Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-09-20
MANY IMPORTANT
MATTERS To COME
Up IN CONGRESS
House Has About Cleared
Decks, but Tariff, Tax and
German Peace Pact Face
the Senate
by ROBERT r. SMALL
Ueased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921


gress comes back to Washington
next Wednesday to spend a year or
more in continuous session. From
the present outlook, as a matter of
fact, congress is likely to remain
with us until the election of Novem-
Der, 1922, calls the members home
to make an accounting to their con-
stituents and to face their judgment
at the polls.
With President Harding back in
the White House after one of the
longest breathing spells he has been
able to snatch during his six months
as chief magistrate, Washington will
settle down this week for the many
important events that mark the win
national affairs.
The house of representatives for
a time will be in session in name
only, for the house is clear of ur-
gent measures, but the senate faces
the hardest legislative tasks ever
placed before it.
Furthermore, the senate faces a
complete reorganization of it's lead
ership, for President Harding has
reached into the upper chamber and
taken out of it both Majority Leader
Lodge and Minority Leader Under
wood, drafting them for indefinite
service in the conference for the
Limitation of ornaments.
The senate must wrestle with the
most difficult tax and fiscal prob
lens that ever have tested it's ability
at legislation. The senate must face
the fight of those who do and those
who do not want a permanent tar
iff bill enacted at this session, with
the cards already set for the post
ponement of the tariff until next
year.
Treaty Action Expected
The senate, within a day or two
after reconvening, will also have In
it's midst once more the well-known
treaty of Versailles, or more prop
erly speaking, the remnants of that
document which have ben incorpo-
rated in the treaty Of Berlin. Pres
ident Harding is preparing to SUBJ
nit the new treaty for ratification
and will urge early action upon it.
This treaty is assured of ultimateap-
prevail by the necessary two-thirds
Of the senate, but before they per-
NIT it to go through the Democrats
who led the fight for the so-called
Wilson peace" will have a few ex-
tended remarks to make upon the
Harding Hughes peace.
There is no telling how far the
political war will go when once the
senate gets to talking peace again.
1t took year and more to Kill the
original treaty of Versailles and it
pact of Berlin. The Democrats are
making neither threats nor prom
Uses at this time. They are to have
a senate conference soon and come
to a decision at that time as to their
course of action. oddly enough,
wood, the Democratic leadership will
fall upon Senator Hitchcock, of Ne
braska, vice chairman of the confer
ence, and he will direct the ack
faults and failures of the new treaty,
just as he defnded the old.
1t is no secret that some of the
more influential members of the
Democratic minority are seriously
contemplating beginning a new fight
for American entry into the League
Of Nations, They say, they will take
conference in Washington on the
limitation Of ornaments is good
thing and they are hopeful of it's
success, they feel that such a confer
If the United States had lent its ad-
herence and it's power to the League
of Nations.
In Militant Mood
The senate Democrats are in suLA
militant mood that several of them
have gone so far as to suggest to
Senior Underwood that his place this
winter is in the senate rather than
in the rmament conference where in
any issue which might involve po-
liticl policy he would be in a help
less and hopeless minority on the
American delegation. The urging of
Senator Underwood to decline the
honor rendered him by President Har-
ling is not with any idea of obstruct-
ing or belittling the armament con-
ference The Democrats say that
congress faces grave responsible
ties during the next twelve months
and that Senator Underwood, who is
especially fitted by study and ex-
perience to lead the minority in their
fights in connection with the tax
and tariff bills and other matters
of legislation, would be rendering as
great or greater service to the peo-
pie in the senate as in the confer
ence room discussing the limitation
of ornaments.
New Republican Leader
With Senator Lodge, of the con-
ference delegation, there is every
reason to believe that floor leader
ship of the Republicans will pass in
to the capable hands of Senator
James E. watson of Indiana. Sena-
tor Watson is one of the most popu-
lar on both sides of the aisle, and
while a stalwart Of the old school of
Republicanism he has about as
mush influence with the "recalci-
trants" in the party as any individ-
ual member of the recalcitrant
group itself. Senator Penrose's
physical impairment is such as to
prevent great activity on the floor,
but lige his colleagues as a whole he
has great confidence in Senior Wat
son and great respect for the Hoos-
ier's ability.
While Senator Watson will thus be
in a position to handle tax and tariff
legislation on the floor, being a
member Of the finance committee,
the fight for the ratification of the
new treaty of Berlin may pass into
other hands-to some member of the
foreign relations committee, which
now is presided over by Senator
Lodge. The treaty when presented
to the senate will have to go to the
foreign relations committee SEN
tor Lodge, however, will be able to
give it but little attention, for he will
soon be busy preparing himself for
his duies at the ornaments confer
ence.