The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-06-07
Congress Vacates.

Cpagresaasan houaell leader Of the
maioTity.rmrtA does not entertain any
extravagant ideas about the importance
or the congressional functions He
apologies b, lids manner for adjourn
ing congress on, Saturday with It's pro-
gram incompetent eThere are times
when the country is iust as happy and
just as well Off with congress in adj
journment" -,,.- 40,
Poor old congressl Its members have
been worried and abused 40 much that
they can not stand It any longer The
country had told them so often II is
tired Of them that NOV they believe IT,
and Ieoyfor a yaea tion back to private
life- @preferably away III in the coun-
try Nherc thewtcal forget about their
PUBIC Appearances and be left alone.
For once .a DEMOCRATIC president
agrees With them Mr. Wilson com
mented very unkindly on congress in
explaining 10 one union heads why he
did not want to cay a summer session
I'm the ilghtsof the record of the
present congress have no reason
In session would result in constructive
measures for me relief OF the economic
conditions to which you call attention
The sins OF the Republican congress
have been mainly sins OF omission, The
railroads were returned to their own
ers. but long after the date original
ly set, and meanwhile the treasury was
steadily disbursng for their support.
The merchant marine hill was only
rushed through at the very last, and
here again the public had to maintain
a huge fleet of merchant ships long
after they ought to have been sold to
private owners
Some OF the congressional omissions
never have been repaired one of these
is the failure to pass or even to con-
slider any legislation tending to remedy
our economic ills. which are legion, and
10 bring down the high level OF prices.
The taxes have not been materially
modified. though they impose heavy
handicap upon the business Of the
country
Most notable OF all the failures OF
come to any agreement on the peace
treaty, Democratic stubbornuess and
Republican contumacy proved com
bination too strong 10 give way 70 mere
ly patriotic considerations There were
bitter enders who would have none Of
the presidents league Of nations uu-
der any circumstances, and there were
die hards who would have nothing but
the covenant as it came inspired from
on high. without the douing OF an I
or the crossing of t. Between these
impossible extremists there were enough
moderate men to furnish the necessary
two-thirds for the treaty with certain
clear-cut minimum reservations, but
these fell out over questions OF gram
mar, spelling, wording and rhetoric in
volved in the writing Of the reserva-
tions, and nothing could be done.
Some of the omissions OF a congress
such as tho president has considered
the last one to be are naturally mat
ters OF congratulation In spite OF
all the attention devoted to the qucs-
ton Of cash bonus for the soldiers OF
the late war, the measure was barely
passed by the lower house on one Of
the last days OF the session and allowed
to die an easy death in the archives Of
a senatorial committee. I'm this man
ner neither party has TO shoulder the
responsibility for defeating bill that
would have been bad for the country.
but which had lot OF very able and
INSCRIPTIONS propaganda in it's support
Neither has the congress passed the
laws recommended by the president in
the pursuance Of his constitutional
duties, nor has the president seen 1T
10 agree in number OF cases with
such legislation as the congress did
manage to pass. The most notable Of
the presidential vetocs was that nj tho
resolution repeating the war a,t- and
making peace with German, That was
a political play and the president was
we'll within prorrtcty in ms veto
The session OF congress which has
Just adjourned is a very good lhatra-
ton Of one OF the defects Of our sys.
tenn OF government Under our consn.
tuition It is all too possible go Nayr the
country administered by oro PARTY and
its laws made by another Wucr. pres.
ident and congress az. uf uppositr
parties, and equally partisan tu spirit
little constructive Legislators can b.. a
pected Of the combination. and rha} .s
Just what We have had