American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-04-04

laLlOD can. ne put nFOuRU without de-
lay in event the majority wishes it.
The craftsmanship and prejudice of
Mr.. Wilson may be seen at once in
his eagerness to accuse "a group of
men in the Senate" Of having baked
legislation because they did not,
within thirty-six hours, do that which
a Democratic House required two
months and a half to do, while at the
same time he made no mention of the
dilatory tactics Of the Democratic
House.
Other appropriation bills which fail
ed Of passage we're: the $3.50, 900, 900
Army appropriation bill, carrying
with II legislation for revision of the
Articles of War and affecting the fu-
ture military policy Of the United
States, the $750,000 900 Navy apDro-
priation bill, carrying with It legisla-
ton affecting the future naval policy
of the United States; the sundry civil
bill carrying appropriations Of $780,
COO, 600, and with it legislation affect
ing the merchant marine Of the Unit
ed States; the Agricultural appropri-
alton bill, calling for $50, 000, 900.
II would be interesting TO note the
time spent upon these bills by the
democratic House and the time which
the Senate had for their consideration
The Democratic majority in the House
had the Army appropriation bill near
ly three months before they sent IT. to
the Senate. The records shows that
It was not passed by the House until
February %, only seven days prior to
the legal expiration of the Congress.
II then had to be considered in Senate
committee before being reported to
the Senate for action. According to
n statement made in the Senate by
Senator New of the Senate Committee
on Military Acairs, that committee
worked "every minute day and night"
IN an effort to get it in shape to report
to the Senate for final action. The
$3.50, 900 900 Naval appropriation bill
was in the House for over two months
before 1t was sent to the Senate. There
it was referred to the Senate commit
tee, the majority of whom were Dem
ocrats. The Democratic majority Of
this committee, however, could not
agree upon the bill as reported from
the House and II was not until Febru-
AIRY Goth that an agreement could be
reached and the bill reported TO the
Senate.
Biii Also carried Vita! Legislation.
Both the Army and Navy appropri-
alton bills carried with them, in viola
ton of legislative procedure, new leg
i~slation. They not only authorized
the expenditure of so, 900. 900, 900 in
the aggregate, but they committed the
nation to n military and naval policy
affecting the future generations very
vitality. The Naval bill vested in the
President of the United States auto.
cratic powers that were not vested ii
him even in times of war, in that i
took from congress the authority o.
specifying the size of our navy AM
left II wholly to the discretion of thu
President to increase or decrease oul
navy-an %autocratic power the like o
which was possessed only by the Kai
ser or the Car prior to their downfall
The Agricultural appropriation bill
calling for $30.000 600 was not report
ed to the Senate for action until lat,
on the day of February Goth.
The Sundry Civil bill. carving M
propriations of $3.50. 0O0, 900. which in
cluded $3.50. 900. 900 for use OF the Mer
chant Marine. was never reported t
the Senate due to the fact that tn
Democratic House could not. in tire
months time, get II in shape for tn
ScnatC's action.
Democratic Majority Fails to FunctiO
other bills failed OF passage for tn
same reason. A typical illustration {
this delay upon the part of the Demo
cratic majority in the House or Senat
Is accorded bvs the history of the hi
prohibiting the exhibition of red fla
or ~anarchistic emblems. This hi
was first introduced by Senator Ne
on December 18th, at the same time
similar bill was introduced in II
House by Representative Osborne
California. The bill was very plat
short and to the point, consisting
only 20 lines of type. but not unit
February cath did the Senate commi
tee act upon Senator News bill, 7
this time the congestion Of ~legislatiC
had become so great that It was in
possible to obtain a place on the ca
endar for the bill
The oil. coal and mineral land lea
ing bill, which failed of passage. h;
been before the Democratic congre
for six years, and Il was not passe
leargely because of n quarrel amor
the Democratic cabinet members w
could not agree upon certain phas
OF the bill. =
A bill to repeal n ten per cent Il
on semi-luxuries. which include pra
tically all forms of standard mercha
disc, failed to pass the Senate becau
/ OF delay In the House due in turn
l the stubborn, ignorant and sectlol
attitude of Representative Kitch
Democratic Chairman of the Ways a
Means Committee.
i Legislation Waits While Democra
\ Leaders Quarrel.
In this connection. IL is INTEREST,"
to recall hat the revenue bill, {
greatest taxing bill eve passed by
Legislative body in the world was hi
up for weeks in the House Ways a
Means Committee. because of a qui
rel between Representative Kitch
chairman of that committee. and De
ocratic fioor leader, and Secretary \
Adoo. The Democratic Ways a
Means Committee lahored for mont
n upon this bill and yet when il "
finally presented for passage. IL "
agreed, even by Democrats, to be
worst framed and most unjust taxi
bill that has ever been presented