Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-26
CONGRESS HAS THREE
BIG PROBLEMS AHEAD
National Budget Must Be Adjusted and
Revenue Provided Railroad and
Ship Questions Settled.

OxXS SS kxCos
Of the resolution requiring all appro-
priations to be made by a single COM
mittee. The present system Of making
appropriations through eight commit
tees has been compared to the head Of
book to draw on the family account
without let or hindrance. The result IL
always an overdraft.
The attitude OF the House deserves
commentator, for this change OF rules
means self-sacrifice-of important posi-
tions on appropriating committees by
practically one-hah Of the House menu
worked from ten to thirty years. They
are making this sacrifice in the interests
of national welfare because this budget
system aims to get economy and en-
cheney by co-ordinating the various de-
partment activities and eliminating du-
plication of appropriations.
The next step is to increase the
revenues. We have taxed every one
at home to the limit. In fact. there
has been a howl for a repeal of some
of the taxes, and the House. as q
sop. has voted to repeal them. But
the repeal measures are reposing
quite safely in the Senate COMMITTEES
on finance, with Senator Penrose de-
termined that they will stay there
for a while. until it becomes evident
that they can be spared.
National prohibition cost the gov
eminent approximately a half billion
dollars in revenue-it was $4S3.000.000
last year. Members Of Congress are
growing daily to believe more strong
ly that they did a good thing when
they voted this country dry. but the
half billion has to be made up from
some other source. Practically the
only old internal revenue tax left tr
on tobacco paltry s2o5.o0o.ooo last
year-and there is a propaganda to take
away $50. 500. 900 Of that by prohibiting
cigarettes.
So the revenues are decreasing Just
at a time when they must be made
to increase. The people Of the United
States do not want to be taxed any
more. The only solution, the leaders
feel. is to make foreigners who seek
to take advantage OF the American
markets pay for the privilege Of do
ing business here. Not for any po-
litical effect. as it may have been
done in the past but out Of sheer
necessity, this Congress is going to
pass measures of increased tariff.
Anti-Dumping Measure.
The nrst step in this program was
Chairman Fordney's anti-dumping
bill. which has just been favorabiy
reported by the ways and means
committee. and which he hopes to
have approved by the House before
the recess. This measure will make
it possible to get true figures on
the cost Of production abroad. Where
the opportunity to get such data 10
denied the foreigners can be denied
entry into the American market UNI
til they comply. 1t is designed to
prevent any nation from dumping
into the American market goods at
prices lower than those at which
they are sold anywhere else. in an
effort to ruin an American competing
industry.
BY getting the costs of production
abroad the ways and means conn
mittee proposes to assess the for
eigner entering these markets a tax
sufficient to cover the difference be-
tween the cost of foreign labor and
the cost Of American labor-thus pro-
tecting American standards Of labor
and at the same time augmenting
the national revenue.
This is a very important considers.
ton when one stops to think that
Great Britain has just compromised
with labor at s12 a week, while In
America a section hand on a country
railroad gets IS a day. The depreciat.
ed currency in which the English
is paid is offset by the virtual
of the American dollar
by the high cost of living. Chairman
Fordney has some reliable reports
that skilled labor in Germany is get
their deprecated marks
Early in the next session of Con-
yress, which starts December /, Chair
man Fordney expects to begin COM
mittee work on a general revision Of
the tariff to meet the present-day,
after-war conditions that are far diff
ferent from the conditions that ex-
sted when other tariff bills were
passed.
Solution of Railroad Problem. :
The second big task of Congress 10
% promote industrial activity and
general prosperity. The proper solu-
ion of the railroad problem is ex-
,ected to do this. The present unset
led status and uncertainty regard
ng the railroads has been a check on
Ill business. 1t is a well known fact
hat the railroads are the delivery
ystems by which manufactured prod
tets get from the factories to the
consumers and by which raw mate
ials get from the producers to the
actories where they are Transformed
nd the wealth Of the country there
" is. so much increased.
Chairman Esch expects to report out
he railroad bill this week. and hopes
o get action on 1t before the present
ession of Congress takes a recess.
70 committee in Congress has ever
devoted itself 50 tirelessly to any