The New York herald., 1921-06-24
HARDING ASKS SPEED
ON TARIFF And TAX
President Summons Fordney
to the White House to Dis
cuss Fiscal Situation.
BILL READY NEXT WEEK
Republican Insurgents Keep
Up Fight on Lumber Sched-
ule and Dye Duties.
Special pespo.ca to THE NEW 4ork HERALD

Special Despatch to THE NEW YosK' HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C., June 23.
President Harding acted to-day to
speed up the passage OF tariff and
revenue legislation through Congress.
Representative Joseph w. Fordney
chairman of the House Ways and Means
Committee. was summoned to the
White House and the fiscal situation in
Congress was discussed
The President is said to have pointed
out that the main purpose tor which
he called the Extraordinary session OF
Congress was the enactment of tariff
and revenue legislation and to have ex-
pressed a desir- that obstacles now
confronting the measure be eliminated
as quickly as possible.
1.-The President asked me when the
tariff bill would be reported from the
Ways and Means Committee" said Mr..
Fordney. ''I told him it would be
ready the first part OF next week and
that work on the revenue law would
be started thereafter
Mr.. Fordney indicated that the Presi-
dent was not impatient at the situation
in Congress. but that he strongly de-
sired prompt action, so that both the
revenue and tariff bills could be cleared
from the calendars before the end OF
the special session.
Insurgents Keep Up Fight.
Meanwhile, Republican insurgents
against the duties now being inserted
in the permanent tariff bill by the
Ways and Means Committee continued
their fight with a speech on the floor
by Representative Young IN. d., who
pointed out how the proposed duty on
lumber would increase building costs
and by a resolution against the dye
schedules placed before the committee
by Representative Frear (Wis.).
In the Senate, Senator Watson (lnd.)
oritieising the delay the measure has
encountered, declared 1t should be shunted
aside and the tax laws revised promptly.
Mr.. Fordney also indicated that he
personally would not oppose the insur-
gent movement against lumber. His
friends to-day ernphatically denied
charges coming from insurgent ranks
that the duties on lumber were due to
his lumber interests 1t was said the
chairman has taken little part in the
consideration OF these schedules and is
willing to put lumber on the free list,
with the exception that reciprocal duties
shall apply to those countries that ini-
pose tariffs on this commodity. It is
probable that the lumber duties now in
the bill will be changed before the meas
ure is reported.
Tax Legislation Urged.
In his speech in the Senate. Senator
Watson said 1--WE need tax legislation
in the United States far more than we
need the tariff bill. The best tariff
bill will, in many instances. due to ex-
isting world conditions. be obsolete in
side OF six months. What I would like
to see is. after the tariff bill comes to
us and is under consideration in the
committee. that revenue legislation be
taken UP in the Senate before the tariff.
CAPITAL will not invest and restore
business conditions until the people know
what the tax burdens will be-"
Mr.. Young told the House that the
lumber schedules now in the tariff bill
would prevent any building boom or a
general reduction in rents. The duties
win increase the cost OF lumber in houses
of the average size from $500 to $500 In
various cities. he said.
Representative Frear presented a reso-
luton to the Ways and Means Commit
tee demanding that the dye duties be
eliminated from the bill and postponed
f)r later consideration, in a separate
bill.