The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-23
TAX REVISION BILL
 MAY BE VETOED BY. PRESIDENT TODAY.
Executive fluffy Because the House Ignored His Effort to Defeat Senate Sur
 tax Amendment
By HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age Herald, knn nnNidsnn KniIdin

800 Davidson Building.
 Washington, November 22.-(Spe- cial.)--It is hinted that President Harding will veto the tax revision bill. which is expected to reach him for approval Wednesday, because the House of Representatives ignored his effort to defeat the Senate amend ment which imposes surtax of 50 per cent on incomes in excess of s2o0 0Oo.
 It is not generally thought prob able, however that the President will be moved to such an unusual extrem- ity. For revenue is necessary, and the tax bill represents the sole im- portant achievement of the extraor- dinary session. But that the Presi- dent is deeply disappoited that the members of hts party in Congress have shown independence, is beyond all peradventure, true.
 President Hardings desire that the surtax on excessive incomes be re- duced was based on two reasons. The republican party promiseed to re- lieve the burden of the very rich; In the second place, the executive be- lieves that if money is permitted to invest itself in industrials rather l than in non n-taxable securities, return of prosperity will be hastened.. Political Effect Feared.
 Republican politicians are frank in the expression of their fear lest the action of Congress respecting the in- come of the rich has an "unfortu- nate" effect on the congressional elections next year. Their views are being reflected in the newspapers of the east, which are of the G. o. ?. faith.
 It is argued that in the first place, the Congress of very large republican ma ajorities broke" with the repub- lican President. who was elected by majority of 7000,000. and thus re- vealed to the public inharmony eX- isting between the progressive and reactionary wings of the party It is argued in the second place that the wealthy will show it's resentment at the polls for promises broken and pledges violated.
 The Washington Star of today car ries a signed article expressing fear lest the "recalcitrants" of the House, referred to as the "agrarian" bloc, and alleged to be more deeply we'd ded to the people they think they rep resent than to the party" eliminate the advantage "accruing" to the re- publican organization as result of the American proposal respecting naval dsmantlement!
 The Democratic Victory. Regarding the surtax features of the bill. the independent republicans permitted the democrats to win an unprecedented triumph When the progressives in the Senate collaborat- cd with the democrats and defeated the House ratio of 32 per cent on incomes of $200.000. "old guard" leaders expressed confidence that the House would insist on its maximum feature.
 When the conferees could not agree, Chairman Fordney of the ways and means committee appealed to the President to express hmself--and save the day. The President sug gested 40 per cent as a compromise between the 32 per cent of the House and the 50 per cent of the Senate. But the independents of the House were riding hard, and refused to lis- ten even to the word of their Presi- cent
 Regarding fiscal legislation. this extraordinary session has seen for the first time in history very small minority participating in the writing of laws. There is now renewed talk on the part or repupllcdH poiltiNidHS of majorities that "are sometimes SO large as to be unwieldy"
 Leaders Are Appalled,.
 And there Is renewed talk of the impotency of republican leadership. For some time Senator Lodge has been unable to control his forces in the Senate. In the House Represen-. tative Mondell. despite the fact that he is no Lodge in many respects. wa able to hold his own. But now he has "slumped' and failed
 In the House, during the tax bill fight, Representative Garrett, demo cratic leader. took the floor, occu pied it for an hour, and finally moved the previous question. It was following that motion that the re- publican House ignored and overrode the expressed desire of the republican President.
 Mir Mondell is fallen as flat as MT. Lodge--as a leader.