Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-23
WILL FIX TARIFF
BEFORE SESSION
President and Leaders to
Have Frequent Conferences
on Subject.
BUSINESS MEN ARE ALSO
TO BE CONSULTED ON IT
Income Tax to Be Thrashed Out Dur
ing Democratic Caucus of
the House.

president Wilson hopes to do most OF
| the lighting for tariff revision before Con.
gress begins its work early in April The
President is of the opinion that 1t is bet
ter to do the talking and the fightingLit
any is necessary-before the special SEES
sion is far along, rather than allow diff
ferences of opinion to crop out as the
tariff bill progresses through Congress.
He expects to give the administration
backing to a tariff bill that will represent
the views of himself and his cabinet.
leaders of both the Senate and House, and
of the country at large we'll
Will Consult Leaders.
Within the next few weeks he will con-
suit with party leaders frequently, and as
soon as the schedules Of the Payne-Al-
drich bill have been changed to conform
to democratic standards he will "get to-
gether" with these leaders to determine
upon the plan that is to receive his sup
port.
The President is of the opinion that
such a preliminary threshihg out of the
tariff bill will tend to smooth its path at
the Capitol, and If any compromises are
necessary they can be made beforehand.
He wishes to see the forces Of the White
House and those of Congress united in an
effort to pass tariff legislation on which
they all are agreed.
To Consult Business Men.
Not only will the President consult
democratic leaders before the special ses-
sion begins and after 1t has started on
its labors. but he will talk over with dis
interested business men representing all
sections OF the country the proposed
changes and their probable effect on va
rious industries.
The President int tn hold
any hearings on the tariff. but from time
to time he will confer with friends
familiar with particular schedules He
already has held several such conferences,
and more will follow before April T. He
is anxious to get the ideas of the coun-
try upon tariff revision, as upon other
subjects, and will not hesitate to call in
men not In public life to obtain this in
formation.
The tariff is foremost in the Presidents
mind. He has no present intention of at
tempting to confine the activities of the
special session to tariff only. but is in
clined to the belief that it is better not
to make out in advance any "admindstra-
ton program" Of legislation which might
be disarranged by unexpected complica-
tions He wishes to take up the tariff ;
tie it up thoroughly and dispose of it
well, and he does not desire the publics
understanding OF what is being done to 1t
to be troubled by thoughts of other inn
Is smoth, currency reform and other sub
jects regarded by the President as less
important may be taken up and put, at
least, through their first stages before
adjournment is taken.
The Income Tax.
Differences among the democrats re-
garding the form of the income tax will
be thrashed out at the coming demo-
cratic caucus of the House. The sub
ways and means committee considering
the income tax and the administrative sec
lions spent most of yesterday going over
details but reached no conclusion as to
either the rate or the extent of the ex-
emption of incomes.
Some of the democrats insist that there
must be graduated income tax and not
a straight tax. Representative Garner OF
the cause of the graduated form of the
tax IL the committee majority should
agree upon a straight tax without at
tempting to graduate it so as to make
the greater percentage of burden rest
upon the richer classes. Mr.. Garner is
a veteran member Of the House, but one
of the new members of the ways and
means committee recently selected at
the democratic caucus.
Graduated Tax Favored.
He stated last night he believed - per
cent of the members of Congress- in
Guiding some of the leading members, IA
vored q graduated tax. and that if the
straight tax is agreed upon he would
fight for the graduated plan at the eau
GUS
His idea is on this basis of graduation
of the tax:
One-half of / per cent on incomes be-
tween $25OO and 1000; per cent on in
comes between $4,000 and $4,000; 114
per- cent on incomes between 200 and
$50, 900; per cent between $4,000 and
above 100000 Mr.. Gamers plan is
contrary to the views said to be held by
Chairman Underwood of the committee,
the democratic leader, and Representa-
tive Hull of Tennessee, the author of the
income tax plan that is the present basis
of the committees consideration.