Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-18
HARDING MAY Be
BOSS OF HIS PARTY
IF He So CHOOSES
And Some Republican Leaders
at Washington Would Greatly
Rejoice Thereat..
MATTER OF RESPONSIBILITY

Snrcial Dispatch From Every Evenings g
Washington Correspondent
Washington. March ISIS President
Harding TO be the boss OF the Republi-
can party? He can be so. If he elects.
as members of Congress. moved by
Interior and political purposes. are will
ing 10 give him the opportunity to
spread his personality and his power
completely over Congress. This situa-
tion arises over the divided opinion as
to what shall form the first step in the
domestic program TO adjust war con-
ditions.
Republican members OF the Ways and
Means committee and the Senate
finance committee. entrusted with tax
alton matters. do not want TO decide
whether tariff revision or war revenue
changes shall form the first important
step in the special session. II Mr.. Hard
ing makes the decision he will take out
of the hands Of Congress a duty pecu-
IiarIv it's own, and begin his administra-
tion by showing the country that he
intends 10 dominate Congress as so
many Of his predecessors have in re-
cent years. Strange to say Mr. Harding
does want TO assume the task and
this is causing a delay in the decision
which the Republican members of these
committees put up TO him.
Members Of Congress have been in
vading the executive offices this week
trying 10 induce the President To ac-
cent their views. The members of the
WAYS and means committee who want
tarI revision first and relief for the
tarmers saw the President Yesterday
" lille carly in the week group Of
Western Senators demanded that a
higher tariff lie placed on wool and
that the President exercise his war
powers by placing an embargo i'm
mediatlv upon the importation Of wool
At the conference. Monday, partici-
pated in by Secretary NJ Hon and the
Republican members of the Finance
and WAYS and Means Committee. the
senators voted 10 take up tax revision
Ii II while only two members Of the
WAYS and Means committee favored
cha.4.;cs lin Tho war revenue laws. The
NV and Nrtus Committee wants re-
sluu II thr tariff as the first step.
ttet tit. enactment Of an antt-dump-
i, l,v .,r1 amendment Of the Under
ucd tae.n by placing an American
H'ln."u nu imports. This latter IS
mt r.o. 4 as q stop gap until the tariff
can ., permanently revised.
W Need for Tariff Changes.
Those who have studied the economic
situation have come 70 the conclusion
that til. country would he most pros
pgro-s fer some time t. come il the
,ariu laws were not disturbed or no
:. hgHc, made in them until industrial
adjustment has approached something
li,, normal. They say that tho custom
duties can not he raised now 10 the
advantage~ Of American industry or
american workmen. Tho situation to-
t,.v is altogether different than In any
other time in the history of the country.
The United States is n creditor nation
for tho first time. other countries ow-
ing US about 10000 600 600. Econo-
mis,s and those who are protectionist
i'll th.ir outlook. say that the United
states can not shut itself off from the
,-1..dS business when the rest Of the
world owes this vast sum. II il at
,empts To erect a prohibitive tariff law.
they say that the immediate result win
he retaliatory measures adopted hy
countries affected Such action, il is
pointed out would result in these coun-
tries doing business elsewhere and in
short time u, United States would he
cos.l, ,llrd IL 10 business in its own
domains. or. perhaps. might have some
Sh, trade in South America
Thc economic policy 10 pursue while
ths nucd States is such large
,r,ditor nation is TO keep the channels
II trad, free and unrestricted. OF
course. this is against the protectionist
policy hui many Republicans while not
wishing TO admit that protection does
not flt. in the situation. are anxious TO
place revision Of the tariff as far dis
tant as possible. by taking up taxation
revision first.