New-York tribune., 1920-11-17
Budget Bill Is
First in Plans
OF Republicans
Leaders Hope to Complete
Legislation at the Coming
Congress to Clear Path
for Econo my Program
Democrats May Balk 1t
Senate Majority Too Slender
to Force the Law Over
Objection of the Minority
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16.-PasSage OF
q budget bill at the short session OF
Congress, opening in December, so that
when the Harding Administration comes
in the way will have been cleared for
a sharp reduction in the expenditures
Of the Federal government, is hoped
for by Republican leaders.
Little else besides this and the ap-
preparation bills, sin the opinion of
Senator Charles Curtis, of Kansas, the
Republican whip. will be passed at this
session of Congress- Passage of the
budget bill will, of course. depend en-
tirely on the willingness Of the Demo-
cratic members of the House and Sem
ate, particularly the Senate, to permit
this action. 1t is obvious that any
small group of Senators can prevent
the passage at this session of anything
TO which they object
There is no doubt that a desperate
effort will be made to revise the tax
laws at the approaching session, but
there is little real optimism as TO any
change prior to March 4. Changes in
the revenue bills always lead to such
violent differences of opinion that
anything along this line can be put
through prior to the assembling of the
new Congress.
Republican Majority Scant
At present the Democrats have forty
seven members Of the Senate and the
Vice-Presdent, as against forty-nine
Republican Senators, one of whom is
Senator Newberry, Of Michigan, who
IS voluntarily remaining away from
the Senate sessions until the final dis
position of his case by the courts
Hence the Republicans have an actual
majority of only one, with Demo-
cratic Vice cPresident ready to decide
any tie vote against them.
In addition, several Republican Sena-
tors are in such i'll health that their
attention to duties and their continu-
GUS presence in the Senate are impos-
sible. These include Senator Penrose,
chairman of the Finance Committee,
which has to handle all revenue legis
lation; Senator Townsend, of Michigan.
another member Of the Finance Com
mlttee, and one or two others.
Ihen, too, there are several Senators
whose ideas about tax legislation do
not agree with the majority, and these.
at any time, ! y a combination with the
Democrats, Guild prevent the consum-
nation o. any new revenue measures.
Notable III +Eis list is Senator Robert
VI. La Toilette, of Wisconsin.
so that, with all the appropriation
a, and with the Christmas recess in
tervening, It takes a very optimistic
person to believe that any substantial
change IN the present tax laws can be
Drought about prior to tho special ses-
sion OF Congress expected to be called
by President Harding shortly after his
inauguration.
Wilson Veto Also a Factor
1t must be considered also that Con-
gress, IN the brief time allotted to the
approaching session, would be working
on new Legislation always with the
knowledge that President Wilson might
veto any bills passed which did not
meet with his approval.
When the lew Congress is convened
next spring, the Republicans will have
majority IN the House of more than
l'o' at the least, and II the Senate
4 q ma majority Of twenty-five. with Vice
president OF their own rarity. Then
the only question will be of reconcil-
ing dlferenoes inside the party as to
the Legislation to be put through This
may be a difficult task, but it is not
comparable with the task of putting
through legislation under the diff
cultIes which will handicap the present
Congress-
There is anotherranele to the situa-
uon, and that is that if revision of
the tax laws should be put through at
the present session it would be neces-
sary TO Keep the taxes at higher ra e
than Republican leaders hope will be-
necessary after the Harding Admin
llstratlon has been Installed. This is
based on the promise of Mr.. Harding.
made repeatedly on the stump during
the campaign to dispense with the
services of many thousands of unneces-
sary employees in Washington. Re
iuction of the clerical forces in the
which were swelled to
unheard-of numbers during the war.
has been very slow in the more than
two years which have elapsed since the
armistice. For about a year there was
ro reduction at all. Since then the
has been going on, but far
more slowly than most critics think
should have been the case.
Harding AK Essential
Mr.. Harding has promised that an