The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-09
Tariff, Tax, Budget and Bonus
To Be First Up.
Both House and Senate Prepare
to Break Records.
HARDING FINISHES MESSAGE
FOrdney Bill First in House of
Representatives.
Senate Gives First Eight Days
to Colombian Pact.


for the Sixty congress today
had taken concrete shape in the
hands of leaders of house and senate
following a month of conferences and
consideration of the questions to be
taken up.
AS a result. Senator Curtis, Repub-
lican whip of the senate. announced
today that the program for the ses-
sion opening Monday will consist of
the following legislation:
Bonus on Speed List.
Emergency tariff and anti-dumping
bill; tax revision: permanent tariff:
national budget bill; soldier bonus;
army and navy appropriation bills; re-
classification of government employees
and the Colombian treaty.
Curtis and other leaders indicated
| their intention of keeping the work of
| the first session of the new congress
| down to essentials. There is enough
work in the program outlined to keep
congress here until next fall and the
leaders want to recess as early as they
can.
While the principal legislative
measures of the Republican program
are being put thru, the railroad ques-
| tion, the merchant marine, labor mat
| ters. questions of public welfare, af-
| fairs in the Philippines and Cuba and z
| United States will be investigated by
various committees in house and SEN
| ate.
House All Rendy.
| The house is ready for immediate
action on the Fordney emergency tar
iff bill which former President Wilson
lvetoed. 1t will be re-introduced Mon
day and taken up Wednesday with the
hope that it can be passed Thursday
at the latest. -s-.-- rsas
Following conference at the capitol
yesterday with Senator Penrose and
1 SaRTatarX ha q
Ion put experts to preparing figures
on tax and tariff matters, particularly
| on tax revisions which he promises to
submit to house and senate committee
by May 1. While the house is work
ling on the emergency tariff, Penrose
iannounced the senate finance commit
tee would begin tax hearings. taking
up first the various suggestions for a
sales tax. The senate will. devote the
| first eight days of its session to con-
sideration of the Colombian treaty.
| Harding Finishes Message.
| The rough draft of President Hard
ing's first message to congress is near
| ly completed today. 1t is possible to
give a summary of the domestic prob
lens to be treated.
| What Harding will say about for
eign relations, however, remains for
/ the most part secret.
! Harding will appear before a joint
4
/ day, the day after congress convenes.
He decided on this course in the be-
/ lief that i! would give what he had
to say more emphasis.
| His recommendations on domestic
questions will include:
! FOREIGN TRA "A d E. Additional
| legislation which will enable Americal
l business men to enter foreign markets
! and compete to better advantage with
citizens of countries who pursue an
| aggressive trade expansion policy is
| likely to be asked.
! SOLDIER RELIEFLThe Dawes
report advocating consolidation of the
war risk bureau with soldier relief
sections of the board for vocational
education and the public health serv-
! ice and creation of a veterans serV-
ice administration, will be the basis OF
! the presidents recommendation.
| TAxATION-Repeal of the excess
profits tax will be asked and possibly
1 repeal of the soda water tax and other
| consumers taxes will be urged.
| There is some doubt as to whether
definite recommendations for tax re-
vision will be made in the presidents
| m essage or placed before congress
sional committees later by Secretary of
the Treasury Mellon.
! TARIFF-Prompt action on anti
: dumping and emergency tariff legis-
| lation is to be asked.
| RAILROADS-PreS Harding is
expected to limit himself to a general
reference to the critical transportation
situation and await outcome of the
! senate investigation soon to be under
| taken,
/ GOOD ROADS-The necessity of
/ federal encouragement to the good
roads movement is recognized but no
| federal aid should be granted unless
there are strict requirements which
would compel states to maintain the
roads in proper condition.
| ALASKA-Attention may be called
to the possibilities for development In
Alaska and to the need of encourage
ment by congress.
BUDGET-Harding will unquali-
fiedly endorse the passage of a budget
bill to bring about coordination of
government income and expenditures.
MERCHANT MARINE-The presi-
dent will closely indicate that he is
for whatever steps are necessary to
preserve and increase the American
merchant marine.