Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-03-15
TAX REVISION HAS
RIGHT Of WAY ON
CONGRESS PROGRAM

WASHINGTON, March 13.--After
a conference with President Harding,
Representative Mondell, Republican
leader of the house, in outlining to-
day the probable program and policy
of the new congress, declared
revenue revision legislation should
be considered ahead of any temper
airy, or stop-gap tariff.
Mr. Mondell held that enactment
of a temporary tariff law. along the
lines of the Payne-Aldrich measure,
would require as much time as
would be necessary to pass a per-
manent tariff.
If the country demands relief and
an emergency law. the Republican
leader suggested that this be con-
fined to a simple anti-dumping pro-
vision and possibly an amendment to
the present law basing rates upon
American rather than foreign values
In this way, he commended, such
measure might save the situation
during the long congressional consid-
Grafton of a permanent law.
How to tackle the allied cues
tons of tariff and revenue is the i'm
portant thing" Mr.. Mondell said.
1T has been suggested in certain
quarters that it would be wise to
take up some measure. for instance
the Payne-Aldrich bill. modify
few of its provisions such as Seized
ule K, but continuing it as it was,
and pass it as purely temporary
and emergency Stop-gap tariff meas
ure. The suggested program would
be to follow that with revenue legis-
iatlon and then a permanent tariff
bill, which might not become a law
until the regular session
personally I am somewhat doubt
tul of the wisdom of that policy If
It were possible to take the Payne
Aldrich bill, and with a few changes
pass it speedily so that it would be
on the statute books in six weeks
or two months 1 think it might per
haps be wise to do it.
But l have grave doubts as to
whether this can be done. I am not
at all certain that such a bill thus
introduced would not, when it reach
ed the senate, be opened up for
great variety of amendments, be de-
layed for considerable time in it's
passage so that instead of securing
what is ggested-prompt action on
q temporary bill-we might instead
find the congress considering for
months measure which, starting as
a temporary measure might finally
come to be considered as a perma-
inent measure rather than as a tenn
porary one.
Il realize the Importance of get
ting a tariff bill on the statute books
at the very earliest moment and if I
felt that we could introduce, pass
and have signed very promptly a
temporary measure, I would be glad
to favor it even though it were not
an ideal tariff bill. But having Sc
rious doubts that this could be ac-
complished I am inclined to the opin-
ion that the ways and means com
mIttee should get to work at once
on a permanent tariff measure
I'm the meantime they should sub
nit, and we should pass through the
house such revision of the revenue
laws as seems wise. The senate would
the revenue bill while the house COM
mlttee was concluding the prepata-
ton of permanent tariff bill.
IF we pursue this course we
should be able to put through a re-
vision of the revenue laws and a.
fore we adjourn the special session,
say about August 1.
If any emergency measure is pos
S1ble In advance of the permanent
tariff, 1t must, it semes to me, be
confined to a simple anti-dumping
provision and possibly an amend
ment to the present tariff basing
rates on American rather than for
elgn values. Such a measure would
be of value in saving the situation
during the period of Consideration of
a permanent mea sure
While the passage of a tariff bill
is highly important and should be
accomplished at the earliest possible
date, it is equally important to let
the people know as soon as possible
the extent to which they are to be
relieved for the calendar year of the
burdens of federal taxa1ion >,