The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-08-11
c. FRAME
FINE PROMISES
WOULD CALL EXTRA SESSION OF
CONGRESS TO LOWER COST OF
LIVING IF HARDING ELECTED. /.
(BY GEORGE Il. MANNINe.)

Washington. D. c., Aug. "A prom
Use to pass legislation at an extra SEES
sion of congress that will reduce the
high cost of living is apparently to be
held out to the people by the republi-
cans this summer as one of the prin-
ciple inducements to gain votes for the
republican ticket
Reducing the living cost, however, is
only one of the many glowing prom
ises held out to the voters by Rep
resentative c. Bascon Slemp, of vir-
ginia, one of the members of Chair
man Will Hays advisory committee in
a statement issued a few days ago
from G. o. P. headquarters.
Mr.. Slemp virtually promises in this
statement that If elected president.
Mr.. Harding will call an extra session
of congress next spring that will re-
duce the cost Of living, repeal the ex-
cess profits taxes abolish the tax on
freight and passenger traffic, increase
the tariff rates, modify income tax
schedules and bring about numerous
other benefits. Truly an alluring
prospectus!
But 1t is well to remember that the
republicans have been in complete
control of the senate and house for the
past two years and have not embraced
the glowing opportunity ever before
them to do a single one of the many
things promised for the future.
1t is more than possible that with in
dustrial and financial conditions mate
rally changed by next spring the dem
ocrats will be able to perform the same
legislative wonder if their ticket is
successful.
Mr.. Slemp's promisory statement is
as follows:
Senator Harding will make the
greatest possible contribution toward
reducing the high cost of living
through his announced plan of calling
congress into extra session Immediate
~ ne is elected. If a republican con-
gress is elected to support Senator
Harding the extra session will do the
following things:
"First-Revise, and possibly entire
ly repeal, the excess profits tax. This
is the chief cause of the high price of
everything today. The manufacturer
collects it, re wholesaler collects 1t,
the retailer collects it-with the re-
suit that the ultimate consumer pays
three taxes instead of one
'Second-CongresS will Immediately
abolish the government tax on freight
and passenger traffic. The public will
promptly reap the benefit.
.aThird-Congress will Immediately
increase the tariff schedules and will
thereby not only decrease the tax bur- |
den now falling on this country by |
about 5000, 100000, but will protect in |
dustries and American labor which |
need protection from low paid foreign |
competition.
'Fourth-Congress will materially |
modify the income tax schedules and |
bring about a very considerable reduc-
ton in them.
There is no question:" Mr.. Slemp |
said, ''but that the drift in Ohio is to-
ward Senator Harding and the repub- |
lican ticket generally. DIR. Foss thinks
we will gain four republican represen-
tatives in congress in Ohio this year
and lose none.
TN Virginia and the South generally |
the tide is against the national adj
One of the beneficial eff |
forts of the war to the southern peo- |
pie is the development of Independence
of thought and sentiment not hitherto
known in the coming campaign it is |
impossible to foretell. Undoubtedly, ]
there will be a greatly increased re-
publican vote"