Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-25
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.

TEM-How to reduce taxes and at
the same time raise enough rev.
enue to meet the needs of the
country? This knotty problem
confronts the republican Congress
which assembled last Monday. 1t is
about on a par with the daily prob
lem of the individual to reduce eX-
penditures and yet go on living in
these days of high costs.
Before they came to Washington
the republicans knew the people
would look to them to ease their tax
burdens. And now President Wilson,
in his message to Congress, in
marked manner has called, attention
to the fact that the republicans are
expected to do this thing. What the
President had to say about the neces-
sity of reducing taxes is regarded as
direct challenge to the republicans
now in control of the House and Sem
ate. He practically calls upon them
to get the country out of the bog of
taxation into which his own party has
gotten it, or to stand aside and let
job.
Opinion Not Agreed.
With a few exceptions, the repub-
lican members of the House. and SEN
ate expect revenue legislation to be
undertaken at the present session.
There are some republicans. like SEN
fnr Of 70 of 10
finance committee, which handles rev.
enue legislation, who believe that the
only legislation of that character
which will be put through, or even
undertaken, is the repeal Of the So
called luxury taxes. The repeal of
these taxes was virtually agreed upon
by the members of both. parties last
an unusual legislative situation. The
attitude of Senator Smoot and repub-
licans who feel as he does in this:
A revenue bill drawn along repub-
lican lines. including a revision of the
tariff, would inevitably be vetoed by
the President. Why, therefore, should
Congress waste it's time and the peo-
measures which will not become law?
Any discussion by Congress of rev.
enue legislation is unsettiing to bust
ness, and what business needs now
more than anything else is an oppor-
tunity to settle down and resume its
natural course undef peace conditions
There are, go many other matters. in
cildine tti4 faation.s which
need attention Immediately, that it
| would be unwise for the republican
| majorities in the. House and Senate to
give all their time to revenue tinker
ing which can come to no good end.
Senator Penrose of Pennsylvania,
ranking republican. member Of the
Senate finance committee and pro-
| spective chairman Of that committee,
unless the progressive republicans
have their way and prevent his cleo
ton, has been quoted { to- the effect
that there is no need at this time for
aHgeneral revision of the tariff.
For Revision This Session.
On the other hand. Chairman Ford
ney Of the ways and means commit
tee of the House, and republicans on
that committee, and Senator McCum-
Der of North Dakota and Senator
Townsend of Michigan, members of
the finance committee, believe not
only that there will be revision of
the revenue law, including the tariff.
but that the President will, neces-
sari1y, approve of the bill or bills sub
mitted to him.
ct have no idea that the President
would veto a revenue bill if it is
proper bill. reducing and equalizing
taxation, and providing for certain
increases in the tariff" was the COM
ment of Senator McCumber. Chair
man Fordney, while guarded in his
suggestions regarding revenue legis-
lation, gave the impression that be-
sides the bill repeating the luxury"
taxes there might be a series of
other bills dealing with various items