Evening star., 1921-10-23
What Congress Is Doing
The Senate.
By G. GOULD LINCOLN.


Prospects for the final DISPOSE
tion at an early date of the tax
revision bill, now the unfinished
business of the Senate. improved
considerably with the taking of
vote on the income surtax pro-
visions of the bill late yesterday.
The compromise plan, forced upon
the republican leaders by the
members of the agricultural bloc.
under which the highest bracket
of the surtaxes was increased
from 80 per cent, as in the bill
originally. to so per cent, was
adopted by an overwhelming vote.
only thirteen senators voting
against it-those from the east
and north.
From present appearances the
compromise plan. as it has come
to be known in connection with the
tax bill. will be adopted practical
ly as agreed upon. There still re-
main, however, struggles over the
excess profits taxes, income taxes
on lower incomes, the Smoot man.
ufacturers.. sales tax plan and the
inheritance taxes. When the bill
goes to conference the House may
force compromise on the sur
tax rates. however, which, in the
end, will reduce the highest brack-
ct to 35 or 40 per cent. 1t is very
doubtful now that it will be pos
sible to send the bill to the Presi-
dent before the close of the first
week of. or even the middle of,
November. In an effort to expe-
dite the passage of the bill, the
Senate will meet tomorrow at IL
o'clock, and thereafter at 10 am.
with night sessions. If necessary.
to hurry along the tax bill.
The Harding peace treaties with
Germany. Austria and Hungary
were finally ratified by the Senate
last week. The proclamation of
the exchange of ratif1cations by
the President will finally bring to
an end the technical state of war
which has existed for almost three
years.
The subcommittee on schools
of the Senate and House District
committees formally organized as
Il joint committee to carry on q
comprehensive inquiry into the
needs of the public schools here.
for the purpose of developing a
broad program for their better
ment. Senator Capper of Kansas
was chosen chairman, and Repre-
sentative Walters. vice chairman.
The joint committee will have
officials of the District govern
ment before 1T tomorrow morning.
The nominations of the District
rent commission were confirmed
by the Senate late yesterday.
Their original commissions ex-
pired last night. Another District
consideration by the District COM
mittee this week, is that of Henry
Lincoln Johnson to be recorder of
deeds. Senator Jones of Wash
ington, chairman of the subcom-
mittee handling the Johnson nomi-
nation. is expected to return to
Washington tomorrow.
The District committee con-
cluded hearings last week on two
bills for the repression of vice in
probably will take no action on
these measures, however, until
after the opening of the regular
session in December.
The Senate adopted a resolution
offered by Senator Keyes of New
Hampshire calling upon the At
torney General to inform the Sem
ate what further steps were neces-
sary for the government to ac-
quire the rest of the land between
the Capitol and the. Union station
to complete the park proposed by
congressional legislation.
Hearings before the Senate in
terstate commerce committee will
be begun tomorrow on the Cap
per bill for the repeal of the guar
anty clause of the Esch-Cummins
railroad act.