The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-19
Leader Underwood's Counsel
Prevails Over That of
Radical Members
WORK OF REVISION
IS NOW COMPLETE
President Wilson Declares in
Favor of Budget System
Approved by Former
Presidsnt Taft

WASHINGTON. March 1s.-~The
Democratic members of the commit
tee on ways and means today COM
pleted the tariff revision program
that will be submitted TO the new
congress. In the main Chairman
Underwood and the other conserva-
tives on the, committee. had their
way. and the revision thus far pro-
posed is drafted along moderate lines
The radicals on the committee were
beaten on every point that was
brought into controversy. Before the
revision to which the finishing touches
was put today In presented to the
house, it will be subjected TO the acid
test of Democratic caucus. Mr..
Underwood is confident that the re-
port OF the majority will be approved.
Adjourns to Tuesday.
When the committee completed its
work today. an adjournment was
taken until Tuesday. The experts
employed Icy the committee were In
structed to analyze the rates In the
proposed revision. and TO report what
IN their opinion 1t would yield in the
way of revenue.
Upon this report will depend the
nature of the income tax bill that Will
be prepared by the committee.
Income Tax to Help.
Nevertheless. there is some doubt
as 10 the amount of revenue that
would accrue from the measure com
pieted today. If the experts report
that the proposed revisions would not
yield enough to keep the wheels of
governments In ,EYsosien. then thu eAf
ference will he made UP by the In
come tax.
II they report that the revenues
would Just about meet requirements,
an income tax law will be drafted i'm
posing a small fiat rate instead of a
~ aH@n,
of incomes. as has been urged by
many
President Fawors Budget
President Wilson Is for Carefully
considered and wisely planned bud
get" and viii have conferences with
''my legislative colleagues with a
view 10 bringing a budget system into
existence.
That is what President Wilson told
Senator TiIlman, In a letter he wrote
the South Carolinian from Trenton
January 30th last II vas in response
ta long letter from the South Caro-
lima senator as 20 his desire to he
chairman Of the senate committee on
appropriations.
The letter shows not only that the
president will insist on budget sys-
tenn of presenting receipts and ex-
penditures but that he takes congress
into HIS ssoscul hy speaking Of senators
colleagues" an expression that will
last a long while, and has great sig
niffcsnce as indicating what the pres
idents relations will be toward con-
gross.
President Taft fought hard for "A
budget system. and one Of the last i'm =
rortant messages to congress was a
recommendation in behalf OF the bud
get In this message he submitted "A
report OF his economy and efficiency
commission, which went into the sub
feet of budget in the greatest detail.
This economy and efficiency commits
sion was created at the request of
President Taft. and the letter of
President Wilson Is considered as fla
vorable to the continuation Of that
commission as the proper body to aid
him and the congress in bringing
about budget system.
Congress the house In control OF
the Democrats. did not like the bud
get propaganda and a year ago In
serted a provision In an appropriation
bin forhidding any department 70
change the methods of presenting es-
Inmates, receipts, expenditures, etc.
The president. however, disregarded
the inhibition Of congress claiming
that he had the constitutional right TO
send messages to congress on any sub
tect and in any manner he saw MT. lie
had the economy commission prepare
a form of budget and he sent TINS TO
congress with long and detailed dis
cussion of why he thought there
should be progress In the govern
ment's method of publicity as 10 us
receipts expenditures and book
keeping
Wilson'S Letter to- Tfiiman.
The letter of the president written
Hs governor of New Jersey, to Sena-
tor Tillman is as follows
"Brief absence from my office and
constant absorption with the bust
ness connected with the opening fol
our legislative session here have pre-
vented my replying sooner to your
most interesting and important letter
Of the 2lst / want you to know
with what deep and genuine appre'
citation I have read ii. thank you
for it very warmly. indeed.
"Confidentially, the appropriation
committee Is the committee on which
YOU would have the hardest work
but your letter convinced me that 4
Ia also the committee in which your
interest chiefly lies, and where you
ran certainly be of the greatest ant
most constant service.
Ever since / was youngster
have been deeply interested in oui
methods of financial legislation. Evel
since then / have insisted upon tn,
absolute necessity of carefully con
sidered and wisely planned budget
and one Of the objects ! shall have
most in mind when / get to Washing
ton will be conferences with my leg
tslative colleagues there with view
10 bringing some budget system int
existence This business OF building
up the expenses of the nation, piece
by piece, will certainly lead us u
error and perhaps embarrassment
II was very much pleased by you
reelection. and shall look forwars
with the greatest interest to being as
ISOLATED with YOU In counsel"