The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-03-14
CONFER TODAY
ON NEW TARIFF
Mellon and Aids to Meet With
Congress Leaders to Draft
Revenue Policy.
BY J. BART CAMPBELL,
International News Service. .

With Secretary Mellon and a staff
of Treasury Department experts
Sitting in" Republican members of
the Senate Finance and House Ways
and Means Committees began work
today on a program of tariff and
taxation revision which it is hoped
will meet with the approval of Pres
ident Harding and the greatly in
creased Republican majority of Con-
gress.
VIEWS WIDELY DIVIDED.
1t is conceded by Republican lead
ers that IL such a program is to be
attended by any lasting success. they
must FIRST accomplish the difficult
task OF ironing out Of the wide di-
vergence OF views on the tariff and
domestic taxes prevailing among Re-
publican members OF both the Senate
and House.
Another acute problem which must
be solved is that of enecting prac-
tlCdl changes Nv tnt tNlstlHB tdIbi
and internal revenue laws without
depicting the enormous revenue re-
quired to finance the Government. in
creasing the already high cost OF liv-
ing, or interfering with the produc-
ton and export of American goods so
essential to the country's welfare.
The relationship of the domestic to
the foreign situation, the serious
question of rcadjusting exchange. and
of stabiiizing commerce. of assisting
both the farmer, the manufacturer
and the factory worker, of sub
merging local or sectional require
ments to the needs of the country
generally. all enter into the selection
to unravel the grave economic and
financial problems Congress must
deal with.
This afternoons conference be-
tween Secretary Mellon. as the
spok esmsn for the executive branch
and the Republican members OF the
two Congressional committees upon
which devolve the making of revenue
raising legislation, will be but "a
start. other conferences will follow.
It is the intention Of the Republican
leaders to employ the short recess
before the converting of Congress in
extraordinary session next month to-
the consideration OF the most prag-
tical ways and means OF avoiding the
legislative breakers ahead. The pos
sibility of a Democratic filibustcr,
such as contributed to the defeat of
the emergency tariff bill In the re-
cent session, is but one OF the bar
rjers to be surmounted.
One OF the first moves anticipated
is the substitution of a sales tax
for the excess profits tax. Senator
Smoot, Republican. OF Utah, mer.-
Der of the Senate Finance Committee,
IL engaged on Legislation providing
for such substitution.
Senator Penrese, Republican, OF
Pennsylvania. chairman of the cofa-
mittec, has opposed sales tax as
general proposition" but stated
his mind us open on the subject"
He pointed out such a tax as n
means of raising revenue has been
as strongly condemned as II has been
strongly advocated.
ANTI-DUMPING BILL
Enactment of an anti-dumping bill
to shut out foreign products in ca
cessive quantities, the passage of an
emergency tariff bill, the re-enact-
ment OF an amended Payne-Aldr:ch
tarin bill. are only some OF the many
panaccas for existing industrial and
business conditions which are being
suggested. The fear Is entertained
ty some Republican leaders that
there Will b6 much talk. hut little
or no agreement or final action on
any Of them until the approaching
extraordinary session Is well under
way.