The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-10-25
OLD GUARD RIDING TOASPECTACULAR
 AND FULL DEFEAT
Opponents of Certain LegiSla- ton Determined to Ride Roughshod Over Forces
 of Administration
By HUGH ". ROBERTS Washington Bureau, The Age-Herald,
 BOO Davidson Ruilding

Washington, october 24.--(Specialo The. "Old Guard" is.riding to it's most spectacular and complete defeat. In the pending tax bill 1t surren- dered to coalition of progressive re- publicans and democrats. In the rail- road refunding bill and in the bill which would give Secretary Mellon complete authority in readjusting the debts of European nations to the United States, 1t is regarded as doubt full that the "Old Guard" even by q surrender. could save it's face, The determination Of opponents of the Legislation in question are ap- parently prepared to ride roughshod over the forces of the administration. The progressive republicans have de- manded a place on the finance com mittee and thus given indication of 1 their plan to have a word in the prep aration of fiscal legislation. And Sen ator Lodge, noting the handwriting on the wall, has issued a frantic ap- peal to all republican abenstees to l return to Washington posthastc. MeIIon's Tender Toes In respect 10 the readjustment of the debt of $11 100000, 0o0 which Eu ! ropean countries owe the United
  ury department has been revealed as an individual of exceedingly tender sensibilities.
 In the beginning, lie modestly asked for authority to handle this immense business. Senator Underwood, demo- cratic leader, declared on the floor of the Senate that no one man In the United states, in his opinion was | competent to assume and discharge such transcendent obligations. The President, no doubt agreeing with the viewpoint of the democratic leader agreed that instead of to Mellon l alone, the duty be given to com mission. headed by Mellon, assisted l by four other members of the cabi- net This action on the part of the President is said to have deeply hu initiated the Secretary of the Treas ury, and there was a renewal of the old story that he would resign. There | Is belief that he would have resigned had Goveror Sproul appointed him to 1 the Senate as successor of the late | Senator Knox.
 In the House, where the readJust- ment bill held sway last week. the | big fight ragged over suggested amendment by democrats that what ever action might be taken by Mellon l Dt oubJtCN LO lHc ItNitW VI SOiS SGos Republicans assailed this democratic suggestion on the plea that it's adop- | ton would be regarded by Mellon as 1 blow to the face.
 The Opposition Confident 1 The opposition to the bill In the Senate is most confident of victory. l There is no question but that the 1 toes of Mellon will be trod upon. For practically all democrats and all pro- 1 gressves feel with Senator Under
 wood that no man or commission should be given authority to do as he l pleases with a debt of $11, GOO, 000, 900. which will effect every individual | taxpayer in the United States. and which will effect the, fiscal condi- 1 tions of the United States for period of probably 50 years.
 In the House the republicans re- | fused to listen to any democrat sug-
 gesting the raising of safeguards. An
 effort was made to restrict, In the | bill the Secretary regarding interest
 rates Democrats thought that he 1 should not be permitted to decrease
 the rate less than per cent. Re-
 publicans thought that Melons feel ing would be hurt if any effort was made to bind his hands or limit the 1 flight of his imagination. And re- | publicans were in majority.
 After "OId Guard"
 But in the Senate the republicans 1 of the "Old Guard" school are not in a majority. The democrats and pro
 gressives knocked that school out of l the box in the matter of taxation. They forced that school into an ab- l ject surrender. 6 There Is no question but that the
 European debt controversy will pre- cipitate one of the merrlest" rows of this extraordinary session. and that 1t will not have been settled prior to 1 the sitting of the disarmament con 1 ference.
 And the railroad refunding bill will 1 certainly accentuate the administra- l tion's chagrin.