The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1921-06-23
REDUCE TAXES
BY DISARMAMENT
REPUBLICAN SENATORS SAY
THIS is ONLY MEANS LEFT
President Requested to Call Confer
ence of Other Naval Powers to
Test Out Disarmament PIan-Sen-
atOr BOrah Says Appropriations
This Year Will Reach Enormous
Sum-0ther Matters Discussed.

!
Washington, June 22-Disarna-
ment as related to reducing taxation
has been the chief feature of the
discussion of the huge naval appro-
| priation bill in the senate, with en-
phasis on the recent report of the
secretary of the Treasury, Mr.. Mel
Ion, that a reduction in the appropri-
ations for war purposes is the only
means left Of reducing federal tax
alton by this congress.
Republican writers and speakers
have created widespread impress
sion that by disarmament is meant
the United States shall reduce its
ornaments without regard to a re-
duction BY other great navel powers.
No one, of course, is proposing any
such thing The proposals bef1re
! liz serate are the resolution of Sem
ator Borah, Republican, Idaho, re-
questing the president to call a con-
ference Of the leading naval powers
the United States, Great Britain and
Japan-and the amendment by SEN
ator Pomerene, Democrat, Ohio, MAX
ing it discretionary with the presi-
dent whether he shall suspend naval
building operations for six months
to find out whether or not we can
bring about some agreement for dis
armament.
The sudden willingness Of Republi-
cans in charge of the bill to cease
opposition to the Borah resolution
is not regarded here as a change Of
view on their part, but as a parlia-
mentarv move to hasten the passage
of the bill They show no willingness,
however, at this writing, to accept
the Pomerene amendment, which, it
is pointed out, would put response
bility in the hands of the president
and compel him either to make good
the party's election promises to re-
duce federal taxation or to repudi-
ate them
Senator Borah asserted that "this
Republican congress, pledged to
economy, will enerease the expendi-
lures of 1920" and cited figures
presented by a member of the fl
nance committee to show that the
appropriations this year would be
S4,500,000,000, with deficit at the
end of the year of $1,500,000,0OO or
$4,000 100000. He also asserted
that SO per cent of all the money
expended by the government in 1920
under a Republican congress was on
account of wars past end, FIXTURE and
only 7 per cent. for all other opera
tions Of the government.
Senator Pomerene, saying that the
big naval programme now sought to
be adopted was made in 1916, when
we were facing war, declared that
business was staggering under the
load, and called attention to the de-
plorable conditions among farmers,
manufacturers and laboring men.
"You can not have great appropri-
alton bills without adding to the
taxes which burden u.s." he said,
"and you can not add to the taxes
without adding to the cost of living.
The time to save money is before it
is expended and not afterwards"
A prophetic warning was given by
Senator Lenroot, Republican, Wiscon-
sin, against Republican extravaganza
in appropriations, who said: Gun
less we make reductions in the APP
preparations for the army and navy,
considering the fixed charges with
reference to interest upon or loans,
with reference to the care of our
soldiers, so that we may be able to
reduce taxation in the next four
years, Republican as / am, want to
say that four years from now, when
the votes are counted, members of
some other party will do the cheer
ing and not members of the Repub-
lican party"
Senator King (Dem., Utah) made
many points against what he call
ed an Anticipated naval plan," show
ing the probability of the vessels
being out Of date by the time they
are completed.
Declaring that this nation leads
the world, that its example will be
followed and that other nations de-
sire to march with this republic, he
asked:
"How shall we respond? The
proposition is to build the biggest
navy in the world, to tax the Ameri-
can people more than a billion dol
lars annually for our army and
navy"
Previously he said: eve did not
fight Germany in order to transfer
from the Kaiser to the President the
crown of military supremacy"
Although Senator Newberry is
back in his seat in the Senate, the
New York World points out that the
merits of his case are yet to be de-
cided. The decision of the Supreme
Court did not deal with the truth or
falsity of the charges against him,
but only with the unconstitutionality
of the law under which he was tried.
The Senate, as the World states, is
still the sole judge Of its own mem
bership, and effort is being made
to revive Senatorial inquiry in Sena-
tor Newberry's election.
In the course of the debate upon
the resolution by Senator Pat Har-
rison to abolish secret executive SEES
sions of the Senate, the following
tribute was paid Senator Harrison
who is displaying great activity
and ability as an orator and debater,
by his colleague, Senator John Sharp