Evening star., 1923-12-08
TAX CUT BIC ISSUE
DEMANDING ACTION
Whatever Else Congress May
Avoid, Nation Seen Firm
for This Measure.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Organization" sounds undramatic
and perfunctory. but the week spent by
Congress in arranging the membership
of the various committees of the House
and Senate may have a far-reaching
effect on the nations legislative pro-
gram.
The growth of membership in the
national Legislature has placed upon
the committee the principal burden in
framing legislation. Until a commit
tee is ready to report a bill, 1t lies
dormant on the list of measures of
which thousands are proposed but
few are enacted There is always the
possibility that a deadlock in a COM
I mittee can be overcome by motion on
the part of the House or Senate. but for
the most part the power of a committee
is the power of life and death over
legislation.
Owing. to the reduced majority of
the republicans and the increase IN
the number of democrats the ratio
ON the House committees is twelve
republicans to nine democrats. ON
the ways and means committee e
which is all-powerful, there will be
fifteen republicans and eleven dem
y.
ing legislation by combination OF
insurgent republicans and a solid
vote of the democrats are even great
er in the committees than in the
House proper.
Session Indefinitc.
In view of the fact that the or
ganization process in both the SEN
ate and the House has been sub
jected to an unexpected delay, Con-
gress will not get started on a work
ing program as early as in other
sessions. There is. however, no such
pressure for haste this tir le, as the
present session does not expire on
March 4, but goes on beyond that
date indefinitely and may run, If the
members desire, into the following
session in December, 1924, without
interruption.
Most members, however, wish to
| take an active part in the primary
campaigns and the presidential con-
test, using the opportunity to
strengthen themselves with their con-
stituentS, whether they are candidates
this time or not, so the tendency OF
Congress will be to bring about an
adjournment not later than August
If possible.
In view of the fact that Congress
lock on Legislation is likely to be of
, such character as to force an ed
1ournment at an early date, though
all politicians are in agreement that
Congress will not dare adjourn with
out taking some action on tax revi-
) sion-which has become the para
mount issue.
Whatever doubts members of Con-
gress may have had about the impor-
tance with which the country views
the necessity Of tax reduction have
been swept aside by the letters and
| kilograms which keep pouring in
daily. Only such a torrent ever makes
| an impression, and the continued
| pressure of the country alone, will
change the course of Congress from
, one of hesitation to performance
| Between now and Christmas very
I little can be expected, as the com
mittees will be hard at work. There
, promises to be Z lively fight on the
! rules which forms the basis of the
! recent truce whereby the insurgent.
! agreed to the election of Speaker Gil.
! lette, but with the understanding thai
/ a revision Of the rules must be taker
up in thirty days.
As for the Senate, the consideration
OF treaties probably will become the
order of the day, while waiting OF
the House to take action on bills tha
must under the Constitution originate
| there, as for instance. appropriation.
and revenue raising legislation. Con.
| gress has finally gotten started, bu
nobody is any better able today thar
a week ago to forecast whether this
session will see a record of achieve.
ment or political avoidance.
..,. lCopyright. 1921 -. {,