The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-25
TIME FOR.
TARIFF CHANGE.
Speaker Gillette Thinks Coming
Session Unlikely to Pass Any
Tax Revision Bill.

ok ncVtSlUIi Dill.
Speaker Frederick II. Gillett said
yesterday he saw no prospect OF any
immediate revision either Of the tar
if or the taxation law. The Speaker
of the House is confident that it will
, be late next summer before tax and
tariff legislation can be put through
Congress.
HOUSE LACKS TINE.
Speaker Gillette. who has returned
to Washington for the opening OF the
session December O, Is veteran or
twenty-eight years service in the
House and fully capable of forecast
ing the trend Of legislation. He be-
lieves there will be no time for any
thing at the short session except the
annual supply bills. and the House
and Senate will be unable to approach
the taxation question for several
months.
There may be preliminary con-
sideration and probably hearings dur
ing the short session. but the leaders
in Congress do not look for real
action until late next year.
1T do not see how we will have
time to consider anything but the ap-
preparation bills at the short session"
said Speaker Gillett. Our hands will
be full enough with these matters and
there will be no opportunity for
proper consideration OF the tariff and
must await the extra session and
surmise il will be late next summer
before there is a final action on any
measure relating to revenues"
Returning members OF the Ways
and Means Committee. including Rep
resentative Kitchin. the prospective
minority leader OF the next House. do
not look for revenue legislation for
almost a year. They are agreed with
Speaker Gillett that the handling of
more than a dozen annual supply
measures will be big job for ses-
sion lasting less than three months.
ACTION FOR FARMERS.
There is just a possibility that an
attempt will be made to do something
special for the farmer. Although
class legislation is unpopular and
more or less dangerous, members OF
Congress who have returned to Wash
ington, report that the farmer Is In
depressed state of mind and de-
handing immediate relief. Prices
claimed to be lower than the cost OF
production and .urtailed market
have left the producer in financial
straits, and tins condition is made
more-serious by the inability OF many
banks to extend further credits.
Congressman A. J. Sinnott or Ore
gon. who represents a farming con-
stituency, has already presented the
situation as 1t exists on the Pacific
coast to Congressman Mondel1 the
Republican floor leader He found
Mr.. Mondell concerned over the plight
OF the wool growers Of Wyoming, his
own state. There is already talk of
an embargo on certain farm products.
or ar emergency high tariff to cut
down foreign importations.
When Congress comes to approach
the questions of tariff and tax rcvis.
ion there will unquestionably be
special demand that the taxes on
business per sc be eliminated.
TARIFF A LONG STUDY.
the demand for the elimination OF the
vexatious stamp taxes. the levies on
theater tickets. soda fountain drinks.
playing cards and a hundred other ar
ticles covered by the odds and ends
clauses Of the War Revenue act. The
House has wanted to repeal these mis-
cellaneous taxes for the past year.
but the repeal bill was never taken
up in the Senate. The Senate also
failed to act on several popgun tariff
bills sponsored by the House.
Talk of raising 81 900 100000 an
nually through the tariff, thus maxi
ing possible a reduction in internal
taxation. is discounted here Observers
% tariff and taxation say that it
would be impossible to raise any
such amount at the ports of the
country. Excessively high tariff rates
would mean a curtailment of imports
and revenues would go to pieces.
Heretofore the United States has
never been able to raise more than
about 1890. 0OO. 900. and the jump to
a billion would be too great to expect.
Nevertheless, Congress must first
estimate how much rsay be produced
by new tariff law before it may in
diligently undertake revision of
the War Revenue bill. All this will
require much time. postponing the
fulfllment of business hopes for
early revision until late next year.