The Washington herald., 1920-11-27
The New Congress and Problems Of the
District


tration hopefully and in the belief that things
that should have been done before are sure to
De acted upon promptly, when the people have
brought about a change. But there is good reason
to believe that the incoming administration and the
new Congress offer greater hope for sound, sensible
and constructive legislation, speedily enacted than
has been in prospect for many years
While domestic issues were somewhat sub
merged in the campaign by the importance attached
10 the league, there are great many men who will
occupy high places In the affairs of the nation who
are convinced that the Republican victory was a
decided demand on the part of the people for
action on pressing domestic issues without delay
The utterances of Congressman, now that the
SHty-seVenh Congress is about to open, are i'm
portant There is reason to believe that there will
be few prolonged fights inasmuch as the Republican
majority is so large to discourage and make
futile the efforts of the minority. Consequently the
program OF the Republicans should go through
smoothly.
There was very apparent in the election results
an impatience with the methods used and the re-
suits achieved by the incumbent administration and
Congress And in that impatienee may be seen
something else-the fact that the Republicans are
on trial The people looking for results
1t Is to be expected of politicians that those
who have won in an election should be less talkatve
than those of the minority who have been returned
The new Republican Congressmen are not saying a
great deal The returning Democrats are inclined
to say more. They are talking about issues which,
If not properly dealt with by the new Congress and
administration, will give them campaign material
for the next Congressional elections
Such talk is less important to the-public than
to the politician, as a rule. And yet it serves a
purpose.
Representative Kitehin, of North Carolina, who
is scheduled to be Democratic floor leader in the
next Congress, has announced that he is gathering
data for war public utilities in the District of
Columbia, particularly dealing with the street car
situation.
As Democrat, Mr. Kitchin may not have the
irl cooperation in his purpose that a Republican
probably would have. The transportation problem
III the District is that deserves the attention of
Congress. and it is to be hoped that Mr. Kitchin's
data, when presented will be complete and that
plan will be presented of such nature that Congress
may act intelligently and promptly upon it
Certainly the 'business-ke" method of dealing
with such problems as those of transportation in the
District, or OF gas rates advantageous to resi-
dents OF the District is to get promptly at the facts
concerning costs, whether or not wasteful methods
are used and to discover means of correcting evils,
If any such found to exist.
1t is unquestonaby true that the American
people are looking to the Republican party to do
things in business-like manner. Business men all
over the United States actively went into the CAM
paign with the battlecry of efficiency" and it can
not be convineingly said that they did this merely
because OF an hereditary loyalty to the Republican
party. They will demand efficiency.
The District of Columbia is in the position of
having to take what it get" of course, but no
one will deny that it is entitled to the same eff
cheney and "business-lke" methods as is given the
matter OF Federal government in its larger aspect
Washingtonians genuinely glad that most Of
the Senators and Representatives who serve the ma
ton from time to time have come to love the city
Many Of them, after retiring from public life, have
come here to make their homes, permanently. And
when Congress is in session. it is the home town"
OF all the members.
Washington wants TO be treated as their home
town. 1t wants nothing miraculous in city govern
ment. But it does want its problems dealt with
promptly and justly ,
II Mr.. Kitchin does not gather sufficient data
snr the proper adjustment of public utility problems
yet some the Republican side go about the
task No matter how intricate the investigators find
the job, it is one that be settled, and without
great delay, by The application of direct, common
sense business methods. Those who attack the
problem viii find plenty OF public-spirited intelligent
men and women in the District to give them able
assistance.