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Show Editorial Page . . . fto Continent 111 , A Cut In Taxes -- Or Not? - Nation-wide protests rolling in on Congress against high taxes accompanied by threats of a "tax revolt" have made a deep impression im-pression in Washington. There is sentiment in Congress to enact a tax cut bill before adjournment of the present session effective next Jan. 1. This een-timent een-timent is found chiefly in the House. Senators talk more of a tax cut bill next year. CONGRESSIONAL SENTIMENT Members of the House especially sensitive to public sentiment say that their mail demanding demand-ing tax reduction now equals that urging the slashing of President Eisenhower's $71.8 billion budget Speaker Rayburn, after a meeting with Democratic members of the tax-originating House Ways and Means Committee, said that while chances for tax cuts appeared good, Demorats will not make a decision until "around June" on whether they will try to push through a bill this year to take effect next January 1. Rep. Reed (R-N.Y.), ranking Republican on the Ways and Means Committee called promises of tax reduction "vague and premature." While convinced that "lower taxes are essential," Mr. Reed added that such reduction "can be realized only to the extent that such ax reduction re-duction compels a concomitant spending reduction." A cautious attitude towards tax cuts is also evident in the Senate. Sen. Byrd (D-Va.), chairman of he Senate Finance Committee, wants first to see the end result of budget cutting efforts, which now total about $1 billion. He indicated that $3 to $4 billion would have to be cut if tax reduction talk is to be translated into action. Sen. Bridges (R-N.H.), ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, Com-mittee, takes much the same view. Should the Democrats try to push through tax reduction, it is almost certain that it would be either a $100 increase in the present $600 personal exemption, the old discredited $20 tax credit; or a split In the first $2,000 bracket, with a lower rate, probably 10 per cent, , Instead of the present 20 per cent, applying to the first $1,000. Republican strategy as to the exact form tax reduction to be supported, should the Democrats open such a drive later in the session, Is not quite clear. LABOR UNION RESTRICTIONS Behind the scenes Congressional Congres-sional discussion revolves around this question: Can Congress afford to go home without enacting desirable labor union legislation? Some members feel the people including union members have been so outraged by disclosures of labor union racketeering that Congress will be severely criticized if it does not enact legislation. Opposed to this view is a belief that big labor unions would be satisfied to see some "milk and water" legislation rushed through Congress in order to forestall fundamental changes in labor laws. Legislation is pending in the Senate to provide for some super-: super-: vision of union welfare and benefit funds. But members of the McClel-' McClel-' lan racket investigating committee know that this is only one of the problems involved in union corruption. Senator McClellan (D-Ark.), chairman of the Senate investigating committee, has indicated the possibility of legislation being offered by the committee in June. Meanwhile, the racket investigating committee swung into disclosures dis-closures of union force and violence and use of "goon squads" and "terror tactics" to force compliance with union dictation. |