The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-05
Democrats And Progressiyes
Will Join Forces In Congress
In Fight To Lower Rates Set
BY Stand-Patters
OLD GUARD PLANNING TO
RESIST LEADERS, DEMAND
Presidents Refusal To Drop
High Duty Upon Sugar Taken
To Indicate Stand Of Admin
istration Upon Question
WASHINGTON BUREAU |
THE AtjE-liEKALD )

!
surrounded by local newspaper
correspondents and shaken by inter-
rogation bombs, the White House
declares that it will not exercise its
power to reduce the tariff rate on
sugar
The White House declares that in
it's opinion such reduction would not
check the present steal, but would
he tantamount to hurting a monkey
wrench into business machinery,
which is now alleged to be operating
smoothly.
The White House announcement
means, it appears to Washington OBJ
servers, that fight in the next ses-
sion of Congress between democrats
and progressives, on one hand, and
"standpat" republicans, on the other,
will be unavoidable.
ProEressives Strong.
The fight will have for it's object
reduction in transportation, taxation
and tariff rates. The democrats and
progressives. If their column re-
mains stanch will have sufficient
strength to enact legislation but not
to make 1t atand despite the veto
of the President.
Politicians agree, as a result that
the issue. which in effect, will be
the high cost of living, VIII newt
ably go into the campaign to be
waged by the President, IS republi-
can senators and the entire repub-
lican House membership, for re-
1t is, already made apparent by
White House intimations that re-
garding taxation. there will be con-
siderable jockeying on the part of
the White House. Sometime ago
Congress further to reduce the tax
burden Of big business. Simultane-
ously, though in tone less stentorian,
the President expressed hope that it
would be found possible also to re-
duce the taxation now borne by the
poor
1t is anticipated that the Presi-
dent. in his first message, will ask
that Investigations be undertaken
for the purpose of ascertaining
whether or not taxation might be
reduced. and transportation rates re-
vised downward without materially
injuring business.
Leading progressives now in
Washington, however, openly scott
at the idea that the President or
the administration following in
Congress will fight for these re
forms" If they come about. accord
ing to progressive contention, it will
be the result of victorious fight by
democrats and progressives against
"reactionaries." headed by Senator's
Lodge, Mclean. Watson, Smoot and
Brandegee.
Demand Lower Tariff
Congress will demand in so far as
democrats and progressives can de-
mand that the tariff rates on the
necessities of life be redoced. The
administration and 'reactionaries"
in Congress. headed by that high
priest of protection, Senator Smoot,
angel of the beet sugar industry
will resist such demand.
The duty on sugar alone has added
$500. 900. 900 per annum to the cost of
living, according to computation by
experts in the service of the demo-
cratic national committee. The same
authorities contend that the Ford-
ney- McCumber bill, as whole, Is
costing the people $4,000,O00,0 900 per
year, in addition to the $2,0OO.Ooo.o o0
they pay as taxes on incomes ana
profits.
Gray Silver, Washington represen-
tative of the American Farm Bureau
federation, with little apparent re-
gard for the tender sensbilities OF
the agrarian bloc). declares that as
class, the farmers suffer more eX-
tensive1y from the operation OF the
tariff than any other. After making
all allowances for benefits" derived
by farmers from the tariff, Silver
mas tHey SuIleT All ii'b Ao'S
of $500, 100000 as result of the IN
crease in the cost of what they buy
in protected markets.
Farmers Back MomeSent.
The farmers will back the move
ment IN the next session for tariff
and taxation rate reduction. AS II
preparing for the struggle. the
democratic national committee de-
clares business cannot stand high
taxes plus high tariff. The boost
ing of prices made possible by the
profiteers' tariff" says the com
mittee. has practically halted build
ing operation, and the excessive en-
hancement of the cost of commodi-
ties to consumers. has put brake
on buying. Decrease in tariff and
tax rates is held necessary to per
manent revival in general business
conditions, in which the people, as
we'll as manufacturers, might share