Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-09-13
SAYS HARDING
LAYS SELF OPEN
TO CRITICISM
Writer Holds Letter to Nc.
Cormick Unjust in Attack
on Democrats.
BY WALLACE BAssFOBD.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 13.-The
usually amiable gentleman in the White
House has written q letter to Senator
Medin Mccormick in which he ruth
lessly assails the Democrats for the tra-
mendous expense of conducting the Gov
eminent at the present time. The Presi-
dent evidently feels that the Illinois Sen
ator, who has been spending a number
Of weeks in Europe while the country
gasped for relief at the hands of Con-
gress, is in need of some information as
to the state Of affairs at home.
The President at somee length congratu-
lates the country on the great amount
Of good legislation passed by the Repub-
lican Congress in the SIX months that
have elapsed since 1t began to function.
He apologies for the fact that none Of
the three big things has been done that
the President and the country expected
Congress to do.
REWRITING END
NOT IN SIGHT.
The tariff bill has not been enacted, the
tax reduction has not been passed--in
fact, the Senate Committee on Finance
Is just beginning to tear the House bill
to pieces in order to rewrite II. After
the Senate committee rewrites 1t the SEN
ate gets a chance to tear 1t to pieces, then
1t goes back to the House and that body
may by that time be In the humor to do
little rewriting Of it's own. The Presi-
dent even alludes to his hope that Con-
gress may, after the recess, pass the rail-
road funding bill. According to the daily
press, he is not, however, depending en-
tirely on that chance, for he is reported
to be trying to find a to pay of the
railroad claims and refund the Govern
ment's claims without legislative au-
thority.
In assai1ing the Democrats for ths
present high cost Of Government, the
President has amazed Washing to mans by
laying himself open to severe criticism
Certainly the President cannot have for
gotten, even IL ne thinks the country
has, that ell of the power over &ppro-
priations has been held by the Republic
ans themselves for two years, six months
and ninteen days from the date Of this
article. They have had the sole power
which the Constitution gives to Congress
alone, to levy. taxes and appropriate the
sums secured from such taxation. WhtIa
Mr.. Wilson was President for two years
of this time. Congress during those two
years WAS Republican in both branches
and Mr.. Wilson and the members Of his
Cabinet could not alter the rates Of tax
alton or name the objects upon which the
tax should be collecteds and they could
not expend one penny of revenues with
out the Item having been provided for by
the Republican Congress.
LET BLAME REST
WHERE 1T BELONGS.
Every one knows that the appropria
tions of the present fiscal year and Of the
last fiscal year we're made by Republican
Congresses; II they are excessive, let tn.
President lay the blame where It be-
longs, on his own party. Leaving out
the special expenses necessary to the con
duet Of the war, the general expenses Of
the Government have been larger under
the appropriations Of the Republicans
than under the Democrats And while
the Republicans have controlled Congress
for these thirty and one-half months
taxes have not been reduced one single
penny. 1t Is not necessary to prove these
thInrs-they are matters Of common
knowledge.
The country still In paying war taTes,
almost three years after the signing OF
the armistice. and those ever chan gin z
proposals for reduction, none Of which
have heen carried out, are mainly In the
interest Of the big corporations and the
millionaires. such as Secretary Mellon
himself, while the proposals win actually
increase the taxes Of thousands Of small
corporations. The average income-tax-
payer Is offered sop In the way Of an
increased exemption. No one doubts that
he needs It ana a good deal more.
or course the President merely used
Senator Mccormick as a peg on which
to hang a letter which WIS intended 10
draw public attention from the short
cOmings Of the Repub' ,csn Congress. but
It rather serves 20 rem nd the people that
these faults Of the Congress are many
and that they cover a long period, and
It also reminds them that the Senator
has been one, though only one Of many,
of those legislators who accept the sal
airy Of the position while loahng on the
lob