The citizen., 1921-08-11
DEMANDS or THE GOVERNMENT
MAKE REDUCTION ev CON-
oRess DIFFICULT.
BURDEN IS ON REPUBLICANS
BY EDWARD 9. CLARK.

tion legislation. The members are try
ing to put a good face on the matter
but taxation Is looking at them with
not altogether a pleasing countenance
Taxation is an ugly customer. Con
gressmen do not like to deal with II
and the people do not like TO have II
dealt with although they know that
the dealing Herewith is Inevitable.
Congress has taken note OF what
Chairman Lasker of the shipping board
has said concerning his forthcoming
request that congress appropriate
$500, 100000 to pay the boards ex.
penses for the coming fiscal year. The
chairman's words were: ''This may
throw sand on the gears of taxation
revision, but cannot help it."
Every political party when II Is In
power looks dsmal-eyed at the prob
lem of tax revision. Fairly definite
promises were made by both parties In
their national conventions that the
taxes Of the nation would be reduced.
II turned out that 1t is the lot of the
Republican majority to do 1t. How ia
1t going to be done?
There are those In Washington who
easily can understand why the house
put off tax revision until after II had
finished with the tariff. 1t was simply
a case Of postponing the most disagree
able and probably the most disappOint.
ing work that was to confront the law
makers during the present session.
Not only the probable request for
$500, 100000 for the shipping board, but
a dozen other things have been drib-
bling sand into the gears Of the tax
revision machinery. Congress has cut
out adjusted compensation legislation
at the request Of the President. but in
the earlier researches into what 1t was
to cost to run the government. the
bonus was given no consideration
Therefore the relief Is not material.
Makes Dawes Savings Look Puny.
Here is Brig Gen. Charles G. Dawes
hard at work In the sweltering Wash
for the country. and yet every day he
gets news which means that though
he shall accomplish what the boy
called a Herculaneum Job. the results
with a dollar sign before them will ap-
pear pitifully small when placed side
by side with the enforced expenditures
Of government. General Dawes will
deserve just as much credit as II con
gress were not compelled to spend Its
tun, and also its ton of good money,
but it probably will be little bit dis
couraging to know that the huge sum
which he probably will save may ap.
pear like shriveled shrub alongside
Of sequoia Of compulsory expendi.
lures.
Members of the Republican majori
~ are asking themselves today how
taxes can be cut with the demand for
money which is constantly being heard
through the hole in the cashiers win.
dow. There are expenditures which
can be cut off. but there is day OF
reckoning for the government, just as
there is for the small business man.
The administration through its selec-
tive commissions and committees like
those OF which Dawes and Walter +
Brown are the chiefs, has done all tina,
It can apparently to produce offsets
against expenditures, but the grim
fact remains that congress must make
provisions for huge governmental ex'
penses, and that in order to do II
must make provisions for taxation.
Republicans Have Some Hope.
The leaders of the Republican party
seem to feel, and justly so probably,
that II they can make a showing of O
reduction of taxation, relieving the
burdens where they fall heaviest, not
only on the big fellow but on the little
fellow, they will be secure In the con.
tinued confidence of the country. Al
the same time they know that taxa
there be any such, must produce suf
ficient amount Of money TO meet In full
the running expenses of big govern
ment with all kinds of work In hand
and with all kinds of debts to meet.
Interest In taxation legislation Il
one hundred times keener than In any
tariff legislation. An American putt
his hand In his pocket and draws out
cash when the tax collector comes
round He may lose some cash through
the tariff, but he does not know much
about Il. OF course, also, he may gain
a little something through the tariff.
but perhaps ne knows less about this
than he does about the loss.
The house will put through tax legis
lation under a rule limiting debate.
The senate will talk taxes through the
twilight and darkness OF many days.
II taxation could be talked TO death
the senate is the body TO do IL, but II
is In this day an extremely lively, well
developed. hard.fisted subject. An
American can be taxed 10 death, but
he cannot retaliate on his adversary.
Madden Wants Constitution Amended
Another amendment TO the Con
stitution has been introduced. II