Legislation

Once organization is effected, Congressional affairs will take a slightly different line. The Democrats, while in general unwilling to take the responsibility of initiative in legislation, will be willing to do a little log rolling with any group of Republicans that " gets off the reservation." Some of the leading issues that will come up and probable alignments will be:

A Soldier Bonus. This will probably not be a party issue. Only a few Republicans and Democrats oppose it. The progressives and radicals are loudly for it. There may be enough anti-bonus votes in the Senate to prevent the repassage of the bill if the President vetoes it.

Tax Reduction. Secretary MelIon's proposal for tax reduction was received so warmly by the public that there will doubtless be some form of favorable action taken. All groups are for reductions in the lower brackets and for lower taxes on " salary " income than on " investment" income. The Democrats, progressives and insurgents oppose, some of them bitterly, reduction of the higher surtaxes. But some sort of tax reduction is almost inevitable.

Railways. The insurgents will fight for drastic revision or repeal of the Esch-Cummins Act. The regular Republicans, if they follow the leadership of Senator Cummins, will favor compulsory consolidation of the railways in a period of years.

Farm Problem. The insurgents will strongly advocate various forms of wheat-relief to be carried out more or less at Government expense. The regular Republicans believe little can be done except to let the situation right itself, but will probably have to make some gesture of helpfulness. The Democrats will advocate repeal of the Fordney-McCumber Tariff and entrance into the League of Nations, as relief measures--without expecting either to come about.

Foreign Policy. The insurgents and progressives will continue to damn the World Court and the League of Nations, the Democrats will advocate both, while the Administration forces will probably steer a middle course--mildly pro-Court but anti-League.