Arizona republican., 1921-03-15
REPUBLICAN LEADERS T0| CONFER WITH PRESIDENT |ON NEW TARIFF PROGRAM
TRepubIican A. p. Leased Wire]

WASHINGTON, March 14-Whether tariff or internal tax revision shall be accorded second place on the fiscal program was left for determination at a conference which Chairman Penrose of the senate committee and Chairman Fordney of the house committee plan to hold tomorrow with President Hard ing. The final program, Senator Pen rose said, probably will be announced after this conference.
 Most committee members at today's conference were said to favor giving right of way to tariff revision legisla- tion. Agreement, it was said, was unanimous against attempting to en- act any temporary stop gap tariff bill, the feeling being that the legislation should be permanent. The soldier bonus bill, is to be a part of the Re- publican fiscal program, Senator Pen rose and Representative Fordney an- nounced. Financial requirements of the government for adjustment of compensation to former service men, were included in estimates considered at the conference and after the meet ing Senator Penrose predicted that the bonus bill would be passed early.
 Prior to the conference, Senator Watson Of Indiana. a Republican mem bers of the finance committee, issued statement declaring internal tax leg islation should precede revision of the tariff. adding that the business world expects immediate relief from the burden of taxation"
 We should repeal excess profits tax es and the higher surtaxes and substi- ute a moderate sales tax and clarify nd simplify the administrative features of the law he said
 We should make definite arrange ments with our debtors to pay a fixed amount each year. so that we may have definite assurances as to just how much we may expect.
 Reduce Expense
 '.We should at once adopt a thor ough- going budget system so that we may cut the costs according to pattern, and then proceed to the reduction of governmental expenses
 Members of the committees in agree ing to give preference to an anti dump ing bill, also decided to attempt enact ment of legislation providing for Amer ican valuation of imports. This legis- lation would apply to the ad valorem duties collected under the Underwood law. Its result, Senator Penrose and Representative Fordney said would be to increase the internal revenues now calculated on foreign instead of Ameri- can values.
 The Republican leaders said they ex- pected to pass the anti dumping bill early. Representative Fordney esti- mated it would require only few days In the house and a similar estimate for action was given by Senator Pen- rose
 the question Of propriety would be laid before President Harding, said:
 'The final program will then be an nounced. The preponderance of opin- ion was toward taking up of tariff 1 legislation first, but with the sugges- tion that as nearly concurrently as possible there should be action on rev enue legislation so as to assure tht Taxpayers of relief
 l No Temporary Measure | Referring to the sentiment agains attempting a temporary or makeshif tariff bill, Senator Penrose said boti l committees are alive to the require ments of the agricultural situation"
 "The opinion seemed to be- h, added. that temporary tariff legisla ton would not be practicable; tha lsuch an attempt would be practical, defeated in the senate by efforts tt load it down with other schedules. Chairman Fordney said he believe, the house committee might have a tar if bill ready when the extra session convenes April II.
 Tt would be brought out right ava, quick" he said, and passed within ten days"
 Secretary Melons statement of tn ltreasury condition was said by Sena T tor Penrose to be much more favor able than expected.'' The treasury re
 quirements for the next fiscal yea
 were estimated by Representativ
 Fordney at about s5.000.000.000, bu treasury experts assisting Secretar Mellon said next years requirement would not reach that figure. and woI
 not be appreciably more than those fo
 the present year.