Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-01
Map Law for New Era
Republicans Ready Solve Peace Problems New Congress
A the result of thorough analy-

A S the result of thorough analy-
~ sis of after the war conditions,
the Republicans of the Houser
and Senate, who will be in control
of the legislative branch of the ma
tional government after March 4,
have, in a general way, completed
their program for the reconstruc-
ton of the country.
So important is the work of re-
stimulating industrial energy and
finding employment for the millions
of soldiers returning to civilian life
considered by members in both
branches of Congress that there is
little doubt in their minds that an
extra session will be brought about
in, one way or another as early in
the spring as possible in order to
take up all such problems which
cannot be dealt with before March
4 because of the pressure of the inn
portant regular appropriation bills.
The tariff, the railroads, the mer-
chant marine, military and naval
protection of. the nation for the
future, employment, general busi-
ness readjuStment, economical adj
,ministration, and minute investiga-
ton of all government departments,
receive quick attention and reme-
dial legislation as soon as the new
Senate with it's Republican majority
of two and the new House with its
Republican majority of forty-siX
have organized.
Despite the warning of Senator
Penrose and his Republican col
leagues on the Senate Finance Com
mittee that "it would be entirely
without justification to attempt to
prescribe for the American people
what amount of taxes they shall be
called upon to pay in the year 1920
that mo one with any degree of
definiteness can estimate the gov
ernment's needs or the country's in
dustrial prosperity" and that it
would be extremely unwise to 'lay
down a hard and fast scheme of
taxation for the future" the Demo-
cratic majority is now putting
through conference the revenue bill
which imposes in advance the
amount of taxes to be collected for
not only the next but the following
fiscal year.
Duties to Maintain Industry
1t is expected that this will Have
the effect of turning the attention of
the House Ways and Means Com
mittee and the Senate Finance Com
mittee during the recess or imme-
diately after reconvening to the
framing of tariff bill with duties
high enough to adequately cover the
difference between the cost of pro-
duction at home and abroad. 1t is
not anticipated that this will be as
great a revenue producer, compare
lively, as in former days prior to the
raising of many billions for purposes
e -, ,ot ho m
Aldrich rates been applied to the
present law there would have been
an additional income to the gov
ernment during the period of its
operation of nearly two billions, but
revenues from import duties annual
ly would in any event amount only
to hundreds of millions The point
upon which the Republican MEM
bers of Congress lay stress is that a
/ high tariff has always developed
and maintained industry, made pos
sible the country's higher standard
of wages and living, protected the
home market as constant outlet
for home production, to this end
prevented influx of foreign made
goods, produced under cheaper con-
ditions, and made for healthful in
dustrial prosperity. They declare
that in 1913, under a Democratic
staff, hard times were caused until
year later the war imposed an
effective trade barrier. and that
now, with that barrier again re-
moved, there will be harder times
than for many years unless pro-
tective tariff is soon enacted.
This is really the chief remedy
which will be put forward by the
Republican party to aid the return
| ing soldier to find work and to keep
employed laboring men everywhere
throughout the country. Its leaders
hold that provision of special public
works to keep a small proportion of
these men employed is paternalistic
and a makeshift to cover other in
adequate industrial policy. They will
| Join in the promotion of irrigation
and drainage works, because of the
enhanced development of the coun-
try thereby, but they will mainly
RELY upon the tariff which brought
a full dinner pail in McKinley's and
Hanna's time to provide work for
all. They say that their party PEN
stoned the soldiers of the Civil War
for several decades in the face of
Democratic opposition, and that
they will continue the most liberal
policy toward all those who partici-
pated in the last conflict. and they
assert that 1t was Senator Cum
minis, of Iowa, Republican. who
made It law that labor Is not q COM
modify or article of commerce. but
! they intend in the new Congress to