The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1920-06-11
CONGRESS ADJOURNS
G. 0. P. FOUR-FLUSHER
Bonus, Meat Packers and Income
Tax Bills Were Thorns in Side.

Washington, June 6.-The action
of the House in passing the soldiers
bonus bill and then adopting an ad-
journment resolution before the
bonus was brought up in the Senate,
has brought out in bold relief the
hypocrisy behind the action of the
Republican leaders.
1t remains to be seen whether this
very transparent trick will fool the
soldiers who have been watching
the various maneuvers in Congress
connected with the soldier relief
legislation.
Three measures pending in the
Senate probably had more influence
than anything else in bringing
about adjournment. These were the
bonus bill, the bill for Government
regulation of the meat packing in
dustry and the resolution to make
public he income and excess profits
tax returns for the past three years
in an effort to disclose the big prof
iteers of the country.
There were other important meas
ures pending, but these three have
embarrassed the Republican leaders
more than any others. The soldiers
have been clamoring for the bonus,
many consumers organizations, as
well as the farmers have been urg-
ing action on the packers bill, while
pressure from all sections of the
country for showing up the prof
iteers has been insistent.
PASSEn-BUCK TO SENATE.
Senator Lodge and his associates,
who have been directing the course
of Congress, felt the pressure from
all these elements and the adjourn
ment plan won increasing support
as the pressure for action grew
stronger. The House was anxious
to wash its hands of the bonus agi-
tation. 1t passed the buck to the
Senate.
When the caucas of House Repub-
licans four weeks ago decided to
postpone consideration of the bonus
bill in the House until the last few
days of the session, their game be-
came clear. 1t was practically GER
tain at that time that adjournment
would be taken before the Chicago
convention and that no action on a
measure of this magnitude could be
expected in the Senate without pro-
longed debate.
The House Steering Committee,
which engineered this scheme, evil
IDENTIFY regards the ex-service man as
easily deceived. Many of the Re-
publicans privately expressed the
hope that the bill would be defeated
by Democratic votes and they
would then have the Democrats sin
the hole" in the fall election. But
the latter were determined not to
have to bear the responsibility for
defeat of the bill, and thus it passed |
What will ultimately happen to
the measure will depend in great
measure on events Of the campaign |
and the platform declarations.
INSIST ON PACKERS BILLS.
There has been insistent demand
from many quarters for action on
the bill providing for regulation of
the meat industry. This is one of |
the measures which the League of
Women Voters is urging upon the
two old line parties for platform in
dorsement. The suffragists are show
ing great interest in food legislation
and they believe legislation along
the lines indicated will mean the
loosening up of the food monopoly
and restoration of normal competi-
tive conditions.
The resolution to make public the
tax returns of the big profiteers has
been slumbering in committee for
six months. Recently Senator Har-
ris of Georgia, author of the resolu-
tion, has been insistent on early
consideration of the measure Ac-
tion was deferred on the ground that
the cost Of preparing this informa-
tion ought to be ascertained When
Congress adjourned without action
on this measure many concerns and
individuals, who have been guilty of
gouging the public, heaved sigh of
relief.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walker Martin went
to Nashville this week to attend the
Martin-Long marriage, which took
place at the home of the bride last