Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-13
REVISING TIE TARIFF
WHAT REPRESENTATIVE BRICK
SAYS ABOUT IT.

President Roosevelt has not yet begun to
Systematically sound congressional opinion
as to revising the tariff and considering the
income and Inheritance tax propositions,
but many of his most prominent callers
stand ready to vouchsafe their views on
these questions for his entertainment.
With the strength he possesses in the
country and as the head of his party it is
admitted that he can, and probably will,
literally fix the time when these three ques-
tons shall be taken up by Congress and
pushed to final vote.
In the minds of half of Congress. which
calls with regularity at the White House,
the uppermost question Is when will be the
best time fer consideration of the three
questions coupled together by the Presi-
session at the close of the present Con-
gress? VIII it be in extra session just be-
fore the beginning of the next Congress,
or will 1t be in the first session of the next
Representative Brick of Indiana, who be-
Heves in tariff revision as early as practical
BILE. told Star reporter at the White House
today that, as he looked at it. an extra ses-
sion must be held unless tariff revision was
to go over for two years-until after the
presidential election of $685.
LAS I see it,, said Mr.. Brick, mo repub-
lican. no matter how sincere he may be for
tariff revision will want to see that work
done prior to presidential election.
THE republicans had one experience in
| that direction which they will not forget,
and it is generally conceded that they will
not repeat the mistake. Therefore, if there
is to be a revision REIMBURSEMENT of pres
ent schedules the work must be done in
extra session or go over for more than two
years.
Attention is called to the fact that the
President distinctly suggests that tariff re-
vision and the income and Inheritance tax
propositions should all be considered to-
gether when next our system of taxation
is revised"
This suggestion leaves open entirely the
question of the time for these three ques-
tons to be brought forward, and struggle
Is really on now between the revision and
standpat elements of the republican party
as to when the time should be. The Pres
tdent is watching the struggle and is await
Ing public opinion, which he defers to as
often as possible The tariff revision men,
the forces ofSwfich have been recruited in
Congress. are quietly inaugurating a cam
palg4 for an extra session next spring
Their opponents want revision delayed as
long as possible, certainly until after the
elections in 1SGS. Some of them are willing
to concede promise in the republican
platform of that year for early revision
and let that promise satisfy the country.
This would permit the inheritance and in
come tax questions to become features of
! the campaign. An early settlement of these
questions would eliminate them from the
fight two years from now, unless Congress
should see fit to separate them from the
tariff and take them up at the next long
session.
The improbability of this however. is sug-
gested in the fact that it is estimated that
these two laws, If once in force, would add
to the revenues of the government by prob
ably 35.G00,0CO year. which would abso-
lutely necesSitate curtailment of revenues
| In other directions. in view of the fact that
the treasury will have tremendous sur
plus at the close of the present fiscal year,
with estimated surplus of large proper
tons at the end of the next fiscal year.