Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-04
IN WASHINGTON

A FTER tomorrow Congress will hr with
n us again. 1t will meet on Monday
without a settled program and with desire
only to get its bearings and muddlc through
to March 1, when the new Congress will be
organized to face truly enormous tasks.
\ Wilderness of work will confront the
gentlemen of the House and the Senate after
the inauguration of Mr.. Harding. The QucS
tion Of taxes looms larger every day. and
among the Republican leaders there is an
obvious desire to do something that will
steady and lift current prices of the govern
mCnt's war bonds. If that could be done tho
country would have reason to feel grateful.
Millions of poor people put all their savings
in Liberty and Victory bonds. and the tenn
porary fall of these securities represents for
many people a considerable loss Moreover.
it is not pleasant to see government paper
running far below par as it is running now
in the markets
The attitude Of Republicans like Mr..
Lodge and Mr.. PCnrOSc makes it seem pretty
certain that these bonds will be strengthened
considerably within the next year. That is
still another reason why those who have them
should hold out for the rise to par.
by far the most important issues in the
next Congress will grow, of course. ont of
our recent adventures in Europe. Business
men of all sorts have come to perceive that
of th" industrial life of the Old World and
the artificial conditions that make the eco
nomir recovery of the old countries a matter
of difficulty are having an extremely bad
effect on American business. Many Of our
0uc-timr purchasers are broke and others
will not buy because their money is for the
tim" being almost worthless Here is an
other phase of the question Of peace That will
rc""iy" more attention aS the days pas.
In the Congress after March / thrr" will
be- too. a great deal Of talk about immigra
ton. about RuHsN and about Japan.
II will be lively session. Of that You
may be sure. And the Rrpublrnns. who
have lurg" maiOritcs in both branches. will
have t" bear tn" blame for mistakes or fail
ur"S. They Will hav" to take up til" work
of government at Il point where the Demo
CratS will lay it down in confusion. Hut
they didn't spare the Democrats and they
Themselves hav" been making II lot Of Joyous
promises. II Ia UP to them, and certainly
in tn" r"At year or two any congressman
with brains AMI vision and a Willingness to
light VIII hNv" the opportunity to max" him
self conspicuous and to start II great career.
Mr.. Wilson was thinking ut last urcountS
Of going to th" Capitol to deliver his message
in r"r>"u. Reports from Washington ndi-
eat" lHat lh" President i gaining il health
and thai il" will live to do Il great deal Of
useful work. Every one Will be relieved to
hear that news. Mr. Wilson may seize th'
orrnSi"n of Monday to lrrtur" Congress. and
IT should surprise 40 one if his address is
, NOR" thuu usually ambitions and. as they
LAY at ia" CdHitul. sweeping.
Whut hr may >uy will not greatly matter
To- Congress. CoHgrcsS will view the Wilson
administration II, Il closed chapter. 1t will
not greatly desire to hear Mr.. Wilson again.
! ll~ ears will hu iI.n"d for the new yuirr and