Evening star., 1921-07-09
DEMAND FOR TASTE
HEARD BYCONGRESS
Business Men of Country I'm
patient Over Delay in Tax
Revision Program.
By DAVID LAWRENCE,


Public opinion is making itself felt
in the National Capital The impa-
thence OF the country over the failure
OF Congress to get started on a pro-
gram of tax revision has penetrated
both the legislative and executive
branches Of the government. Letters
OF complaint from prominent business
men. most Of them republicans, have
reached Congress, and while it Is true
What the average man outside of
Washington has little conception of
the immense amount of work in
volved in shaping tariff bill. 1t is
fact that most of the criticism has
been placed upon the preference given
to consideration Of the tariff ahead of
the tax question.
Representative Mondell, republican
leader Of the House. who is as con-
scisntious public servant as the re-
publican party has ever had. makes a
point of the tremendous labor the
ways and means committee has had
before 1t in shaping tariff bill, and
argues that this same committee could
obviously handle only one thing at
time. The ways and means committee
unfortunately is charged with the
task Of making both the tariff and tax
bills.
VUJGCt 70 EEcCC0enCCs
There, 10 no other committee to
which the revenue measures could
hay6 6gonerwhile the ways and means
committee worked on the tariff. But
the nub of the present situation is
not that the ways and means COM
mittee has been wasting time, for 1t
has been working hard. both night
gave right of way to the tariff on
the basis of an alleged overwhelming
opinion from the country in favor of
that course. If. in other words, Con-
Is partly due to the failure of the
country to assert it's wishes unmis-
takably.
1t now becomes apparent that there
are serious differences of opinion on
the tariff. and that many of the ad-
vocates OF a permanent tariff are in
doubt az to whether any bill enacted
at this session will not have to be
changed in a month. ss the result
Of constantly changing economic con-
dftions throughout the world.
AS for the tax question. on the
other hand. there is no division Of
opinion among the advocates Of
change in the tax rate. Sentiment is
unanimous
While the tariff. therefore. is i'm
portant. there never has been any
doubt among disinterested observers
that the country would approve of
prompt action on the tax question
ahead of tariff revision. The truth
is the agricultural group in Congress,
as well as other elements represent
ing class interests. have demonstrated
again that a minority which holds
the veto power in the government can
frequently threaten the majority and
can practically dictate the course that
shall be taken.
President Harding frankly is dis
turbed about the situation. He real
ICES that Congress should have tackled
the tax question first. He indicated
as much when the problem was first
submitted to him. but felt reluctant
to insist upon his point Of view. He
now wishes he had put his foot down
hard and compelled action on the
revenue measure ahead of the tariff
On the other hand, there seemed to
be as much noise made at that time
about tariff revision as taxes. The
articulate element won over the mar
ticulate: The mass Of the people, who
had little interest in the tariff ques-
tion. failed to speak out about taxes.
They took 1t for granted that Con-.
gress. after what had been said in
the last campaign. would reduce taxes
at once without further reminder
from the country.
The delay. however, has not been fatal.
The warning from the country has come
opportunely. Congress is bestirring itself.
Just as soon as the tariff bill is voted on
by the House. the ways and means COM
mittee Of the House will get at the tax
question. Meanwhile. the Senate will de-
bate on the tariff. President Harding
hopes that the discussing Of the tax bill
in both the Senate and the House will
not require much time. He figures that
q tax bill can be gotten through both
houses Of Congress much more rapidly
than a tariff measure.
In the first place, there are not SO
many changes to be made in the revenue
law, and, In the second place, the chances
are that this time the revenue measure
agreed upon by House leaders in confer
ence with the Treasury Department and
the White House will not have to be re-
written in the Senate. Thus a good deal
Of time may be saved which. under other
circumstances, would be lost in the SEN
ate. The President hopes that the party
will caucus ind get the tax bill ready
by autumn, at the latest.