Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-08
CONGRESS FACES
BIG PILE OF WORK
Cost Of Living in Capital Hits
Members-Taxation Prob
lens and Criticism

WASHINGTON. Dec. Z.
NES, Congress has started I'm again, the
i second session of the SiNty-ifth Con-
gress. The paragrapher5 who deal with each
succeeding session of Congress very much, as
the humorists make merry over mothers-in-
law will now get IN their deadly work. Tic
critic, who Is never satisfied with the doings
Of public men. will also have his inning,
since Congress is to be in session . Ions
while
II is difficult at this time TO forecast with
any dennitenesS tho duration Of the new
session of Congress. Tho House thinks it
can finish up its business and get away by
May or juno, If the Senate can bc induced 20
speed up but as the Senate is a law unto
itself and proceeds os it secs ~. there Is no
telling when the final adjournment may
cone. Champ Clark thinks time would bc
gaNed by cutting out the Christmas holiday
but his opinion Is not generally shared by
the members. Moreover, the Democratic
leader, Mr.. Kitchin, of North Carolina, con-
tends that members of Congress have as
much interest In the holiday season as any
other class Of citizens and that tlry should
have an opportunity TO go home for few
DAYS 'to adjust matters With their creditors
for the incoming year
Mr.. kitchn IS facctious in reasoning cut
the holiday proposition, but most members
Of Congress now realize that their positions
require them TO be in Washington almost
constantly, and the cost Of living in Wash
ington is certainly not less than It IL in most
OF tho largo cities of tho country. The hous-
ing problem in Washington is nov so serious,
due 20 the tremendous increase in popula-
ton brought here in consequence of the war,
that much Inconvenience is being put up with
by all newcomers, including Senators and
Representatives. Tho resignation of Fitz-
gerald Of New York, the able chairman OF
tho Committee on Appropriations indicates
the trend Of thought which many Of tho
Representatives arc now entertaining. Like
Mr.. Fitzgerald. they find Washington a very
expensive place TO live in, and some Of then,
honestly believe It H. not well for them or
their familio9 TO stay here too long II was
al right in the old times, when Congress met
III peccmbe' aud adjourned along about
March or April, but the gituation is entirely
inherent now, when the sessions run from,
December 70 September or October and tho
gaps arc illrd W by extra sessions. which
Iavc como 70 be the rule
Critics of Congress
II Was to he expected that tho last Con.
gress, which was a faithful and Industrious
one should be criticized for many Of tho
measures passed by it No Congress ,ourd
enact tho largest tax bill in All history win,
out being criticized and yet President Wilson
mas gone out of his way several times recent.
" to compliment Congress upon the work f..
performed in the last session. What mos,
provoked criticism, Notwithstanding the FAC,
that tho last Congress touched the peoplop
Tor about s21 ,Q00, 900, 600. was the very small
ana comparatively insignificant question of
inc t-Nation OF sa!aried lnen and the possible
exemption OF the salaries Of members OF r,or.
gress for tho $500 above the $4,000 exen,n.
non allowed to everybody on excess profits
IeIl an ordinarily good citizen he is a Jiplo.
mat ana statesman and that hc has 'an
eye TO command" in business or in war snd
you VIII probably get 4 rise" that will
make you friend; but touch him in thc
vicinity OF MS pocket and an instant slump in
PaLrlot!shl may be noted. II has been diff.
CUT % make some of the great writer's vino
may have been touched" hv the excess ,,,af,
It's law, and some of the lawyers and otber
professional men who have been able n
Charge good fees, understand why brains. -
II tney nave been sufficient y productive
should be taxed as corporations are taxed or
ss business men are taxed. 1t has made no
ulHerence from their point Of view whether
the high-salaried man has "A dead-eure
thing and the corporation which payg rim
Is unable after paying its many kinds Of taxes
10 return decent dividend to the widows and
orphans who make up the Stockholders ,,.bo
after all, are the people who nav tho high
salaries, Nor does it appear clear to then,
that designing corporation might escare
taxation by turning all its profits into s9I /.
aries and that some of them were in the
habit of doing So
Several Congressman who cannot stand
the gaff' have introduced bills with a view
Of relieving these brain workers"; and NJ
course, we shall have more or less discussion
OF IT. AS to the exemption of a portion Of
Cohgressmens salaries, it would probabIv
amount IN the aggregate for Senators and
Representatives to about $4,000 Of the s91 :
10000 ZOO for which the last .ession of Con
gress provided That's the real bone of con.
tent!on-that $4,000. 1t is Unconstitutional
to tax the salary of the Pres dent G, the
United States. He goes free of taxes. Fed.
eral' state ana municipal employees are not
taxed Tor similar reasons. although an effort
was made in the Ways and Means Connit
tee to impose the tax even If the law was de-
feated in the courts. The Democratic leaders
however, desired that their first great war
tax bill should not be successfully contested
hence all this fanfare about salaries and
exemptions.
Outlook for the Future
To what extent Congress will deIve into
other than war business is not yet clear. Re-
pubicans and Democrats have had informal
conferences, but no conclusion has been
reached as TO the limitations that shall he
placed upon legislation. The Republicans,
while not yet holding formal conferences,
have declared their readiness to go along
with the President on purely war measures,
except that many of them believe there
should be more cooperation from the White
House and that the White House would be
better off, politically and otherwise, If II
would agree 70 an oversight of eNnenditnr.u .