Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-09-20
Fox in The White House
By WALLACE BASSFORD
Especial News Correspondent

Washington, Sep. 19.-The usually
amiahle gentleman in the White
House has written q letter to Senator
lessly assails the Democrats fer the
tremendous expense Of conducting
the Government at the present time.
The President evidently feels chat the
Illinois Senator, who has been spend
ing q number cf weeks in Europe
while the country gasped for relief
a. the hands Of Congress, is in need
&C soma information as to the tate
If affairs at home.
The President at some length con-
graduates the country on the great
amount of good legislation passed by
the Republican Congress in the six
months that have elapsed since it
began TO function. He apologies for
the fact that none Of the three big
things has been done that the Pres
ident anil the country expected Con-
gless to do. The tariff bill has not
been enacted, the tax reduction has
not been passed-;n fact, the Senate
Committee on Finance is just be-
ginning to tear the House BIZ to
pieces ii order to re-Write it. After
the Senate Committee re-writcs it the
Senate gets g chance to tear i to
pieces, then it goes back to the
House and that body may, by that
time, be in the humor to do little
,a.writing of its own. The Presi,
dent evan alludes to his hope that
Congress may, after the recess, pass
tic rail.Cad funding bill. Accord
ing 10 tie daily press. he is not, how
ever, depending entirely on thai
chance, fer he is reported to be try
ing to find way 10 pay off the rail-
road claims and refund the Govern
ment's claims without legislative au-
thority.
In aSsailing the Democrats for
the present high cost of Government,
tie President had amazed Washing
tGnians by laying himself open to
severe criticism. Certainly the Pres
ident cannot have forgotten. even if
lie thinks the ccUntry has, that all
of the power over appropriations
mas been held by the Republicans
themselves for two years, six months
and sixteen days from the date OF
this article. They have had the sole
power, which the Constitution gives
to Congress alone. to levy taxes and
appropriate the sums secured from
such taxation. While MIR. Wilson
was President for two years Of this
time, Congress during those two
wears was Republican in both
branches, and Mr.. Wilson and the
i embers Of his cabinet could not
alter the rates of taxation or name
the objects upon which the tax
should be collected, and could not
.eypend ore penny Of revenues with
cut the item having been provided
for by the Republican Congress.
Every one knows that the appropri-
atoms Of the present fiscal year; and
of the last fiscal year were made by
Republican Congresses; If they are
excessive. let the President lay the
blame where it belongs, on his own
party. Leaving out the special eX.
penses necessary to the conduct OF
the war, the gecaral expenses OF the
Government have been larger under
rr appropriations of the Republicans
than under the Democrats, And while
the Republicans have absolutely con-
trclled Congress for these thirty and
one half months, taxes have not been
reduced one single penny. 1t IS not
necessary to prove these things they
are matters Of common knowledge.
The country is still paying war taxes,
almost three years after the signing
of the armistice, and those ever
Changing proposals for reduction,
none of which have been carried cut,
are mainly in the interest Of the. big
corporations and the millionaires,
such as Secretary Mellon himself,
while the proposals will actually in.
crease the taxes OF thousands OF
small corporations. The average in
come taxpayer is offered sop in
the way Of an Increased exemption.
No one doubts that he needs it and
good ,dea! more:
| OF course the President merely
used Senator Mccormick as a peg on