The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-20
CONGRESS HAS.
WORK P|LEDUP.
Coming Session Faces Many
Grave Domestic Questions
/ Besides Budget Bills.
BY JOHN SNURE.


FOR the opening of the short session
OF Congress, 1t becomes clear that
a long list of important subjects viii
be threshed over this winter, In
spite of prevailing talk that there
will be little or nothing done except
to pass the appropriation bills.
DOMESTIC QUESTIONS.
To say nothing OF politics. which
will come in for perhaps more than
the usual amount Of talk. and omit
ting the peace treaty and interna-
tional relations, there are SO many
big domestic questions rolled up ana
rolling up before the doors OF Con-
gress tina. they will not be easily
shunted aside.
These questions to an extent rep
resent an accumulation OF years ana
theI public, or elements Of IT, Is get
ting impatient for action. or neces-
sity. many of these matters VIII nave
10 20 over until the new Congress
and the new administration but some
of them will bear representation.
= One of the very first things which
Congress will have to face will be the
demands of business men for more
Nheir income and profits taxes. These
are due December IS. The recession
OF the high tide of business. the
4 slack ening' up in recent months along
many lines. have caused many busi-
ness men serious concern as to where
they are going to find the cash TO
spare to meet the final installment
Of their taxes. They are asking the
Treasury for an extension OF time
but the Treasury cannot act unless
Congress gives the authority.
WANT TIME EXTENSION.
Efforts will be made right at the
outset of the session to get the time
extended. 1t will be urged that manu-
, facturers, jobbers and business men
generally want the extension and that
lin some cases 1t will be necessary to
have 1t to avoid bankruptcy.
OF course. consideration or any
resolution or measure for extension
OF time will bring up general dis
cussion Of tax revision and probably
tariff. The tariff issue is burning
one with the farmers, as well as some
manufacturers. and they want it con-
sidered at once by the Ways and
Means and Finance committees In
order that no time may be lost in the
. extra session in passing a tariff re-
vision measure.
Similarly, business interests want
these committees to consider general
revision Of the tax laws in order to
prepare the way for early enactment
OF a law measure in the spring.
WOULD REVISE IMMIGRATION.
Then. there Is immigration. With
the arrival here Of Chairman Albeit
johnson. Of the House Immigration
Committee, and other members of the
committee. to consider tho immigra-
ton problem, 1t develops that John
son is disposed to try to have Con-
gress pass drastic immigration legis-
.lation soon after 1t meets in Deem
Der. The reason assigned is the in
creasing idleness in labor circles in
this country coupled with the tendency
to flood this nation with immigra ton
from Europe.
johnson will propose legislation Of
a rigid sort more rigid than ever
passed heretofore. He will have a
lgreat deal Of support, but on the other
hand he will have bitter opposition.
There Is q powerful element in Con-
.Eress and it is represented in the i'm
migration committees of the two
'houses that is opposed to shutting the
doors on immigration and it will
make itself felt whenever drastic ex-
clusion measures are attempted.
In immigration there Is all sorts Of
food for discussion, not to mention a
lot OF political dynamite. for some
members. While Johnson is going to
try to have a new law passed, others
win try to postpone consideration. 1t