The sun., 1918-05-23
WILSON WANTS
REVENUE BILL
THIS SUMMER
President Calls Leaders of
Congress to Conference
This Afternoon.
DEMOCRATS UP IN ARMS
Party Fears Loss Of Control II
Additional Taxes Are
Imposed.
DEMOCRATS UP IN ARMS

Special DeSp0tch to TINS SrS.
WARRINGTON, May c2.-Following a
summons to como to the White House
tomorrow afternoon for conference
with tho President. leaders in Congress
practically abandoned hope to-day that
Congress would be. permitted to adjourn
and revenue legislation would be post
poned until next winter That the Presi-
dent will take sides with Secretary Nc
Adoo and insist OIL q revenue bill at this
time appears certain.
Representative Kitchin Democratic
floor leader. asserted in an interview to-
day that "it will require a statement
from the President es Commander In
Chef Of the armies that the revenue
bill Is necessary for the support Of the
armies before We will put one through at
this session"
Democratic leaders In Congress are
the Treasury Department itself. They
are not willing to undertake revenue
legislation on the Arguments advanced
BY Secretary McAdoo and only the
Presidential mandate. II appears. will
bring them into line.
At 6 o'clock tomorrow the President
| will confer with Chairman Simmons Of
the Senate Finance Committee. Chair
man Martin Of tho Senate Appropriations
Committee. Chairman kitchin Of the
House Ways and Means Committee.
Chairman sherlsy Of the House Appro-
priations Committee and Representative
Garner. 4 Democratic member of the
House ways and Means Committee.
The quintet Of Congressional leaders
will 90 to the White House armed with
|. arguments that revenue legislation
should be postponed. hrst because 1t Is
unnecessary and again because It
| would be bad politics" from the Demo-
cratic standpoint to project bill at this
| time
Democratic members privately predict
that drastic revenue legislation this sum
mer will give the Republicans control OF
the House next fall The taxes to be
levied are SO heavy. they maintain. that
sufficient number OF Democrats will
fall by the wayside to turn the House
over to the Republican,
While II was not asserted that the sup
Elementary war revenue bill Is to be a
partisan measure. Democrats argue the
reaction will be against the party In
power.
May Appeal 10 Nation.
There Is a probability. however. that
the President will have little sympathy
with the political argument advanced
and has It within his power to check all
| h1, a
ringing statement to the nation explain
ing why revenue legislation is necessary
1t Is felt that II the President should Is
sue a statement saying the Democratic
party and the Administration face the
responsibility OF providing funds for the
army by a new revenue bill and thai
political considerations will not be per
mitted to interfere with the duty ahead
OF Congress and the Administration 1
would stop political criticism.
In connection with Secretary McAdoo'
insistence on a revenue bill at this ses
sion some bitterness has arisen In Con
gress because Of the fear that news
papers and magazines will be able Il
bring about an amendment of the higl
zone system postal rates authorized Il
I 8oc
. sip at the Capitol that periodicals ant
magazines have conducted a clever cam
paign for a new revenue bill. and tina
Secretary McAdoo has been influence,
by tho popular clamor."
Would Reopen Controversy.
Should a new revenue bill be pro
!, Jected now It would reopen the posts
, rate controversy. and this Is one Of III
underiy ing reasons for the opposition Q
:. a number Of members OF Congress VIII
, are standing out against a bill Tina
Seotetary .icAdoo Is playing into tn
hsnus .: the publishing interests IL
charge brought when indignant mem
Ders Of Congress gather to discuss reve
I nue. legislation and the prospects 10
postponed adjournment.
Altogether the temper Of Congress
some what bitter, and has even led to tai
Of firmly telling the President that Cor
gress will not pass q revenue bill now.
Talk of resisting even the Presider
should he insist on revenue bill = nc
likely to 60 far. When this was sua
gested by certain leaders. following III
conference At the Treasury WedRNsds!
they were quietly reminded that trss
dent Wilson 10 charged with the snr
duct OF the war. and II he asks "a
revenue legislation no member OF Cor
grsss will be able to oppose him o
the ground Of political expedisncy q
II Congress made figures ~ to the revenue
Of the Government In consequence I
all this the prospects increased ,o-da
III for immediate revenue legislation. an
III members Of the Ways and Means Con
| mittss began to discuss dates for hsal
ings.
II ssslstants and advisers at the TreasuI
Department No-day. and put together
maas Of data % ~ ananclal nesds 4
jtths oeuntEy. -,