The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-01
LPERsoNAL pEFEAT OF HARpINt

PERSONAL DEFEAT OF HARDING
The severest personal defeat for
President Harding since the begin
ming of his administration, which was
also a rebuke for his obstructive in
reference with legislation, was that
administered in the house by demo-
Icrats and western republicans in
adopting the maximum surtax of so
per cent after President Harding had
written long letter to Chairman
lFordney of the ways and means COM
mittee, attempting to justify the 80
lper cent maximum surtax as fixed by
the house and suggesting a compro-
mise Of 40 per cent as between that
land the senate amendment for 80 per
cent.
An outstanding incident of the re-
buff to President Harding was the re-
sentiment shown by the western re-
publicans towards John T. Adams.
chairman of the republican national
committee. who rushed to the capitol
and officiously 1obbied among the
members for the suggested compro-
mise.
The action of the house in this mat
ter was in striking contrast to that
Iof the senate when President Harding
appeared before that body ana OBJ
Istrueted the otherwise certain pas
sage of the soldier bonus bill. The re-
publican senator's. who were commit
tied to the bill not only by their party's
pledges but by their own utterances
on the floor of the senate, meekly sur
rendered at the presidents dictation,
lvoted to recomhait and thus kill the
bill they had been advocating. The
presidents obstructive interference in
this matter, amounting in the views Of
some to violation Of the constitu-
ton, was widely criticized in the
press
1t was recalled that President will
son, who had been criticized for con-
structiyely advising and suggesting
the passage of legislation. which was
his constitutional right and duty, had
never attempted to obstruct legisla-
ton in either house.
In addition to being defeat and
rebuke OF President Hardings OBJ
structive interference, the house vote
was a decisive democratic victory, as
the so per cent maximum surtax
amendment originated with the demo-
| crats in the senate, who fixed the
amendment at So per cent. and pre-
sented on the floor OF the senate with
other helpful and constructive amend
ments by Senator Simmons of North
Carolina, ranking minority member
Iof the senate finance committee and
former chairman an amendment
modified to SO per cent by a progress
sive republican caucus and its aceep-
lance forced upon the old guard re-
dictionary republican members of the
finance committee and of the senate.
| The forecast made in this corre-
spondence some time ago that the fis-
cal policy of the administrations
| it can be called policy-was the rock
upon which the republicans would
split has been verified. The demo-
Gratis have steadily maintained the
democratic policy of taxation of plac-
ing taxes on those best able to bear
them. equitably distributed, and in
the advocacy of this policy they have
the sympathy and support of many
western progressive republicans, the
two together reflecting the real senti-
ment of the country without reference
to politics.
On the other hand, the 80 per cent
Maximum surtax, for which Mr. Har~
ding pleaded in his letter, was the re-
publican reactionary policy of tax re-
duction for the very rich, for the
higher surtaxes do not affect anyone
except multi millionaires and profit
GERS. 1t was for these classes that
President Harding pleaded at such
length.
In order, as he said, to keep the
party promises, he was willing to ac-
|cept a compromise which would even
reduce by 10 per cent the just amount
insisted upon by democrats and pro-
gressiye republicans.
1t may be said, too that in the
present tax revision BILL carrying $40
senate amendments, mostly in its adj
ministrative features. which nobody
pretends to understand except the
treasury experts who drew them, the
only Improvements made in the inter-
est of the small taxpayer and the
equitable distribution of taxes. the
only constructive features in the bill,
are those contained in the amend
ments proposed and forced through
by democrats aided by progressive re-
publicans.
AS an Indication of public feeling
on the matter Of taxation, it may be.
pointed out that the republican mem
bers who joined with the democrats
include representatives in practically
every state in the west. This public |
feeling was also given vocal expires
sion by many members IN resenting |
the presidents obstructive interfer-
ence.
EMBARRASSING NEWBERRY.
Using the conference on the Iimita-