The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-08-04


Especial Despatch to The Reformerl
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 4-For the
first time since inauguration, President
Harding is away from the White House
on a long trip and Washington is ex-
periencing today the full effects OF the
absence of the executive. The machln-
cry of government is not slower. there
is no apparent diminutlon OF energy nut
it is fact that many things are accuma--
lating for the President TO declde on
his return. -.
Congress is in no happy mood over its
enforced presence in the national capt.
tai during the so-called dog days and
to add to its normal discomfort there, is
not only tariff bill to deal with but
an even more complex piece OF leglsid-
tion--a revenue bill
Broadly speaking. the differences OF
opinion that are creeping up over the
tax program will continue and already
the sharp criticism directed by Repubil-
can members of congress at Secretary
Melons tax proposals are making lines
of cleavage In the end MIR. Harding
will have to step in and force through an
adminiStratio program or there VIII be
no tax bill at all. The theory that tax
measure could be passed more rapidly
than the tariff is being disproved, More
individuals are dnLeCIeu uA tHt tdA nv
poSals than by the tariff duties. Fur
thermore the tariff is not as readily
grasped by the layman as is tax pro-
gram. The mention of SO per year as
a tax on automobiles is quickly under
stood whereas a fourth of one per cent
duty ON some kind of mineral doesn't
excite much interest.
Tax Protests Pour In. -.
Already the protests over the tax pro-
l. l.. he al Inr rol
pouring in. This is not unexpected. No
body wants any increase of taxes on
anything and the whole country would
like to see all taxes removed If possible.
The plan to open up new sources OF tax
alton meets inevitable opposition from
those who were not previously affected
Congress with its varied representation
and sectional interests Immediately
hears from the country and the voices
of approval are never so loud as those
of diSapprOval es
Ultimately the executive has to in
tervene. President Harding is FORUM
ately away from the first tempest 1t
would be to his advantage to stay away
until congress threshed the whole thing
out and either reached an agreement or
became entangled in it 50 as to require
his aid. ...
Holds Up Other Legislation.
Meanwhile other legislative proposals
are held in allowance. Congress moves
slowly in summer time anyway. but the
clouds that come with tariff and tax dis
cusSion hover menacingly over the heads
of the members of both the senate and
the house. The chief desire of most of
the members is to be reelected and the
political dangers of both tariff and tax
revision are only now beginning to be
understood as the wall of complaint
rises up from the country over high
taxes and poor business conditions. The
Republican party has a big majority
but nearly every Republican leader will
admit that he expects losses next time
which will cut down that majority con-
siderably. Mr.. Harding, however. needs
a big majority in congress to overcome
the various groups and factions. The
success of his administration will de
pend largely on what can be accom-
pliShed in the last two years and there
fore the executive is as much concerned
that congress does the right thing as are
the members themselves. -
Show Little Petulance.
There isn't much petulance manifest
over The absence of the President at a
time when he himself opposed a recess
Mr. Harding doesn't want to keep CON
gress here continuously. He has said
again and again that as soon as the tar
if bill is passed by the house and a tax
Dill formed IN the lower mouse, recess
would be desirable. But as congressman
jim Mann of Illinois. veteran Republi-
can leader, said the other day, 1.-The soon
er the house passes a tariff bill the
worse it will be-" Mr.. Mann believes
that hastily passed legislation is bad leg
iSlation and seems to think members of
both houses would do better if they
went home for a two or three weeks va
cation and came back to business re-
'freshed and ready for the long siege
ahead. The late speaker, Champ Clark,
once remarked that he believed here
after congress would stay in almost con
tinuous session throughout the year. and
members of congress like other folks
want a chance to rest from their labors.
\ recess of congress is likely to be
agreed upon within another fortnight
probably after the President gets back
to Washington. The departure of the
executive on a 10-days' vacation has set
a precedent which many members of
congress feel might be applied to them