The Washington times., 1923-12-01

business comes up the fnsurgent
| Progressives will open their battle
| for reform in the House rules and
changes In Republican party
methods Of making committee aS.
signments.
They demand that the conferences
shall pledge the appointment of a
special committee on rules revision
to so change the rules that there
can be displacement Of an ir1conl.
petent or neglectfuI chairman: call.
ing from committees OF unreported
bills for q vote In the House; per.
mittinE presentation OF amendments
from the floor Of the House to all
/ LEGISLATION while under considera.
ton; giving individual members OF
the Rules Committee authority after
fifteen days to report q measure
from that committee upon which
action has been taken by the com.
mittee; requiring the Speaker to
give q weeks notice OF House bust
ness; a roll-call on amendments at
the demand OF One-fifth OF the
members; five minutes time to ex.
plain an amendment, and five min.
utes to oppose it: making It possible
for a member to get information
from any department Of the. gov
ernment after a committee has
failed to act on his resolution re-
curing information.
Vital to Business.
It was the opinion Of Republican
leaders that the conference would
be of short duration, and that there
would not be q lengthy discussion
of the rules reforms demanded by
the Progressives. 1t Is not impos.
sible that consent of the conference
could be had for the appointment
or q special committee on rules re-
vision, but pledges to adopt the
specific changes suggested will not
be given. They go to the vitals
OF dispatch Of business by the
House.
There was division of opinion
among Republican leaders today
whether there should be negotia-
tions with the insurEent Pro-
gressives looking to compromise
and conciliation. Some of the lead
ers were urging fight to q finish
before yielding to the demands even
in part and submitting 20 the
country the question Of party 10y.
atty, while other leaders began
semi-official negotiations for conces.
sions and peace.
The Progressives presented but
did not press their legislative pro.
gram. There 10 no such conflict
over II as over the proposed change
In rules. The regular Republicans
are in harmony with some OF the
suggested legislation proposed, but
disagree with q major portion OF 1t.
For Soldier Bonus.
The program provides for q
soldier bonus to be paid from taxes
on large incomes, excess profits
and in increased inheritance tax:
farm relief measures including
elimination Of gamblers and special
interest legislation and adoption of
scientific methods Of marketing and
distribution; an anti-child labor
amendment to the Constitution.
Changes In the Cummins-E Esch
railroad law Of 1920 to secure lower
| freight rates and to eliminate
guaranteed dividends to favored
classes. Government control to
prevent profiteering in coal, oil,
sugar and other necessities. Legis.
lation to prevent judicial autocratic
usurpation Of power in injunctions,
contempt, and attempted legislative
functions.
Uniform presidential primaries.
Abolition Of tax-exempt securities
Elimination Of all profits from
private manufacture Of raw
materials. Conscrfption Of capital,
industry and man power in war.
Prevention Of arbitrary contraction
Of credits by the Federal Reserve
system, and elimination Of existing
discrimination between banks.
Freedom for the Philippines. Pre-.
vention Of exploitation Of the terri.
tories and preservation Of natural
resources.
The tax program endorsed pro.
vtdes a reduction of % per cent
In tax on earned incomes; reduc.
ton OF normal taxes OF 4 and 8 per
cent TO 2 and 4 per cent respectively;
maximum surtax OF so per cent as at
present; maximum inheritance tax of
20 per cent; maximum gift tax Of rs
per cent; moderate tax on undistrib.
uted profits; excess profits tax; aboli.
tion OF the amusement and nuisance