The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-11-30
President Wilson May
Read His Message to
The Incoming Congress
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright by The Intelligencer

back next week for It's regular Deem
| Der session but whether president WIZ
son will deliver his annual address IN
person as he has done so many times
i before or whether he Will send i, 10
| be read by clerk as other presidents
| used TO do Is still undetermined.
The President himself wants 10 make
| q farewell appearance a the capitol ana
is said to be we'll enough TO do SO. Yet
! there is always risk with one VINO mas
! had nervous breakdown that excite
ment might bring on recurrence OF
! the Same trouble. Whenever any decis-
| ion has had to be made involving
risk to the presidents health, the mem
bers of the presidents family have al
! ways played safe by avoiding the FISK
altogether. That's why it seems un-
likely that Mr.. Wilson will go to con,
grcss though he IS strong-wilIed ana
! the other and those who think tho
president might be persuaded TO post
! ponc his visit until the close of the seS-
sion in March and say good bye then.
No Inkliug Of Message
| As for the contents Of the presidential
message which is being prepared no INK
| ling has been been given. From pol
! itical viewpoint If for no other therc
/ will be recommendation that congress
| reduce the burden OF taxes and also cut
! the cost Of living. OF course 1t Is un-
/ likely that the Republicans who arc In
! the majority in both houses Will permit
ANY action TO be taken on the recon-
| mendations Of Democratic president
! since their own president Will take Of
| flee in three months and call an extra
! session of congress to adopt leg1sA-
| tive program. The Democrats however
talk of wasted time and opportunity
and will not lose the chance to accuse
the Republicans of dilatory tactics and
political expediency. On the other hand
the Republican leaders already counter
with this query: Would PRESIDENT viii
son sign 4 Republican tax bill especially
| one that proposed the raising of revenue
, by the imposition of protective tariff!
! White House officials say Mr.. Wilson
would sign Il tariff bill II it followed the
! lines Of suggestions on that question
! which he has already made 10 congress.
! The president has favored protection
| for infant Industries and others whose
economic relationship to the tariff aues-
t!on has been disturbed by war but he
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 tariff bill
would take practically all or session
of congress. and leaders of both sides
agree that unless there was IN assur-
ance of compromise the time would be
wasted. But the Republicans who want
! high protection care nothing about
! compromise bill and without any In
! fiuence from the White House, the tariff
: bin that would he drawn would be
strongly protcctionist. Even Warren
Harding will have his troubles keeping
: the advocates of Il high tariff from go
! ing to extremes so the prospects OF
| compromise bill are brighter under the
next Republican administration than IN
the short session Of congress about to
begin.
!actically the same situation exists
VITA regard to taArS. Efforts will sure
s. be- made TO get relief from tax bur-
denS and It will be more difficult for
the Republicans to ignore the tax ques-
ton than the tariff. 1t Is fully eN-
pected for instance that the president
will in his message take occasion 10
approve the suggestions for Il reduction
Of taxation to be made by secretary
Houston in his annual report OF the
, treasury department. If those suEgcS-
tions meet with popular approval. 4 is
thought the Republican majority Will
be compelled at least 10 begin hearings
and mako start on the question lest
1t be too long delayed or swallowed UP
in the mass OF questions sure TO be COM
ing up in the extra session under the
Harding administration.
Definition OF Policy
Some definition Of policy Will I've re-
uuircd from the Republican leaders as
soon MS the session opens next week for
the pressure from All parts OF the Cuun-
Try seems TO be growing FOR some Kind
Of AN emergency resolution TO take
care of thr December lELH m"nts OF in
. come taxes. The suggestion has been
made that instead Of adopting It policy
which would cnublr the treasury de-
partment to exercise discretion Is to
the individual cases of firms absolutely
needing Il postpnnement, IL resolution lie
adopted postpon!ng the payment OF all
December taxes I" February or March
and rearranEng the time of payment
of 1921 taxes. The Republicans would
prefer to tackle the whole tax question
afresh in the extra session Of congress
but they may he compelled TO permit
, the massage of an emergency resolution
The treasury department is opposed 10
the idea but it is doubtful whether
President Wilson would feel justified In
exercising a veto II congress took fuli
responsibility for the postponPmcnt ANA
the consequent effect upon the govern
mentS resources.