The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-01

agricultural products unless that sched
ule Is included In q general bill.
However, there is one fact that we
session. We are going to uniimber
the guns Of tariff talk and ill the halls
of congress with words about the one
great subject which politicians have
made the prominent political issue of
the country.
was almost on the point Of saying
that the people were to be flooded with
tariff debates. but that Is not the fact,
because the papers will not print the
tariff discussion, and the people would
not read it. But 1t makes no differ
ence to the average member Of con-
gress. He will make his speech, either
orally or by the "leave to print" route.
and send copies to his constituents.
just as congressman have been doing
during the days since they had free
franking privilege In the mails. So.
whatever else may happen. we may be
sure there will be the usual amount of
tariff "windJamming."
Committee Appointments. II
The leaders do not want to make the
committee appointments at the extra
session. The leaders never do. II
means that legislation will be brought
forward by these committees and must
be considered. But the Democrats of
the house may take matters into their
own hands and force the committees to
be named.
| The ways and means committee
names the committees, and that com
mittee is very busy with the tariff and
will continue to be busy until every
schedule is passed. However, fifty
Democrats can call caucus. and o
caucus can instruct the committee to
| appoint the committees. 1t would not
be surprising to see this action taken.
There are lot Of men who want to
| get placed. There are many who want
to bring forward legislation which they
think is Of more importance than the
tariff Besides, members Of congress
would like to feel that they are some
thing more than so many pegs to be
counted from time to time, with moth
ing else to do during the long period
that 1t takes to pass q tariff bill
through congress.
Two Appropriation Billie.
Owing to the fact that President
Taft vetoed the big sundry civil appro
priation bill and Senator Fall talked
the Indian appropriation bill to death.
these two bills must pass before the
end of the fiscal year. There Is no
real necessity for committees to han,
die these measures. Chairman Fitz.
gerald can take one and Chairman
Stephens the other and pass them as
they were agreed upon-that is, II the
senators will consent-and that Is all
there is to 1t.
There will be necessary appropria-
lions for the extra session and to take
care of the department Of labor, which
was neglected in the hurry and hustle
of the last congress. But all these
matters can be cared for In deficien
cy bill or on an emergency bill, which
amounts to about the same thing. II
the senate shows a disposition to
change the two bills from their final
conference agreement the house will
begin with them anew.
Income Tax Assured.
Twenty years ago the Democrats
passed an income tax It was declared
unconstitutional By the supreme court
"a decision which had much to do
with the future politics Of the country
as it deprived the government Of a lot
Of revenue and aided in having the
high tariff of 1907 enacted But since
then the constitution has been amend
ed, an income tax Is constitutional, and
we expect to see such tax levied on.
all incomes Of more than $1,000 year
1t is expected that very large rev
enue will be raised from this tax.
There viii be an effort to include en-
inheritance tax as part OF the income
tax. but that is likely to fail because
there is such demand from the states
to have that means of raising revenue
left to them. IL there we're great
pressure for money no doubt the In
heritance tax would also be imposed
Democrats are confidently hoping that
income tax collections viii go home to
the people to such On extent TINT they
will insist hereafter upon greater econ
smy in public expenditures.
Investigations May Be Dropped.
1t is not expected that the investiga-
tons which occupied 50 much time
and were so numerous In the last con-
gress will be continued during the Six
ty-third congress. 1t is claimed that
with Democratic federal administra
ton investigation of the departments
Is not necessary. and 1t has never been
the policy Of any party to make seri-
GUS Investigations Of its partisans
when in control Of the federal Offices
Besides. it Is claimed that nll neces
sary Information was collected in the
last congress.
----..-.---------1-