Evening star., 1921-03-13
MONDELL WOULD SCRAP TARIFF
AND WORK ON TAX PROBLEMS
House Leader Believes Temporary Tariff
Fruitless-Easing Revenue More
Essential to Industries.

Prompt reduction of the tax burden
should be the first task of the extra
session. and the proposed emergency
tariff revision should be thrown in
the discard, House Leader Mondell
said last night after conference
with President Harding at the White
House.
The business of the country is as
much dependent upon a reduction of
the tax burden as upon revision of the
tariff Mr.. Mondell said. in outlining
the probable program and policy of
the incoming Congress. He was ac-
cornpanied TO the White House by
Representative Nicholas Longworth
of Ohio.
The House leader pointed out that
an attempt to enact a temporary,
"stop-gap" tariff bill, along the lines
of the PayneAldrich measure, would
require as much time as would be
necessary to pass a new tariff meas
ure, and would open the way for such
d measure to originate in the Senate,
which is contrary to the provisions
of the Constitution.
Importance Of Tariff.
"I realize the Importance of getting
tariff bill on the statute books at
the very earliest moment, and if ]
felt that we could introduce, pass and
have signed very promptly tempo
rary measure, ! would be glad to fa-
vor il, even though it We're not an
ideal tariff bill. but having serious
doubts that this can be accomplished d
! am inclined to the opinion that the
ways and means committee should
get to work at once on permanent
tariff measure.
In the meantime they should sub
NIT and we should pass through the
House such revision of the revenue
laws as seems wise. The Senate would
then be occupied in consideration of
the revenue bill while the House COM
mittee was concluding the preparation
of the permanent tariff bill
"If we pursue this course we should
be able to put through revision Of
the revenue laws and a permanent
revision of the tariff before we adjourn
the special session. about August I.
IF any emergency measure is pos
sible in advance of the permanent
tariff is must be confined. ii seems TO
me. to a simple anti-dumping pro-
vision and possibly an amendment to
the present tariff, basing rates on
American rather than On foreign values
Such a measure would be OF value in
saving the situation during the period
of consideration of permanent meas
ure.
Country should BE Advised.
While the passage of tariff bill
is highly important and should be ac-
complished at the earliest possible
date, it is equally important to let the
people know as soon as possible the
extent TO which they are to be relieved
for the current calendar year of the
burden Of federal taxation"
Mr.. Mondel said that he thought
there is Il great deal of need. the
country over. of settling the tariff
question.
The important question is just how
we are going to tackle the allied
questions OF tariff and revenue"
said Mr. Mondell. at has been sug-
SeSted in certain quarters that 1t
would he wise to take up some meas
ure, for instance the Payne-Aldrich
bill. modify "a few Of lis provisions.
OF schedule X, but in the main con-
;nuing ii as it was and passing ii
as an emergency 'stop-gap' mea sure.
The suggested program would be to
follow that with revenue legisla ton
and follow that in turn with per-
manent tariff bill which might not be-
come law until the regular session.
Personally. l am somewhat doubtful
OF the wisdom of that policy. If ii
were possible to take the Payne -Aldrich
bill. for instance, and with a few
changes pass it speedily through the
House and Senate. So that it would be
on the statute books in six weeks or
two months after we met, | think it
perhaps would be wise TO do it.
Doubts Early Passage.
But | have grave doubts as to
whether this can be done. ] am not at
all certain that such a bill thus intro
duced, would not, when ii reached the
Senate. be opened up for a great variety
of amendments, be delayed for consid-
cradle time in its passage so that in
stead of procuring what is suggested
prompt action on temporary bill-we
might instead find Congress considering
for months a measure which, starting as
. temporary measure, might finally
come to be considered as a permanent
measure and entirely made over. 1t