River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1921-09-29
Conqress Reconvenes and the
Senate Is Confronted With
Plenty of Work.
PEACE TREATIES SUBMITTED
Revised Tax Bill Reported But Not Be-
fore Radical "Drys" Get Into Ac-
tion-Tentative Agenda for Arms
conference-Serbia and Al
bania Fighting.
By EDWARD w. PlcKARD.


Congress is in session again, with
The house marking time while the SEN
ate tries to catch up There is tre-
mendous lot of important legislation
before the senator's, and President
Harding, through Senator Watson of
Indiana, warned them that they must
speed up, not only for the benefit of
the nation but in order that Republi-
can campaign promises may be re-
deemed AS a starter the President
submitted the treaties with Germany,
Austria and Hungary, without a spe-
cial message but with the understand
ing that they shall be ratified before
the conference on limitation of arma-
ments opens in November.
The treaties were referred to the
foreign relations committee and the
old opposition of the irreconcilables,
led by Senator Borah, developed at
once. 1t centered on the section re-
serving to the United States the right
to have representative on the repara-
lions commission. Borah contended
that if this right We're exercised this
country would become involved inn
mediatefy in the Preparations dispute
that forms the crux of the present
European problems.
At the first session Senator Penrose
reported the tax bill as revised by
the finance committee and he said he
would seek to keep it before the SEN
ate continuously until it is disposed
of. Next day the measure was called
up for consideration. 1t may be two
weeks before a final vote is taken on
it. Senator Gerry was given permis-
sion to file minority report for the
Democratic members of the committee
within seven days, and Senator La Fol-
lette was accorded the same time to
file his dissenting views.
The senate calendar, in addition to
tl.is tax bill and the treaties, con-
tains such important measures as the
tariff bill, the S500,000,000 railroad
funding bill, the Borah bill to exempt
American coastwise vessels from pay
ment of Panama canal tolls and the
bill authorizing the President and sec
rotary of the treasury to refund the
$11,000,000,O00 owed by the allied gov
ernments to the United States. New
ertheless, in what appears to be utter
disregard of the best interest of the
people, the radical "drys" made an at
tempt to capture the right of way for
the Campbell-Willis antibeer bill. Sen
ator Sterling of South Dakota fore
stalled Senator Penrose as soon as a
quorum was obtained and moved re-
newal of consideration of that meas
ure, the conference report on it being
the issue. Senator Reed refused to
vote. The "wets" then renewed their
filibustering tactics, but failed to get
an adjournment.
From now on there will be no lack
of partisan politics in congress. This
was made evident on the opening day
when Pat Harrison Of Mississippi en-
tertained the senate with a violent at
tack on the administration in which
he asserted 1t had displayed 'pitiable
inefficiency" and practiced Outrageous
extravaganza" He scored the Pres
ident because he plays golf and spends
week ends on the Mayfiower. The
immediate cause of Harrison's outburst
WIS the letter written by President
Harding to Senator Mccormick of II
linois recounting the achievements of
The Republican party since March 4.
This, declared the Mississippian, was
for the purpose of influencing the New
Mexico senatorial election. Senator
Lodge arose to reply to Mr.. Harrison,
but contented himself with reading the