The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-07

heard that colltion is about to be formed by these senators with the democrats to prevent the passage of any sort of tariff bill at this session of Congress. Only the stiffest sort of discipline from the White House is likely to straighten out the situa- tion
 Inasmuch as the tariff bill must give way to the tax bill when ths latter is finished, there is no doubt that any sort of combined opposition to the tariff measure can hold 1t up indefinitely. The tariff bill is due out of the finance committee by the first of September. The new tax bill should be out by October 1. All of which means that while the House may soon be able to recess for several months, the Senate will be In session continuously until the regular meet ing of Congress in December over takes the extra session which con vened last April.
 Tariff Problem
 The tariff problem however. is nor the measure causing the greatest mental worry in Washington As they delve into the intrfcacies of the national tax problem that Is before them, Congress leaders are becom- ing panic stricken. The prospect. that they may have to hand the people an increased tax burden this fall fills every congressional heart with dismay.
 President Harding is determined there shall De a revision of the tax schedules downward. He has said so dozen times, and when he returns to Washington toward the middle of the coming week from his first real outing since he entered the White House. he Will devote himself to the fiscal problem, the handling of which means much to the future success of the republican party
 There Is little indication at this time that the House of Representatives Will undertake to reach a final solu- ton of the matter It will be for the Senate finance committee. for such sound old legislative heads as Pen rose of Pennsylyania,a and Shoot of gtah, and Watson of Indiana and curtis of Kansas, veterans of the game, to take off their coats along toward the middle of September and thresh out the railways and means to meet situation more perplexing than any which ever confronted a dominant political party.
 Burden Is Heavy
 Io the American people it is un- thinkable that with the war three years over war taxes shall continue to pear down upon them. The re- publican leaders in Congress feel they hold the sacred trust of redu- Ing these taxes, and yet every time they think they see ray of daylight ahead, Secretary of the Treas si,ry Mellon turns up with an array of in disputable figure which sends cold. creepy chills down every congress sional spinal column.
 Fiscal policies which strike the fi- nancial experts as wholly sound and feasible from their points of view. have the effect of an exploding bomb when placed before members of Con gress who are due to go before the people year from this November to give an accounting of their steward ship in the national capital Some congressman frankly say they ap- preciate the fact that it is entirely sound to repeal all excess profit taxes and that 1t is wise to reduce the surtax on incomes between the money represented by these in comes shall not go into tax exempt securities, but they ask how it is best to explain this to constituents S who know nothing. of higher finance and who figure that every apparent relief to men of wealth means an added burden to those least able to stand it. The proposal to increase the sur tax on incomes between $6.000 and $50.000. is another propo- sition which fails to meet with con- gresSional favor. In the $6,00U to $10.000 income class are included men who think and men of influence m every community. They are men wno can make themselves heard. and If they are called upon to bear heavier burdens than at present, their re- sulting political activities will not be popular with the men responsible tor imposing the tax.
 At The Polls
 Inasmuch as some 435 members of the House of Representatives will have to face the people at the polls in November. 1922 tonly 32 senators will be up for consideration there is a ma jority of about 435 to 32 at the capitol in favor of letting the Senate stand the brunt of the new tax bill. whatever it may be.
 The Senate expects to have the burden thrust upon 1t. The House drum corps will be held for 10 min utes, and you are cordially invited to remain and see what is going to be done!
 When we get our band" organized, we will wake 'em up!