Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-12-05

means every cOnsumer) is concerned in the
need of budget system for Federal finances
in the need of simplifying the excess profits
and income tax plan; and in the need OF
foresight and of regard for the comm on
rather than special interests in tariff read
iustments to meet war-changed conditions
Certainly. too, the whole country is concern
ed in the question Of due recognition and
relief for our soldiers lately returned from
the environments and from overseas; in eff
fective treatment for anarchists, whether
alien native born, who are seeking to de-
strOy American institutions; and in Govern
mental aid in bringing down the burdensome
cost of living. On all these and other issues
of immediate and intensely practical interest
the President asks for virtually the
same action which he urged long months ago
but which Congress, preOccupied as it was
with pygmy politics, failed to take.
These matters, we have said. are in no
wise partisan A budget system for Federal
appropriations was recompended years ago
by President Taft and was Endorsed by the
last Republican National Convention. AIDE
uuate laws for depOrting alien Reds and for
bringing other criminal agltatOrs to justice
should have as hearty support from one side
of the House and Senate as from the other.
The consumer who votes the Republican tick
ct feels the pinch of present Iving-costs as
painfully as his Democratic neighbor and is
as much entitled to consideration. Yet a
RepubIican-ruled Congress has been so alb
paign and in tactics to embarrass the Presl-
dent that these questions Of simple business
and simple duty have gone neglected. MOI
ONLY did the Senate fail during all the months
of the extra session to ratify the peace treaty,
it also failed to meet even one Of the urgent
legislative needs of the time Not only did
the House fail to provide for the future of the
railroads, it also failed to relieve even those
situations concerning which patriotic opinion
was a unit
If were useless. however. to repine at this
discreditable record while the need for action
is still so imperative. In repeating his pre-
vious recommendations, the President has
written the only sort OF message Wnlcn III The
circumstances he could write. 1t is the duty
of Congress to see that these appeals IN behal1
the national welfare no longer go unheeded
The mast cannot be changed, but it can be re-
deemed And redeemed it must be II grave
future ills are to be averted. through most
Of the wear 1919--this year OF which hopes sc
splendid were entertained-We nave peeh I'M
potently drifting in so far as leglSlatlNe uu-
tiee are concerned The Executive has done
his mart: he has submitted definite programs
of action, has warned OF dangers lurking
ahead and pointed out means OF pfotecton
But the Congress, particularly the SENATE, Has
done nothing. Indeed it has done worse IMAM
nothing. for with no constructive measures or
plans Of its own, it has DroughI THOSE VI 'H0
Executive to said confusion.
To saw that this frutlesS and obstructive
p0licy must be supplanted by StateSllanIy
methods if the nation is to be spared nlICel
nnnsnomnnces is simply to speak what is in
eynrv thoughtful mind today. There is as
much patriotism in Congress as there is out
Of Congress, but unless that patriotism asserts
itself above the partisanship and blind preJu-
dice which have prevailed in the senate anu
IN a lesser extent in the House during the
It civ months it might as well be non-eX-
istent as far as practical purposes go. me
president has asked for nothing which tne
country does not need. and need Imperative
" It is incumbent upon Congress TO prouuce
the requisite legislation Fal1ns III Ills, -
.n1 cnnfpss that its part in the Government
has utterly broken down.