Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-09
CONGRESS TO HOLD
HEARINGS TO ALTER
TAXES AND TARIFF
Republicans Take First
Step in Legislative Pro
gram of Next Term.
HOUSTON TO BE INVITED
TO GO BEFORE COMMITTEE
Fordney Says Secretary Of
Treasury Too High in Esti-
mate for Appropriations.
HITS BUREAU OF WAR RISK
Chairman OF Ways and Means Conn
mittce Asserts He Can Trim Big
Sum From Treasury Estimate.
HOUSTON TO BE INVITED
TO GO BEFORE COMMITTEE
HTS BUREAU OF WAR RISK
Chairman OF Ways and Means Conn
mittce Asserts He Can Trim Big
Sum From Treasury Estimate.

WASHINGTON, Dec S.-Rcpubiican
members of Congress took the lrst
step today toward revision of tax
and tariff laws at the extra session
To be called soon after next March 4.
Chairman Eordney. of the House
Ways and Means Committee an
nounccd that his committee would be-
gin hearings within Il few days on
revision of the tax laws. these hear
inSs To continue until January 6,
when behring's Will be started on
tariff legislation. Almost smultane-
"usiy with Chairman Fordney's an-
rouucement. Senator McCumber Of
North Dakota. acting chairman OF
the Senate Finance Committee is
sued cal! for meeting OF that COM
mittsc for tomorrow, when plans WIN
he made for hearings similar to those
contemplated by the House committee
The Senate and House committees
alike hope 10 conclude their hearings
by the end OF the present session.
The House committee. Chairman Ford
ncy said. expects to be able to be-
gin the work OF drafting the new tax
and tariff measures as soon as tho
extra session Is convened. The Sem
ate comnittec's hearings are expect
ed 10 be brlefcr than those planned
by the House committees
Invite Houston to Appear.
Chairman Fordney's announcement
followed 4 conference OF the majority
members of the committee He said
that AS soon as the committee has
had time to study the tax recon-
rnepdat;ons contained in the annual
report OF Secretary Houston of the
Treasury sent to Congress today, he
would invite Mr.. Houston to appear
before the committee and explain his
views more fully. The Treasury sec
retary will be asked to designate an .
official to represent him at the com
mittee's sessions. The committees
program. the chairman said. will be
announced from day to day as the
hearings proceed.
Chairman Fordney said today that
he had in mind definite plan for
simplification of the tax on corpora
tion incomes. One of his proposals
is hat tax on the incomes of all
corporations having no qualiiica-
tions or other modifying provisions"
MIR. Fordney also said it was his; de-
sire that the income tax laws be
made SO simple that Il corporation
VIII not have to hire an expert or
lawyer to figure how much il owes
the government"
The Ways and Means chairman
declared that Il stuy of Secretary
Houston's report had shown him that
the estimates for governmental eN-
penditures are ridiculously high"
Too Much for War Risk.
Il can go down the list of cstI-
mates Of the secretary and chop ou,
approximately $3.50, 100000 as un-
necessary" Mr. Fordney said. Jus,
FOR example. he wants SlSl00O,OoU
for the War Risk Insurance Bureau.
think that is 100000, 900 dollar.
or moro too high.
with the proposed consolidation
OF the various soldier relief agencies
into one bureau we can save $780,
100000 and eliminate $4,000 clerks III
Washington. The secretary wants
S75.ooO.000 for rivers and harbors
Improvement. / do not think Con.
sress Will grant any such sum thi.
year"
The first legislative action Of the
House at this session was taken today
Win the Passage CT a bill authorizing
the President to :ssue medals OF
merit for distinguished service per-
FORMED during the world war by Of
hcers and men OF the United states
merchant marine. THE vote was SIS
to Z.
IN" House passed as its second
piece of legislation Il bill by Repre-
sentative liaugen. OF Iowa, chairman
OF the Committee on Agriculture.
designed principally to prevent de-
ception or the public in the purchase
of manufactured articles wrapped or
boxed so as to make them appear OF
greater size or quantity than the con-
tents are by actual weight or volume.
Tie bill as passed would require tha,
The quantity OF the contents be plain
~ marked on the outside of the pack
age in terms OF weight, measure or
numerical count.
Killed Leaving Cork Church.