Evening star., 1916-12-26
TWO PROBLEMS
BEFORE CONGRESS
Treasury Deficit and Postwar
Trade Menace Engage
Lawmakers.
TARIFF ISSUE SHARPENING

Two propositions will be impending,
for thought at least, and possibly for
consideration, when Congress convenes
after the holiday recess, January 2-pro-
vision for the inevitable deficit at the
close of the next fiscal year, and the
certain inrush of foreign merchandise
when peace in Europe is effected
As TO the first subject. opinion is di-
vided In Congress upon action at this
session. Some of the men charged
with the responsibility of finding ways
and means for the support of the gov
ernment are disposed to do as little as
possible at this session. leaving the
next Congress to tackle the problem.
Bond Issue Safeguard.
1t is argued that the deficit first
threatened can be met by the sale of
Panama bonds. and that the deficit
looming up for 1918 can be provided for
by the next Congress. The republicans
are more concerned about tariff con-
ditions after the war than anything
else. although the democrats are not
worrying about the tariff just now.
The republicans say that as soon as
war ends the mills of all the belliger-
ent nations Will be set going to furnish
employment to the soldiers dismissed
from the ranks and to get back the
great volume of gold now held in this
country. During the pendency of the
war the tariff question has been in
abeyance. but the democratic tariff is
stlll on the books. and, according to the
republican doctrine, the bars are down
TO an extent which will menace home
industries by foreign competition.
Cites Figures Before War.
The republicans take the figures OF
imports for the months intervening be-
tween the enactment of the present
law and the declaration of war to sup
port their arguments that the United
States will be overwhelmed with for
eign imports and American Industries
put out of business or compelled to
lower the present scale of wages.
The democrats, 1t is said, are depend
ing upon the "antf-dumping clause" in
the last revenue bill to protect the
United States from unfair competition,
and 1t is not democratic policy to ad-
init that competition under conditions
imposed by their tariff law will be
hurtful to American manufacturers and
producers.
Mistrust Dumping Clause.
The republicans scout the claim that
the dumping clause will be of avail in
any case except proven conspiracy to
injure American trade by bringing In
goods at a price lower than they bring
in Europe They insist that this meas
ure cannot be invoked against ordinary
imports, which, by reason of the cheap-
ness of manufacture abroad. they con-
tend will undersell American-made
wares.
American labor. 1t Is contended. is
now upon a wage scale unprecedented
in the history of the world, due to the
demand for goods created by the war.
Manufacturers. according to the repub-
lican claim, will be unable to continue
to pay these wages and compete with
foreign cheap labor. The possibility Of
peace being declared during the in
terregnum Of Congress between March
and next December will bring on a
crisis in industrial affairs in this conn
try, the republicans insist. unless tariff
rates are readjusted to meet new con-
ditions.