Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-10
SETTLEMENT Of TAX
AND TARIFF QUESTION
IS UP To PRESIDENT
BY David LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Downright. 1921

(COpyGlSul, 10Sl'J
WASHINGTON. March 9.-Presi-
dent Harding has taken counsel with
leaders of the senate and the house
as to whether the tax bill or the
tariff shall precede in the legisla-
tive program of the special session
of congress to be convened next
month, but it will be Warren Hard
ing who will have to make the de-
cision.
Canvass today of some of the
senators and representatives who at
tended the White House dinner re-
veals a variety of opinions as to a
reconstruction policy. There are
those who believe nothing can be
done in the way of adjusting the
tariff schedule until it is definitely
known how much money will be
available through taxation, or, in
other words. until tax bill salts
factory to the various interests and
classes of people in America dis
closes how much money can be safe
ly counted upon for government rev.
enue. Then, it is contended, the
tariff bill can be framed and pro-
lection given irrespective of consid-
erat1ons of revenue. For obviously
there are concerns in the United
States who want tariff law writ
ten that will not necessarily give
the government revenue out of GER
tain schedules but which will give
American industry a chance to
compete with overseas goods.
Do Not Care to Raise Costs
The question of where the revenue
will be obtained on imports more
over is tied up with the greater con-
s1deration of levying taxes on prod
ucts that enter into the cost of liy-
ing. If, as it looks now, some of the
items that would have to be taxed in
a tariff bill would increase some
items in the householder's budget,
some members of congress prefer
that the money be derived through
other methods of taxation rather
than the tariff.
1t is much easier, for example,
from a political. point of view to
present a tax bill that differs but
little from the revenue measures of
the preceding administration than
to impose new tariffs on specific
items in the cost of living which
might enable political opponents to
make convincing arguments to the
masses on the relationship of the
tariff to the cost of living Members
of congress had a taste of this diff
Guilty in trying to enact the Fordney
tariff bill when, it was admitted, that
the measure might increase the cost
of sugar t. the consumer.
Eyes on Harding
President Harding had a good OPP
portunity to learn how intricate is
the whole problem and how hard it
is going to be to obtain agreement
even among the legislat tive leaders of
his own party Mr.. Harding, how
ever, has sought to bring out the va
riouS viewpoints and when he has
absorbed them all it will be the chief
rience Of every president in doing
business with congress is that
large committee such as attended
the White House dinner hardly will
agree and that the man in whom is
vested the final responsibility must
make the decision.
In many respects, Warren Harding
is encountering the same problems
as confronted President Taft in the
spring of 1899 just before the AL
tariff law was written.
Mr.. Taft consulted the senate and at
tempted to bring out a national ra-
Their than :, sectional result He
planned only to consult the senate
and drive through a program much
more in line with the national inter-
est but the senatorial minds domi-
mated and Mr.. Taft later confessed
that schedule K was "indefensible."
All Washington is watching to see
If President Harding in his consul
tations with the senate, will be in
huenced to become follower or a
leader. And the fact is. knowing the
interests inside congress,
everybody hopes Mr.. Harding will
at the very outset assert his leader
ship.