Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-31
Political Factions Seen as
Healthy Gauge for
Il Legislation
WAR WON'T HALT BILLS
Congressman j. Hampton Moore
Outlines Big Business Be-
I fore Legislators
speoial Correspondence Erenino Ledger
WASHINGTON, March 81

siye concern to many thoughtful observers.
The drift toward Government ownership
was unmistakable. Paternalistic legislation.
believed by some to be menace to the
business of a republic was being enacted.
MANY of our wise statesmen shook their
heads in contemplation of an ultimate state
of socialism in the United States. We were
beginning to talk of the methods of New
Zealand and Australia as superior to our
own.
But the talk of war has changed all this
for the time being, and from giving our
selves concern about the destruction of in
a divdual incentive and enterprise, Congress.
ih addition to making the largest appro-
rJations in history, is preparing for great
bond issues and business men, temporarily
prosperous. are giving but little heed to the
outcome.
BOND ISSUES AND BUSINESS
Congress already has authorized bond
issues to the extent of s474.oo00O0, with
4, another 500, 100000 in q fair way of ap-
proval when the next Congress meets, and
then more. These expenditures and bond
issues will put the Government in compet-
tlon with private business in vast number
of important enterprises.
Provision is already made for projects
ranging from the purchase of motorboats
for coast defense purposese to the manufac-
ture of clothing, and the construction in
Government yards of monster battleshps
heretofore awarded to private constructors.
From the distribution of seed to the farmers
for early spring planting to the construction
and operation of railroads, the Government
is now in the saddle competing with the in
dividual. None know this tendency better
than the railroad magnates of this country,
who though temporarily pressed to the
limit of their great service, fully understand
that the question of Government ownership
of railroads generally will sooner or later
become an issue which must be seriously
dealt with
The express companies have seen much
OF their business go over to the parcel post,
and the telegraph and telephone companies
are entirely aware of the movement to take
over as Government appendages these i'm
portant factors in the transmission OF in
formation.
Railroads and other public utilities and
private manufacturers, being extremely
busy for the time, will have to face these
problems in one form or another before
or after the close of the war in Europe.
Meanwhile the Government payroll is
steadily increasing in every direction. with
war pensions only slightly reduced. as COM
pensation laws of one kind or another swell
the aggregate of our taxation burdens
VALUE OF POLITICAL PARTIES
These considerations are timely since the
suggestion has been thrown out in Washing
ton that a bipartisan organization OF the
House of Represer tatives might be desir-
able as evincing unity of political purpose
in the impending war crisis.
1t is only fair to say that this bipartisan
suggestions, which came from Minority
Leader Manu. has not been cordially
ceved by Democrats or Republicans. The
spirit of party is not ready to submerge
itself in the interest of any particular
President, although it may be expected to
do for the country's welfare.
stand by the President" In an interna-
tional crisis is not understood by Repubi-
can or Democratic leaders to mean that the
Democrats now in power intend to rein-
quish their hold on patronage, nor that the
Republicans will quit striving to obtain it.
The Presidents appointments to the var
fous commissions created during his term,
including his most recent creation. the
Tariff Commission are not calculated to in
spire Republican confidence. Nor do the
Democrats. some of whom are dissatisfied
with the Presidents appointments, show
any disposition to abandon the President
because he so frequently neglects to consult
their particular political interests
A HEALTHY CHECK
The Bipartisan idea," so far as Congress
is concerned. may be dismissed with this
general thought, that this Government is
and has been government by parties, and
that up to date the value of a healthy
minority has been to keep the maiority
party upon its good behavior.
The Republicans. who have been in the
minority believe they have beer fairly USE
full in criticizing democratic extravagances
Notwithstanding most CT them expect to
stand by the President" in an international
crisis. They have differed with the Presi-
dent on many questions of policy and will
doubtless continue to do so. That they will
continue to differ upon such questions as
protection and free trade, and that they
Colt IL
board is self-evident. The Democrats them
selves are inclined to smile at the sugges-
tion that tariff board under a free trade
administration could be non-partisan Just
as they would bak at the suggestion that
a Republican Congress would bring in a
free-trade bill.
TARIFF DISCUSSION SOON
There are some leaders who think Con-
Eress will conclude it's labors with the war
business and the passage of necessary ap-
propriation bills, but there are others who.
believe that once Congress- begins work 1t
Will sit all summer. Those who have the
latter feeling are in the majority, al
though few besides the Washington hotel
Keepers are really anxious for a long ses-
sion. But when Congress opens and the
hood of, bills commences, there is no telling
when the national legislative mill will cease
to grind.
Much as war is now the uppermost topic,
the aftermath of war must be considered.
Both parties are alive to the tariff issue.
and Republicans are keenly sensitive to the
Democratic efforts to solve this problem
without Republican aid
The creation of a tariff commission
against which the Democratic party had
contended until 1914 was taken to mean
steadily contended until 1914 was taken to
mean that the dominant party had ceased
to stand by>free trade and that it was pre-
pared to consider concessions to the pro-
lection principle.
FOR PROTECTION
This motion made such headway In the
last Congress that the Republican men,
bers of the Ways and Means Committee.
though seriously handicapped would have
prepared tariff bill had not the Pres-
dents war messages eclipsed all other con-
sdes1tiQps; The first step toward protec-
tion was taken by the majority when it
r restored the sugar tariff. The exigencies
of the treasury suggested more liberal
tariff revision until the war issue relieved
the situation by the authorization of bonds.
But the tariff will continue to be an issue,
and at the first sign of cessation Of hos