The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-12-05
DEMOCRATS IN
FOG ON PLANS
FOR CONGRESS
Session Will Open Monday,
With Both Parties in
Doubt on Policies.
TARIFF IS MAIN RIDDLE
Many Would Evade Issue;
Prohibition to Be
Another Snag.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press staff Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Confu-
sion in almost record-breaking
measure marks the on-coming con-
gress.
It will meet Monday attended by
greater suspense than has existed
IN any congress since the war.
Democrats are uncertain what to
do with the new power they will
acquire in taking control of the
house. Though they have built their
party to a degree on their differ
ences with the Republicans on the
tarif issue, they are divided as to
whether to open this pandora s
box.
Theoretically, the Democrats are
for lower tariffs. Yet individual
members want protection for special
industries in their own states-some
Democrats, for instance, having
voted for the Republican Hawley-
Smoot bill for local reasons.
Would Evade Issue
ANY attempt to revise the tariff
would bring out these differences
at once, which causes some Demo-
Gratis to prefer to pass over the
issue. Others, such as Senator Har-
rison Dem, Miss, prefer to go
ahead now. ANY action must begin
In the house, and John N. Garner,
prospective Speaker, has not indi-
Gated what his decision will be.
There is equal uncertainty as to
taxes. Democrats are waiting to
see what the administration will
propose before deciding upon their
program. General sentiment fayors
increasing taxes on higher income
and inheritanceS.
But there is division over taxing
of luXuries and semi-luxuries
through a direct sales levy. There
also is division as to how much, if
any, Of the deficit should be met
by further borrowing.
Prohibition Another Snag
This situation is one of the most
serious Of all problems congress will
consider. It is all the more delicate
because of the SenSitiveness of bust
ness to tax legislation.
These two problems present the
greatest difficulties to both parties,
and the difficulties are aggravated
by the wide divergences or opinion
within each party as to what course
to pursue.
Prohibition also will come to a
vote, as leaders in both houses are
suggesting. No one expects a refer
endum or any other proposal IA
Vored by anti prohibition groups to
carry, but the result probably would
snow an increase in opposition to
the eighteenth amendment and the
VolStead act, and force many men,
berS to take a definite position for
the first time a matter that will
cause widespread anguish among
certain individuals who would pre-
Ter to face reelection campaigns
stradoling the question.
G. o. P. Leaders Clash
Confusion is accentuated by an
unusually large group of personal
conflicts. The fight among house
Republicans over their candidate
for Speaker has left more bitter
ness than has been seen in years.
Representative Bertrand Smell,
CIV York, the victor, and Repre-
sentative John Q. Tilson, majority
leader of the last congress, con-
tinued their contest after the show
down on the Speakership nomina-
ton and both are seeking the post
of party floor leader. though the
practice has been that the minor
ity partyS candidate for Speaker
was selected automatically as the
party floor leader after being de-
feated for the speakership.