Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-20
PRESIDENT BEGINS
HECKL|NC CAPITOL
Asks Questions Concerning
Delays When Members
Plan to Go Away.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
| President Wilson is beginning to
torment Congress. Hints have come
from the White House that while Mr..
Wilson has no desire to keep Con-
gress continuously in session during
the hot summer months of the cam :
paign. nevertheless he may consider
such course if the legislative
branch of the government endeavors
to adjourn without enacting laws on
the several subjects relating to tie
high cost of living and governmental
economy recommended by the chi eff
executive.
this summer. Individual members are
anxious to be in their districts help
ing themselves and the candidates on
the top of their respective tickets.
Democrats are equally eager to be in
the campaign; but Mr.. Wilson is a
hard taskmaster, and has managed
throughout his administration to
keep Congress longer at work than
any other President in recent years.
White House Asks Questions.
But it is significant that the White
House is beginning TO ask questions
What, for instance, has Congress done
about tariff legislation. excess profits
taxes, help for the returned soldiers
and sundry other measures?
properly the other day that the Pres
ident himself was looking for a sum-
mer home and was preparing to be-
take himself from the National Cap
ital to somewhere on the seacoast.
and some members of Congress
thought it meant an armistice and
that both branches of the govern
ment could concentrate all their time
and attention on politics instead of
part of the time as heretofore. Other
members of Congress thought it was
good time to take sea trip. and
so scores of them have signed up to
go to Japan, Hawaii and the Philip
pines at a cost of S125 day on
government tunket. details of which
have already attracted at least hun
dred or more members to think seriously
Of going.
Outhurut About Due.
But once before when Congresa-wa
preparing to go away Mr.. Wilson
stepped in and delivered a message
on the high cost Of living. Some
thing like this is being contemplated.
general outburst from the White
House on the subject of neglected
legislation is about due. When sto-
ries were circulated the other day
that Mr.. Wilson was planning to get
actively in the campaign sufficient
account was not TAKEN Ol the pnySI-
cal strain that might be implied by
the word actively The President
will not get out and make speeches.
He is too much of sick man to do
that. But there's nothing wrong with
his flow of language
Here are some OF the things which
the White House says are still on the
congressional doorstep. Indeed, the
memory of Congress Is logged by the
following sentences from President
Wilson's latest message:
Mr.. wilson's Latest Words.
"I hope that Congress will bring to
a conclusion at this session legislation
looking to the establishment of bud
get system.
Another and not less important as
pect of the problem is the ascertain
ment Of the economy and efficiency with
which moneys appropriated are expend-
ed. No one is authorized or equipped
to ascertain whether the money has
been spent wisely. economically and ef-
fectiveIy. The auditors should be high
ly trained officials. with permanent ten
ure in the Treasury Department.. free
of obligations to or motives of consid-
GRAFTON for this or any subsequent ad-
ministration.
Il trust that the Congress will give
it's immediate considerable to the prob
lem of future taxation. SimpliZcation Of
| the income and profits taxes has become
an immediate necessity.
THE Congress might we'll consider
whether the higher rates of income and
profits taxes can. in peace times, be
effectively productive of revenue and
whether they may not, on the con-
trary. be destructive of business activi-
ty and productive OF waste and ineffi-
cheney.
whatever may have been our
American business concerning tariff
| Hesitation, we must now adjust our
/ own economic life TO a changed con-
dition growing out of the fact that
American business is full grown and
| that America is the greatest capitalist
| in the world.
! Among the industries to which
special consideration should be given
! is that of the manufacture Of dye
stuffs and related chemicals.
we must see to it that our return
| ing soldiers are assisted in every
which they are fitted in the daily
work of the country The Secretary
of the Interior has pointed out the
way by which returning soldiers NAV
be helped to find and take up land in
hitherto undeveloped regions of the
country. which the federal govern
ment has already prepared or can
readily prepare for cultivation
| Other Items Enacted On.
| Other items, such as improvements
in marketing studies Of farm man
jagement, better forestry methods. fed
eral aid to good roads. the marketing
of all goods in interstate commerce.
with the price at which thew left tba
hands of the producer" and laws re-
quiring federal licenses of corpora
tions engaged in interstate commerce
so as TO prevent unconscionahJe
profits in the method of marketing E"
are all unacted upon.
1t is true the President has nor MT
much pressure on Congress during
the last few months, as was his won,
during the democratic administration
but the White House has consistentir
maintained since the republicans fool,
possession Of the Senate and uo,,sn
that the executive would merely "a.
ommend" and not coerce. The nurnosa
of that policy is being reveaIed =.
is now intended to hold Congrass
sponsible for inaction. And th.
publicans will naturally hand II aI,
back by insisting that the Prasidant
interjected the covenant OF tho Iaos''a
Of nations and delayed the sattier,se., g
of domestic as well as foraien nroh.
Items, on the merit or danp -
which tho voters OF Ame,,ca LII, OF
an opportunity to pass iudvmant mn nave ss
the polls. -