South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-06-24
ASKS PASSAGE
OF TARIFF AND
TAX MEASURES
President Takes Hand in IF
fort to Speed Enactment
of Bills.
REVIVE OLD QUESTION
Watson Requests SubOrdina'
ton of Tariff Legislation
to Revenue Bill.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON. June 25.-PresCs
Harding took hand in the legisla-
tive program Thursday IN an effort
TO speed UP enactment OF tariff and
tax legislation by calling Chairman
Fordney Of the house ways and
means committee 10 the white house
to discuss the possibilities Of early
! passage Of such laws.
Meanwhile the suggestion was re-
newed in the senate by Sen Watson
( Of Indiana, a republican member OF
( the finance committee. that tax re-
vision be placed ahead OF tariff leg
/ islation. The question gave leaders
some trouble early in the extra ses-
sion and it's revival Thursday made
| It appear that another effort would
! be made to subordinate tariff TO tax
alton in the legislative program.
Draft Ready soon.
Mr.. Fordney informed the presi-
dent that the republican committee
/ draft of the permanent tariff bill
would be ready by Monday or Tues
day for consideration Of the fun
committee. He did not indicate how
much time would be required for
| consideration of the bill by the whole
committee, although he explained
that a caucus of house republicans
would be held before the bin is sub
mitted formally TO the house.
Sen. Watson's suggestion led 20
floor statements by half a dozen re-
publican and democratic senators
that they would support his p.o-
posal.
The country is i'm the midst OF ar
intense economic reaction from the
war" Sen. Watson said. This is
not the fault Of legislation-the
country can rest assured that both
the tariff and revenue bills viii pass.
but my own thought is that we can
not revive business until we first re-
peal the excess profits taxes and the
higher surtaxes upon income.
They are Oppressive influences
J on business. even though they are
not to be paid. because the business
| depression viii reduce their yield
20 the vanishing point the sit
uation condemns labor 10 idleness
and the strain of economic woes.
Urges Revenue First.
why look so fercely at us dem
ocrats2" Sen. Pomerene, democrat
of Ohio. inquired. "I was not look
ing fiercely. but rityingly" Sen
Watson retorted. "I ann not crid-
Ching or blaming anybody. We can
/ expect the general tariff bill 20 be
reported TO the house within 10 DAYS
and 10 be enacted within three weeks
after that Il viii take some time
for the tariff bin 10 get through the
senate finance committee. probably
four or FIVE weeks.
Within that period we may eX-
pect the house 10 pass the revenue
bill. and that bin 7 hope 10 see taken
UP and passed in the senate before
the tariff bill
1--WE can formulate tariff Dill
but with the present disturbance Of
international exchange and the de-
rangement OF economic life an over
the globe. conditions inevitably viii
make some details Of any bin we
bring out obsolete within six months.
On the other hand. IF we pass the
revenue law, business VIII have some
reinsurance; il viii know what ite
burdens are 10 be and the direct
burden it has 10 carry Then we
can take up the tariff and the other
j questions which perpiex us"