Evening journal., 1919-08-12
THE ZIP OF THE WHIP
Should Congress Have Jumped Crack of the White
House Lash?

Following pretty closely upon his
return from two trips to Europe, re
quiring an absence OF many weeks
from his post OF duty at Washington,
to the neglect OF important domestic
problems; close upon his neglect and
refusal TO summon Congress in session
at the earliest possible moment after
the adjournment OF the old Congress,
and close, too, upon the announcement
Of a purpose on his own part 10 leave
Washington and go gallivantlng about
the country haranguing the people
about the sacred and unamendable
covenant OF the League Of Nations,
President Wilson has adressed a letter
to Speaker Gillett and Representative
MOndell asking that a decision by the
House to take an adjournment for q
month, be rescinded. His request has
been granted.
President Wilson offers two reasons
for continuing the House in session
during q period through which, 10 is
well known, the wheels Of domestic
legislation will be blocked by the ne
cessary debate in the Senate on the
peace treaty brought to this country
after so many months Of unnecessary
and harmful delay One OF these is
the necessity OF solving the high cost
OF living. This seems TO be a rather
belated attempt 30 carry out the chief
pledge OF the platform upon which Mr..
Wilson was elected president In 1912.
Mr.. Wilson and his party were IN
complete control Of both the legislative
and administrative branches OF the
government for six years. II IL be
possible through congressional legis-
lation 10 stop profiteering and solve
the problem Of the high cost OF living,
IL does seem rather remarkable that
the party leadership 80 long pledged
10 do this thing, comes forward after
all this time with the claim that this
work still remains to be done. II Is,
OF course, notorious that the chief
CAUSE OF the proflteeripg OF Dig busl-
ness Is due to the neglect and failure
OF President Wilson, through his De
partment Of Justice, 10 enforce the :
laws now existing for the dissolution |
and punishment OF combinations IN re-
straint OF trade. Everybody knows |
that these means Of relieving the sit |
nation are in the hands Of the admin |
istrat.on. and that II VIII not use
them. Instead, President Wilson en-
deayors 10 pass the buck" by trying |
TO make the people believe that u Is
I'M Al Congress 70 solve this problem |
President Wilson also calls attention /
TO the alleged need OF congresslonsI
legislation permitting the Interstate /
Commerce Commission TO raise railway
rates so that the Railway Admlnietrs-
ton again may increase the wages OF
railway employees. He knows that the
Railway Administration has hoisted
rates and readiusted wages before
without congressional assistance, and
he knows IL can be done again. But
with usual campaign cunning ne az
tempts in this case, also, to pass Nie
huck +" and lay upon Congress the re
snonsibilFtv for providing ways ana
means of boosting passenger fares ana
freight rates 10 meet the high cost OF
incapaclty. Speaker Gill
lett IN his letter OF reply to President
Wilson calls his attention TO the fact
that this situation Is in the PRESIDENTS
hands until the time set for the return |
Of the RAILWAYS TO their owners, ana /
that meanwhile the appropriate conr
mittees OF Congress are giving consiu-
eration 10 legislation for the regulation
of the railroads after that time.
The press agents OF President WI.
sons third term candidacy insist tnat
In This maneuver he has played
"smart trick" II only makes 10 appar-
ent that. as a party leader. he is much
more concerned about ~getting the Re-
publicans\in hole" than he is in get
ling the Country out Of the hole into |
which national maladmlnistration mas
thrust it. The biggest single factor IN
high living costs today is the purchas-
ing methods OF the government under
This administration the accumulation /
and retention Of vast supplies Of food
stuffs. clothing and other necessaries
OF life, bought at prices that nave
forced 10 higher and higher levels the 1
cost OF living. Other factors are the
continued provisioning OF Europe at
the expense OF the American people,