The daily morning oasis., 1920-04-23
co NCRESS FAILS
TO KEEP ITS
PROMISES
UNITED Press Service)

ing" and has done little else since il
convened in extra session May 10
1919. Instead of going forward witt
constructive legislative vrogram
such as it promised in the 1918 Con
gressional campaign, the Republicar
party is running away from it's OBJ
legations.
Least the public forget, here arl
some of the things the Republican
thrust forward only to abandon:
The luxury tax repeal measure, en-
actment of which was prevented il
the Democratic Sixty-fifth Congress.
by the Republican filibuster in the
Senate.
A sedition bill introduced in the
House by Representative Graham, ane
the Senate by Senator Sterling. This
bill was brought forward with blast
of Republican trumpets and an an
nounced determination to speed it up
but it was soon dropped.
| Representative Mondell, majority
leader in the House took a running
start to get his soldiers and sailors
| land bill in, but his enthusiasm soon
waned. That matter was given up.
Ever since the Republicans have busi-
ed themselves trying to avoid an open
fight on the bonus question.
The provision for the universal
military training was eliminated from
the army reorganization bill after
much ado over it
The much heralded budget system
is still nebulous. The House passed
a budget bill after first killingNone
but the Senate has not acted. Pre-
sident Wilson has been urging this
legislation for several years.
All of the little tariff bills framed
and reported by Representative Ford
ney went to the pigeonhole upon the
suggestion of Boss Penrose.
Many other more or less important
propositions were put forward, only
to be abandoned or withdrawn.
Republican organization Congress
men are furnishing Southern and
Western reclamation states for send
ing Democrats to Washington. There
is no longer doubt in the minds of
Democratic leaders as to that.
Congressman from the irrigation
states tried hard to have the proposed
soldiers and sailors land settlement
plan adopted, but the Republican Sc
cretly killed it. This proposition, it
is claimed would have given employ
ment to 100000 and provided homes
for 100000 ex-soldiers.
This project was dropped by the
Republicans because it would have
meant development for the South and
reclamation states of the West" said
Representative Taylor of Colorado.
Under the Lane plan, returned SOL
diers could have secured homes and
paid for them in small installments,
running from 20 to 40 years"
Governors of reclamation states
caus to Washington and urged Gov
c ment loans, every cent of which
WIS to be paid back for reclamation
projects, but the Republican leaders
of Congress paid no attention to them
in framing the oil-land leasing bill,
the Republicans made it impossible for
tie intermountain states, where much
of the mining is done, to get a liberal
share of the profits from oil and gas
developments.
The Republican Congress had plan
to tax stockmen by raising the cost of
the grazing privileges 800 per cent
after an increase of 100 per cent was
agreed to last year. Democrats in
the House saved them.
The neglect of the Western states
by this Congress has put mining at
low ebb, and many miners have
gone East to take up other work.
These are examples of Republican
punishment, partially or neglect.
Democrats warned weeks ago that
Republican leaders in Congress were
preparing to get away from Washing
ton early in June. 1t becomes more
apparent every day that that is their
program. 1t is now said they are
afraid to quit lest the President calls
attention to their neglect of duty. To
get around this, they may recess in
stead of adjourning.
Leaving pressing legislation unfin-
ished, they would go junketing about
the country. Already trips are plan
ned upon the pretext of getting ma
terial on which to base Congressional
action. Junkets through the Indian
reservations, to the Hawaiian Islands,
the Philippines, and various parts of !
the United States are contemplated.
Having refused to give money need
ed to complete Government contracts
for irrigation in the Flathead Indian
reservation, a committee will run up
a large expense account going out |
thare