The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-12-07
THIRD SESSION TO BE
OF MINOR IMPORTANCE
SAYS JAMES WATSON
Washington Bureau
of the Palladium.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. THE
third session of the sixty-sixth con-
gress began Monday with prospects
that very little legislation Of major
Importance would be accomplished be-
tween now and March 4, when this
congress adjourns.
Senator Watson of Indiana, acting
chairman of the important finance
committee of the senate because of the
protracted illness of Senator Penrose,
of Pennsylvania, expresses the opin-
ion that it will be impossible to pass
any substantial revenue legislation
until the new congress is called into
special session by President Harding,
shortly after his inauguration. Sena-
tor Watson remarks that Mr.. Wilson
remains president until March 4 and
retains the veto power. and that there
lis no hope of cooperating with him on
revenue legislation.
Senator Watson's view is shared by
Representative Fordney, chairman of
the ways and means committee of the
house.
People Expect Quick Action
MANY people. without giving close
thought to the subject. will be in
clined to expect relief from tax bur-
dens at once" remarked a member Of
the Indiana congressional delegation,
"since the Republicans in their plat
form promised such relief and the
people at the polls gave the party an
overwhelming vote of confidence.
But circumstances have to be con-
sidered in all these matters, and it so
happens that circumstances prevent
! an early revision of the tax laws.
There would not be time during the
three months of this session to frame
and pass a basi crevenue bill, in ad-
dition to putting through the neces-
, sary appropriation bills"
However, the work preliminary to
tax legislation will be commenced
during this session, which will tend
toward quick results at the extra ses-
sion of congress. Hearings will be
held by the ways and means commit
/ tee of the house and the finance
committee of the senate and the
/ groundwork laid upon which a new
law may be constructed without de-
lay.
! The tariff is another question which
d LII uCIidIlO dtISHttOu Dut II,
too, will have to be postponed until
the new congress comes in. The same
circumstances operate to prevent
| tariff revision as we'll as tax revision,
but it is probable that the proposed
hearings will involve the tariff as we'll
as internal revenues.
May Take Up immigration.
! Indiana members Of congress are be-
! ing flooded with letters received from
| their constituents demanding quick
action on the part Of congress to stem
| the tide of European immigration to
the United States. There is possi-
| bility that some action on this subject
will be taken before the close of the
present session.
Rep. McFadden. chairman of the
committee on banking and currency,
disputes the assertion of the secretary
of the treasury that the current ex-
penses of the government cannot be
reduced below four billion dollars an
nually. He holds that thirty per cent
can come off the army and navy an
! preparations: that next year we will
! not have to hand the railroads bill
! lion or so; that money is due the gov
eminent from the earnings of the
i Federal Reserve system. He figures
! that if the present years income meets
expectations and if appropriations are
kept down there will be an actual
surplus and that the super-taxes can
lie repealed. even without providing
other methods of revenue to fill the
! gap.