The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-07-29
FACTS FROM THE INSIDE
AT WASHINGTON, D. C.

on the shelf after President Harding
recommended this action. The final
vote Of Al to % was accompanied by
stormy scenes of which a near-fight
between Senators McCumber and
Reed was the star performance. AL
though McCumber was chairman OF
the subcommittee which favorably
reported the bill, when it came to a
show down he voted for its recon-
initial. So did Senators kellogg and
Nelson Of Minnesota and Norbeck Of
South Dakota. Senator Ladd was
one Of the nine republicans who vot-
ed against recommittal. LaFollette.
Norris and Capper OF the "agricul-
tural bloc" also stood with the SOL
diers. Penrose, Smoot. Lodge, Hale.
Brandegee, Knox and other mem
bers OF the "Old Guard" who de-
nounced LaFollette, Norris. Ladd
and Tom Watson as "slackkers" and
"disloyalists" during the war all vot-
ed against the bonus bill. The
American Legion and other soldiers
organizations have denounced the
side-tracking OF the compensation
act as rank betrayal of the World
War Veterans. but the United States
Chamber OF Commerce and other
tax-dodging. profiteering big busi-
ness organizations pulled the strings
and the President and his reaction
airy following in the Senate obeyed
orders.
Ship Subsidy Is Advocated
Reaction is completely in the sad
die and for the first time in more
than a decade talk of government
subsidy for private shipping interests
is being advocated. The. marine
trust has long favored this legisla-
ton. but never before did 1t have a
chance Of passing. Now its chances
seem very bright, for President
Harding can be counted upon to rec
ommend 1t. The United States Ship
ping Board has made terrible mess
of the government-owned merchant
marine-apparently this board con-
tanned even more thieves and graft
ers than the air craft division-and
now the disposition on the part of
the reactionaries Is to have the gov
eminent pocket its loss and turn
over the ships to private interests for
a mere fraction, Of what they are
worth. Then the government will
pay the private interests bonus to
operate their ships and everybody
will be happy-except perhaps the
tax payer. But the subsidy will be
urged on highly "patriotic" grounds
and probably there will be a few
protests after 1t has been sufficiently
camoufaged. An administration
that can demand the defeat Of the
soldiers bonus bill on the grounds
Of the treasury can't stand the
strain, and then on the same day rec
ommend the virtual gift Of half bill
lion dollars to the railroads, ought
to be able to get away with ship
subsidy-and doubtless will.
Tariff Passes-Now Taxes
The House has rushed through the
tariff bill ON creased skids-just az
predicted-and now 1t will take up
the revenue measures which also
will be showed through with scant
consideration. The administration
wants the. excess profits tax repealed
and the higher income surtaxes re.
duced, which would be all right II
a scientific substitute were provided.
But Congress doesn't do things
scientifically. Instead of going about
the revenue bills with calm consider
alton, the Administration leaders
will adopt q pre-arranged program
In secret conferences and then use
patronage and committee control ia
Jam 1t through. There is still con.
fusion on taxation, however. The
administration hasn't quite figured
out . substitute for the excess prof.
its taxes except to pile ON more con
sumption taxes. Senator smoot and
other advocates Of the sales tax have
taken new lease Of life and ar,
again advocating the ubiquitous
measure. In the meantime. Repre-
{ sentative Oscar Keller Of st. Pan
has put forward the one sane, scien
titic solution. He would repeal thu
excess profits taxes and corporation
income tax-and all the taxes qf
sales. transportation. amusement
and legal documents o. we'll. He al
80 would distinguish between learn
ed" and s'unearned'' income and 70
duce the rates ON the former by on,
half. This would relieve productiv,
industry Of taxes amounting to tw,
= !, HILTON dollara sannanallv. To renlaci