Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-05-30

going regime should be baked and a
congress fresher f"on The people and
more in tou ii with the WISHES of the
Il; ton shod discuss ara crac;
II ensures To- he future.
Some of the republicans in the old
congress blocked the program Of
democrats, in order that upon ad-
iournmcnt il would be necessary to
have an early session, They were
willing to let the majority pass neg
lected but needed appropriations upon
condition that the president would at
once have the new congress meet.
The president resented the plan as
one 70 keep him away from Europe
lie also wished to avoid having a new
congress in session discussing what
was going on in Paris, before his pro-
gram could be definitely fixed TO suit
his own ideas. He had not consulted
his own party congressman and did
not propose 10 have suggestions from
the newer organization.
Some of the republicans in the old
congress gave notice that certain APP
preparation bills could not pass I'M
less promise for an extra session
were given, hut if given the appro-
priauons would pass. Otherwise. APP
preparations would require prompt
action ana would receive it on the
opening of the new session.
The departments thought they
could worry along until action on the
peace treaty would make ii necessary
for congress TO meet. SO away sailed
President Wilson and left everything
up in the air. He knew full well that
much legislation besides appropria-
ton bills, was needed. Some of this
he suggested by cable, after the pro-
gram of the congress now in session
had foretold the taking up of these
items
About two months after the presi-
dent should have started congress to
work, Secretary Glass made a dIscov-
cry that the treasury could not WORRY
along, as planned. He learned that
by no twist OF financial mgeIarv
could lie use Unauthorized funds to
pay >l3,Oto,000 10 700, 900 families the
soldiers allotments. due to them on
May /. There admittedly had been
Incompetence and the blunder was to
create storm of indignation. An ap-
preparation must at once be made for
use Of funds in hand before checks
could be sent out.
IN response TO hurry-up call from
Secretary Glass the president called
congress, as he could have done in
March or April. lie could have thus
avoided default in payments to needy
families of troops abroad. But the
call was not made in time, and II was
not until the third week in May that
congress was assembled. 1t was
ready, as it was March S, to immcdi-
atelE pass an appropriation bill to
congress would have provided the au-
lhori2atlon of appropriation without
objection by consent. Il the president
had consented to the meeting of the
new congress for unfinished and new
business
The democratic press is now at
n
default from the shoulders of the adj
mlnlstration to the few republican
members who Unanswered for the
extra session That they were iusti-
fable in demanding it is now clear
to the whole country. Had it NOT
been for the refusal of the president
to yield, which it appears would
after all. rot have required him to
stay at home, there would not have
been any default.
His refusal held back urgent nro-
sreSslVe measures, even those which
he faVors, for several months. But
Tor the treasury needs. about which
ms assistants made miscalculations
'here would even now be nothing do
ing in Washington, and perhaps not
Tor many months.
But for the delay in the meeting of
congress the country could have es-
capped the Inauguration of the annoy
ing and unnecessary tax system Nav
OF penny-pnching methods. The
republican congress was anxious to
save business and the public from this
piece Of folly. The president, even
now, desires TO have that feature of
revenue eliminated. but stood off
congress until it was too late to re-.
peal the condemned provision before
1t could 90 into effect.
bcer lovers need not worry if n