The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-11-26
CONGRESS DlSRECARDS
PRESIDENTS WISHES
Writes Congressman Asking For
Lower Tax On Swollen Fortunes;
But Democrats And Progressive
Republicans Vote To Retain High
err Rate.

Washington, D. c., Nov. 23.-The
severest personal defeat for Presi-
dent Harding since the beginning OF
his administration. which was also a
rebuke for his obstructive interior
ence with legislation, was that ad-
ministered in the House by Demo
Gratis and western Republicans in
adopting the maximum surtax of SO
per cent. after President Harding
had written long letter to Chair
man Fordney of the Ways and Means
Committee. attempting to justify the
80 percent maximum Surtax as fixed
by the House and suggesting a COM
promise of 40 percent as between
that and the Senate amendment for
SO percent.
An outstanding incident of this re-
buff to President Harding was the re-
sentiment shown by the western Re
publicans toward John T. Adams,
Chairman OF the Republican Nation
al Committee, who rushed to the Cap
itol and officiously lobbied among the
members for the suggested COM
promise.
The action Of the House in this
matter was in striking contrast tC
that of the Senate when President
! Harding appeared before that body
and obstructed the otherwise certain
passage OF the Soldier Bonus Bill
The Republican Senators, who were
committed to the bill not only by
their party's pledges but by thel,
Mt Of hk
: Senate, mCekly surrendered at the
Presdcl,. 3 dictatiun voted to recon-
nit and thus k.tl the bill they. haC
been advocating. Tho Presidents
obstructive interference in this mat
ter, amounting in the views u some
to q violation OF tho Constitution
was widely critized in the press.
It was recalled that Presiden. Viii
SCH who had been criticized from
Constructively advising and suggest,
ii1S the passage OF Iegis alton, which
was his constitu' NAL right ]. duty
had never attempted 10 obstruct leg
islation in either House
In addition to being q defeat and
rebuke OF President Harding's oh
structivc interference, the House
tory. as the so percent maximum SUI
tax amendment originated with the
Democrats in the Senate. who fixed
the amendment at SO per cent. and
presented or the floor OF the Senate
With Other helpful and constructive
amendments by Senator simmons of
North Carolina, ranking minority
member OF the Senate Finance Com
mitteG and former Chairman an
amendment modified to 90 per cent
bya Progressive Republican caucus
and its acceptance forced upon the
Guard reactionary Republican men,
bers OF the Finance ComHit:@c and
OF the Senate.
The forecast made in this CORES
ponden"c sometime ago that the fis-
ca! policy OF the administrations
it can be called policy-was the
rock upon which the Republicans
would split has been verified. The
Democrats have steadily maintained
the Democratic policy Of taxation of
placing taxes on those best able to
bear them. equitably distributed, and
in the advocacy Of this policy they
have had the sympathy and support
of many western Progressive Repub-
licans, the two together rejecting
the real sentiemnt of the country
without reference to politics.
On the other hand the 80 percent
maximum surtax, for which Mr..
pleaded in his letter, was
the Republican reactionary policy of
tax reduction for the very rich, for
the higher surtaxes do not effect any
ono except multi-millionaries and
profiteers. It 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 progressive Republicans.
1t may be said too that in the pres
ant tax revision bill, carrying 833
Senate amendments, mostly in its
features, which no.
body pretends to understand except
The Treasury experts who drew them,
he only improvements made in the
interest Of the smaller taxpayer and
The equitable distribution of taxes,
he only constructive features in the
dill, are those contained in the
proposed by and forced
by Democrats aided by Pro-
yrissive Republicans.
AS an indication of public feeling
IN the matter to taxation, it may be
pointed out that the Republican mem
)ers who joined with the Democrats
include Representatives in practical
Y every state in the West. This
public feeling was also given vocal
by many members in re-
;enting the Presidents obstructive
JT.,no +ha ropforonca ON tho imi