss; ere
forms" that discourage thrift,
enterprise, home ownership and
charity should be avoided.
Puritan Ethic"
In vain, the White House and
Treasury say the reforms"
President Kennedy has pro-
posed would do no such thing;
that nearly everybody would
get q tax reduction. There is
a deep-seated suspicion on the
part Of many that once the
Government begins tampering
with their deductions, they will
eventually wind up worse off.
The introduction Of the
phrase Puritan ethic" in the
great tax discussion did the
Kennedy cause no good. Nee 1
died by a Congresswoman, Mr.
Kennedy's chief ecoomic adj
wiser. Walter w. Heller, said 1t
was remarkable that the basic
Puritan ethic" prompted the
american people to balk at q
tax cut in times of big deficits.
Mr.. Heller, although indicat-
ing he admires this ethic, hint
ed that some economic educa-
ton was in order - people
should understand that more
spending money in their pock-
cts would produce a stronger
economy and future SURPRISES.
An example Of a letter to
Senator Harry F. Byrd, Finance
Committee chairman:
who is this Mr.. Heller. who
thinks the more one spends the
richer they are. All the So
called tax reforms are going to
do is discourage thrift"
Another letter TO Senator
Byrd opposed tax cuts lest I'VE
have a wild stampede like the
great Romans had before they
hit the bottom, sinking in the
swamps Of greed and self con-
tentment."
And another: MY household
would collapse in short order If
run by the financial precepts Of /
the Federal Government" ,
/. Senator Byrd's tax mail Is
running 200 to 300 letters a ,
day and so FAR Just six back
the Kennedy reduction-reform
package.
Here's one from 9 business
man to another Senator.
sThe pseudo tax cut, with
suggested reforms. would only
be further inflationary."
This Senator has received
many like this, plus some on
the other side.
Mans Not Given 4
writers Of the letters can
not be named because legisla- :
tors consider this would not
be cricket without the writer's
consent)
Many writer's appear mott
waited by their own economic !
circumstances. Businessmen .
tend to stress encouragement to
free enterprise; spinsters say
taxes hit single people unfairly;
married folk ask consideration {
for the needs Of the Riddles.
An example Of the latter
category: I
when viii somebody speak l
up for the babies that poll !
ticians are so foAd of kissing" IN
On the House side Of the !
Capitol. too, the mail is heavy l
with anxiety. 1t is not all one
sided, however, as shown by
this letter to a House member: I
Everyone I know seems 10 be l
In favor Of a tax cut (no mat