The Washington herald., 1920-12-27
STEADIER COURSE
N.CONCRESS, aim
OF COP. LEADERS
Veteran Lawmakers Fear
Results of Hasty Work
By Colleagues.
By ROBERT BARRY.

Steadier hands will take the legis-
lative throttle earlier in the new
year. Experienced Congressional
engineers will control the Repub-
lican cab. They will be men who
will give proper heed to economical
block signals" They will not
countenance the high-speed pro-
cesses that have characterized some
OF the recent House Joy rides" The
"clamor of the mob" for rush ac-
tion will not induce the veterans to
disregard safety rules.
There Is frank concern among
some experienced leaders over the
tendency of a considerable body in
Congress to yield to hysteria in the
enactment OF far-reaching legisla-
zion. 1t Is not at all like the ira
ditional policy OF the Republican
leaders to be swept off their feet by
every hue and cry for special legis-
lation labeled emergency" Some
of the elder statesmen are deter
mined to check the panicky proceed
ure upon which the House en-
barked in the early days OF the ses-
sion.
Uronna hfsOfut1Ons
The Gronna resolution revivins
the War Finance Corporation, with
arbitrary instructions to aid certain
agricultural groups in exporting
surplus products, is believed to be
headed straight for a Presidential
veto. The farmer vote is strong
enough, II Is predicted, to override
the veto.
Ma r..I. az.L. -L.r
more material benefits may be an
ticipated by the cotton and wheat
and wool producers. The entire pro-
cedure was described by some lead
ers as hysterical and ill-advised, al
though those leaders recognize the
priority of the food producer for
governmental assistance. What they
resent is the tendency of Congress
to be swept on its feet every time
some special group sets up a howl
about its troubles.
Tariff Criticised.
The haste which characterized the
House action on such vital questions
as tariff duties on wool, cereals, cat
tie and cotton has been criticised
vigorously by many Republican
members of the House who voted
latfon. They felt they had been
f, backed. into a corner and forced
to sacrifice their better Sudsment.
They entertained serious doubts
as to the benefits expected from the
Fordney bill by the interests it
sought to serve. Wool is described
as a special example. There is a
feeling in many quarters that the
available wool stocks will meet do
mestic needs for eighteen to
twenty-four months. and that the
benenciaries from the prohibitive
tarin will be, not the producers,
but the manufacturers. the manu-
factured product selling higher, but
the producer gaining little il any
thing.
Caucus Return Favored.
There is a vigorous sentiment at
the Capitol favoring a return to
caucus methods, where party lead
ers may close the doors and plug
the keyholes and speak in plain
terms The caucus has lost caste
in recent years. Party unity is be-
coming old-fashioned and obsolete
Members think nothing of breaking
away from party policy. Factions
and schisms and cliques abound.
1t is to be the task of some of the
veterans to restore something OF the
old spirit of party policy and re-
sponsibility and to restrain some of
the tendencies toward individual
istic clamoring for the spotlight,
when Congress settles down to
work after New Year Day.
Copyright, 1870, Public Ledger cO.)