Evening star., 1921-11-27
BY HENRY w. BUNN.
Copyright. 1921. by The. Wa shinston star.)
rT HE following Is brief summary Of
the most important news Of the world
for the seven days ended November
Ql. - -


for the seven days ended November
90: ~
United States of America-The special ses-
sion of Congress ended on Wednesday: At
che last moment Anal, favorable action was
Sad by the Senate the tax revision bill,
by the House on the maternity bill, and both
measures were signed by the President The
President signed the anti-beer bill The Con-
Eress failed to complete action on the follow
ing named Important measures: The perma-
nent tariff bill, the railroad relief BILL the
foreign debt-refundlns bill, and the Panama
canal tolls bill.
Such failure Ia to be especially regretted In
the case of the foreign debt-refunding bill,
passage of which would have had a reassur-
ing effect on conference delegates The most
striking feature of the tan revision bill 'arei
Repeal of the excess profits tax. to take ef-
feet January 1, 1929; lowering of the maximum
surtax on incomes of individuals from 60 to
so per cent; raising of the tax on corpora
tion Incomes from 10 to 12h per cent; increase
of Income tax exemptions for persons whose
incomes do net exceed t5,oo0:- repeal of the
nuisance taxes, and repeal Of the transpor-
tation taxes. to take effect January I. 1929. 1t
Is estimated that the total tax reductions will
am6unt to 10000. 900 for the present year. and
70 100000 for the year 1922.
No one apparently Is pleased with the new
act Senator Penrose says that 1t is 'only
transitional temporary and does not place
the tax system a stable or scientific basis
Senator Smoot. though he voted for the bill
as somewhat better than existing law, finds
it chargeable with unfair discrimination
most damning of faults He is for prompt re-
vision SO as to eliminate the discriminatory
rates and to effectively reduce the maximum
surtax on incomes. He has this to say or
the reduction from 6b to 80 per cent; Ihe
so per cent surtax will keep money out or.
business Investments and prevent circulation
of it for extending business just the same as
the 65 per cent has DONE.
Mr. Mondell. saying farewell. opined that
"this session, SO far at least as the House is
concerned. may be properly classed one OF
the most diligent and important sessions in
the history of the American Congress
Though this may not be to damn with fant
praise" it certainly falls sAort OF impassioned
eulogy AS for the Senate. apparently there
were none to praise. and very few to love-.
We must be allowed our little fun. The House
certainly was diligent, having passed an
average of two bills or resolutions per day.
y The Senate approved the conference report
on the anti-beer bill by a vote of 56 to 22
The size of this majority is disconcertng. 1t
will be remembered thai when first confront
ed with the bill the Senate unanimously s n2,,s.
rights guaranteed by the fourth amendment
the Constitution and prescribing penalties
went out of their way to raise constitutional
issue presented by the bill and to assert them
selves strict constitutionalists. And now by
a heavy majority the Senate accepts sub
stitute conference amendment. whicn rear
n5ms tbe sanctity ss Of the home The fourth amend
ment is not repudiated in part but the eHect
might wbS TO tSe Gs Senate eeeded with such
emphasis from its strict constitutionaHst
stand asserted with such emphasis The con-