The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-11-30
WILSON UNLIKELY
TO DELIVER LAST !
MESSAGE HIMSELF
President Able to Make Fare
we'll Appearance in Capital,
But Family Would Play
Safe, SAYS Lawrence.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Correspondent Of The News
Scimitar.l


Especial Correspondent of The News
Scimitar.l
WASHINGTON, Nov. Soon
gress gets back next week for it's reg
ular December session, but whether
President Wilson will deliver his an
nual address in person, as he has
done so many times before, or wheth-
er he will send 1t to be read by a,
clerk, as other presidents used to do,
is still undetermined
The president himself wants to
make farewell appearance at the
capitol and Is said to be well enough
to do so. Yet there is always risk
with one who has had nervous
breakdown that excitement might
bring on a recurrence of the same
trouble. Whenever any decision has
had to be made involving a risk to
the presidents health, the members
of the presidents family have always
played safe by avoiding the risk all
together That's why it seems un-
likely that MIR. Wilson will go to
congress, though he is strong wflled
and may insist upon doing It, There
are, on the other hand, those who
think the president might be per-
suaded to postpone his visit until the
close of the session in March and
say good bye then.
Possible Recommendations.
AS for the contents Of the presi-
dental message, which Is being pre-
pared, no inkling has been given.
From political viewpoint, If for no
other there will be recommendations
that congress reduce the burden of
taxes and also cut the cost of living.
OF course, it is unlikely that the Re-
publicans, who are in the majority
in both houses, will permit any ac-
ton to be taken on the recommended
tionS of a Democratic president, since
their own president will take office
in three months and call an extra
session of congress to adopt legis-
lative program. The Democrats, how
ever. talk of wasted time and oppor-
tunity and. will not lose the chance
to accuse the Republicans of dila-
tory tactics and political expediency.
On the other hand. the Republican
leaders already counter with this
query: Would President Wilson sign
a Republican tax bill, especially one
that proposed the raising of revenue
by the imposition of protective tar
iff? White House officials say Mr..
Wilson would sign a tariff bill If 1T
followed the lines of suggestions on
that question which he has already
made to congress. The president has
favored protection for infant indus
tries and others whose economic re-
lationship to the tariff question has
been disturbed by war, but no has BY
no means indicated that he would
sanction the kind of tariff bill which
the Republicans would put before
him.
To work out any kind of a. tariff
bill would take practically all of a
session of congress and leaders of
both sides agree that unless there
was an assurance of compromise the
time would be wasted But the Re-
publicans who want high protection
care nothing about compromise bill
and without any influence from the
White House, the tariff bill that
would be drawn would be strongly
pToteCtionist. Even Warren Hard
ing will have his troubles keeping
the advocates of a high tariff from
going to extremes, so the prospects
of compromise bill are brighter
under the next Republican admins
tnation than in the short session of
congress about to begin.
May Make a Start on Taxes.
Practically the same situation ex-
lists with regard to taxes. Efforts
will surely be made to get relief from
tax burdens, and ii will be more diff
dioult for the Republicans to ignore
the tax questions than the tariff 1t
lis fully expected, for instance, that
the president will in his message
take occasion to approve the sug-'
gestions for a reduction of taxation
to be made by Secretary Houston in
his annual report Of the treasury de-
partmeht f these suggestions meet
with popular approval it is thought
the Republican majority will be COM
PEELED at least to begin hearings and
make a start on the question, lest it
be too long delayed or swallowed up
In the mass of questions sure to be
coming up in the extra session under
the Harding administration.
Some definition of policy will be
required from the Republican lead
ers as soon as the session opens next
week for the pressure from all parts
for some kind of an emergency reso-
luton to take care of the December
payments of income taxes.
The suggestion has been made that
instead Of adopting a policy which
would enable the treasury depart
ment to exercise discretion as to the
individual cases of firms absolutely
needing a postponement, a resolution
be adopted postponing the payment
Of all December taxes to February or
March and rearranging the time of
payment of 1921 taxes The Repub-
licans would prefer to tackle the
whole tax question afresh in the ex-
ira session of congress. but they
may be compelled to permit the pas
sage of an emergency resolution. The
treasury department Is opposed to
the idea, but it is doubtful whether
President Wilson would feel justified
In exercising a veto If congress took
full responsibility for the postpone
.ment, and the consequent affect upon
the governments resources.