New-York tribune., 1918-05-26
Republicans
Block Delay
On Tax Bill
Continued from page 1

the political sections of Congress, it
was explained, MADE it impossible for
Administration leaders to give to Pres
ident Wilson the assurances he desired
before ne would agree to postpone the
legislation.
Two meetings of the Finance Com
mittee were held to-day in an effort
to agree upon proposal meeting the
Presidents conditions. After the last
meeting the Republicans and Demo-
Gratis of the committee held separate
conferences and Senator Gallinger. of
New Hampshire, Republican leader in
the Senate, issued the following state
ment:
Republican Senators recognize that
additional revenue will be necessary in
the near future, and for that reason
legislation whenever the maj ajority think
1t wise to do so, and they are ready to
cooperate to secure the passage of
a revenue bill without UNNECESSARY
delay"
The conditions proposed by the Pres
ident, according to a memorandum SUBJ
mitted by him to the Senate commit
tee and the House Ways and Means
Committee, were that he would assent
to adJournment of Congress about July
Ia or earlier, if possible, provided
Democrats and Republicans would
agree to a special revenue session about
November II, after elections, and CO.
operate in enacting bill providing for
raising one-third of the governments
expenditures by taxes. The President
also suggested that the principal levies
be made on excess profits, incomes and
non essentials or luxuries.
The Republican leaders, it was said,
although unanimous in the opinion
that delay was advisable, and although
the ywere anxious to have Congress
adjourn, declined to enter even tacit
agreement--to be announced to the
country by the President-either on
the broad principles of detail of the
new legislation.
AS assurances from the Republicans
was one of the principal conditions i'm
posed by the President, the negotia-
tions ended in deadlock.
1t was expected, in view of failure
OF a bipartisan arrangement, that the
president would insist upon Congress
following Mr.. McAdoos recommended
legislation.
One of the stumbling blocks in the
negotiations between Democrats and
Republicans was over the government
price-fxing policy. The Republicans
insisted that they could not agree on
any apportionment of bonds and taxes
without assurances from the Admins
trarion that price fixing would not be
extended.
Also 1T was said an agreement could
not be reached regarding the proposed
one-third and two thirds apportion-
ment of taxes and bonds.
In formal statement tonight ex-
planning the negotiations and their
Senate Finance Committee adjourned
to-day for few hours SO the Republi-
cans could meet to discuss the Presi-
dents proposal.
When the committee reassembled,
Senator Simmons said, at was an
nounced on behalf Of the Republicans
after conference among themselves
and their party colleagues in the SEN
ate they had decided that they would
enter no understanding or agreement
whatsoever further than to ask me to
say to the President that if the legis-
lation went over they would do what
they could to expedite its passage dur
ing the next session"
~ am deeply disappointed" Senator
Simmons added, "at not reaching an
agreement with our Republican col
leagues, and hope that despite this
failure the President may find him
self able to acquiesce in postponing
this legislation"
That Congress would be in session
all summer if the revenue bill was
gone into, was the belief tonight of
some leaders. Predictions as to the
time required for enacting such legis-
lation ranged from three to six months
or more, while some Capitol leaders
held the opinion that it could not be
nnranleted at this session.