Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-01-05
CONGRESS LEADERS
DODGE BIG ISSUES
Both Parties Sidestep Army
Training, Labor and Taxes.
Fear Loss of Votes
PLENTY OF TALK, HOWEVER
BY CLINTON w. GILBERT
STAFF Correspondent of the Evening Public
Ieiper

STAFF Correspondent of the Evening Public
Ledger
Washington, Jan. 5.-Congress re
sumes today under the spell Of politics.
In a few months the national party
conventions will be held. In a few
weeks primaries will begin. In a few
days the jackson dinner will take place,
when several men will file claims to the
possession of the Democratic party.
The Senate is full of candidates for
the presidency in both parties. They
prick up their cars every time politi-
cal pin drops. They will grow more
nervous. more cautious, more watchful
every moment as preconvention politics
develops.
Ordinarily the session of Congress just
preceding the party conventions is = do
nothing session Congress passes the
appropriations, talks much, with an eye
on the election. avoids action on all dis
putatious subjects which by any stretch
of the imagination would cost votes.
enacts only such legislation as is harm
less or unavoidable and then adiourns.
This session will be no exception. In
the class of unavoidable matters is the
question of peace with Germany and the
question of the railroads. Neither party
wants to enter the national campaign
with it's record on the treaty what it is
today.
And the railroads have to be returned
20 their owners March /. So railroad
legislation is certain. Something will
happen on the treaty; no one knows
what the appropriation bills will be
when passed.
Reform of taxation will be avoided.
The majority party would rather that
responsibility for taxation should rest
where it is.
Public Resents Tariff Changes
1t is almost trYism that no party
has revised the tariff, for example, and
continued in power in the next elec-
ton. The taxpayer is always sensitive
the old ones SO an old tax, though
bad, is politically less dangerous than
a new tax, though good.
Similarly Of the army. Congress,
especially the part of it which will come
up for re- election next fall, will flee
from the army. The Senate favors-or
at any rate, its committee on military
affairs favors--compulsory military
training The House shivcrs at the
thought of going before the voters just
after passing compulsory training bill.
No army legislation is likely.
The saIfe argument applies TO labor
legislation.G Labor proposals resolve
around the anti strike provision of the
Senate railroad bill. The House is
afraid of laws putting restraints upon
organized labor.
As there are two months before the
railroads have to go back to private
ownership. much time will be spent in
talking back and forth between the
Senate. which feels safe to defy labor
from the trenches of its six-year term.
and the House. which is out in the po-
litical mo mans land of national
campaign and which does not want to
draw labor machine CUR fire.
Three Topics to be Avoided
Labor, compulsory training and re-
formed taxes. probably putting heavier
burdens on the smaller income taXpay-
ers, are the big avoidablc topics for
legislation. They will be avoided by
politically minded Congress.
The treaty situation does not change.
1t only seems to change.
A man exceedingly we'll informed on
all the politics of this problem. who is
a friend of the treaty, recently made
reached the conclusion that it might be
two months before any compromise
would be reached.
And it may easily be that long. The
trouble is that the principals in the
treaty fight do not meet and bargain.
Each is on his dignity. Each is waiting
for the other to make the first move.
like two little girls who have quarrelcd
aud each of whom says ''she must
speak to me first" Mr.. Wilson has
no compromise to suggest, neither has
Mr.. Lodge.
Mr.. Hitchcock is apparently very
busy about compromises. but only ap.
parently. He must make show Of
working to settle the whole question
because, if he does not, his following
may slip away from him and into the
hands of Senator Underwood. The
leadership in measure turns upon the
treaty fight