New-York tribune., 1921-04-11
Leaders Insist That Pro-
gram to Postpone Tax
Legislation Stand, Even
if Harding Asks Change
Senate Divided
On Revenue Plans
Presidents Message To
Be Heard Tomorrow;
Long Session Forecast
sro.n III. Tr,oans's wassin oso,. B4yeas

WASHINGTON, April 10.-With the
biggest problems before it that, in the
opinion of many, have confronted
Congress since Civil War reconstruction
days. the Sixty-seventh Congress will
convene in special session at noon To-
morrow. Despite top-heavy Republi-
ran maiorities in both branches, pros
pects are that months will elapse be-
fore there is legislation on the subject
In which the whole country is vitality
tnterested--tax revision.
The only thing that will prevent
practically the whole summer being
wasted in attempting to build up high
protective walls around agriculture as
we'll as industry is intervention by
President Harding. louise leaders are
bent on passing every item Of tariff
legislation before taking up taxation.
The President alone can call :: halt to
their plan. 1t is improbable. however,
that he vii! attempt TO direct Congress
at the outset OF his administration.
There still is much resentment and
smarting on Capitol Hill from the
eight gears of lashing by Woodrow
Wilson.
VIII Not Be Swayed by Message
Regardless of whether the President
places tax legislation ahead Of tariff
revision in his message Tuesday, Re
publican leaders Of the House are de-
termined not TO let anything get in the
way of the tariff program. When the
President some time ago recommended
enactment Of ar emergency tariff to
take care of the farm situation it was
the signal for the tariff forces to =
ranize to put through a big program
before tax questions come up. The
Presidents suggestion that tax re-
'isicn follow the emergency tariff fell
al deaf ears.
The House Republicans are going to
PASS tariff bills in this order:
ioung emergency tariff bill.
An anti-dun ping bill.
American valuation bill.
General permanent tariff bill.
The three first named will be disposed
o. in the next two weeks, it is ex-
pected. The month of June is likely to
be we'll advanced before the permanent
tariff bill Is passed The measure will
rot be reported until about May 15,
and the practice is not to muzzle debate
on sch general tariff legislation.
Sailing for the tariff bills will not be
50 easy in the Senate. Several Repub-
'ican members have announced their
determination to fight the emergency
bill. There Will be little or no oppo-
sition to the anti-dumping act. Seri-
ous objections have developed to the
measure TO provide that duties shall
be assessed on their American values.
Experts assigned to Congress by the
tariff commission to draft the plan
toresee serious trouble. They are find
ing difficulty in shaping bill that will
rot hurt in some sections.
Senate Would Combine TITO
1t is expected that an effort will be
made in the Senate to combine the
,aree bills. The purpose Of this will
he to muster enough support to obtain
passagc. 1t is the same thing as add
ng items to a tariff bill to attract
v1tes, as, for instance, the sugar clause
'n the emergency measure which won
the support Of Dep ocratic Louisiana
The prediction Is being made that
these three tari!F measures will not be
disposed of by the Senate before the
House has passed the permanent tariff
bill. The Senate will devote at least
t%o months. it is estimated. to discuss
'ng the permanent tariff bill. Two
weeks will be required for the confer
ence committee to agree.
SO the indications are that it will be
ate in August before the Senate gets
to tax revision The temper of the
house leaders is to hold back the tax
NIL until the Senate passes all of the
tariff acts. Should the Senate major
ity, which favors tax legislation first,
start contest to see which can hold
out the longer, there is no telling
where the contest will end.
The hope of business and the people
generally. who want the tax laws re-
vised is that President Harding, after
few weeks of see-sawing and little
accomplishment, will step in and tell
Congress what to do. The House lead
ers will listen to the President if he
CONTINUED on paca thrsaI