New-York tribune., 1921-01-30
Obregon Has
Comprehensive
Reform Plans
After Weeks of Inactivity
President Takes Steps to
Lift Mexico Out of Politi-
cal and Economic Chaos
Legislation Is Outlined
Action to Settle International
Tangle to Await Recon-
struction of the Nation
By George E. Hyde

a month and half of relative inaction
in all branches of the government, the
administration of President Obregon
is now taking the first steps to lift
Mexico out Of the political and eco
nomic chaos into which it was plunged
by the Carranza constitution of 1917.
The President is sending to Congress
comprehensive Legislative program
which embodies his ideas of the funda-
mental necessities of the nation. Until
this is enacted friends of the ad-
ministration believe that it would be
futile to attempt any serious steps
looking to the settlement of the in
ternational tangle.
The first six weeks Of the Obregon
administration were a disappointment
to those who believed or hoped that
the new President would settle in
few days by some mysterious rule of
thumb the problems which he'd been
years. His failure to make a clean
sweep of government personnel and to
surround himself with new elements
also was disappointment to many.
They are still hoping that he will make
numerous changes in the near fu.ure,
but there is no indication that he
intends to do anything of the sort.
On the contrary, he has stated that
the men who surrounded ex-Presdent
de la Huerta will continue as his ad-
visers. In fact, he is throwing a great
shoulders than De la Huerta did, and
is making much greater demands on
their ability and time.
Against One-Man Government
During the few weeks of the Obre-
which contrasted sharply with tie two
previous administrations. There has
been total absence of proposed pana-
cea calculated to remedy all the ma
tion's ills by single stroke of the pen.
During the Carranza regime and to q
certain extent during the De la Huerta
- mlnlstratlon. scarcely q day passed
that some hastily prepared legislative
measure was not brought forward en-
bodying the pet IDEAS of this or that
Cabinet minister. Few, if any, of them
went to the bottom of the essential
problems of the nation.
General Obregon made it plain some
time before he took Office that he con-
sidered the difficulties Of the nation a
problem to be taken up as a whole. He
belleved that comprehensive program.
including both national and interna-
tlonai phases, was needed. He desires
reconstruction of the national struc-
ture, and not merely patching up of
the more obvious defects produced by
ten years of revolution. 1t is this re-
construction to which the Mexican Con-
rress is called to give its attention
February 7.
If General Obregon can be said to
away from the one-man form Of pov. o
ernment. While not going to the ex-
tent of patterning the structure of
government after the French system.
ne desires to throw greater resronsi-
blllty on the members of his Cabinet
I and to have them directly responsible
to Congress for the performance of
t'eir duties. He also desires a greater
amount of accountability on the part Of
the chlef executive to the legislative
and JUDICIAL branches of the govern
nent. !hls idea IS elaborated in five
OF the fourteen measu es which make
up his legislative program.
Program of Legislation
Measures putting into effect the
principles of the Ca-ranza constitu-
11uH ,n,1 nave Deen before Congress since
~ 1"lI and have failed of enactment.
, mere mas been no definite plan regard
ing them, and project has succeeded
project as one man after another az.
= tempted TO put his ideas into the form,
Of law. Four of the measures which
VIII come up before Congress at its
special session deal with these mat.
ters. They are the banking law. labor
legislation looking to labor insurance
the agrarian law looking to the build.
ing. up of the small rural property rs
rapidly as possible, and the petroleum
legislation to take the place of the
Harranza a. decrees and interpreting
Srtlcle II of the Carranza constitution
lhe last measure has been the cause
or much international friction.
"A measure on international commerce
calculated to relieve the present un
satisfactory trade situation is anothe,
important part of the program. Two
army measures and two bills changing
the judicial system complete the list
one of the army measures has at
tracted special attention. 1t is ar
amendment to the pension law. which
has been abused to a great extent !,
the past. The executive believes tha
the present pension system by which
descendants Of Montezuma are drawins
stlpends from the national treasury i.
an unnecessary burden on a depleted
treasury.
international Problem
The international situation has no
changed materially since Obregon
advent to power and is likely to re
main In statu quo until after March d
when General Obregon is confden
,nat satisfactory arrangement car
De erected. 1t has not been possible
for him to negotiate direct witt
President elect Harding, and he has no
considered it exnedient to follow W
the tentative SPesqueira- Colby pro
gram.
General Obregon, however, is full.
informed of the ideas of Preside nj
elect Harding and of those likely to b
his advisers on the Mexican situation
He is devoting considerable time to
study Of this phase of his task, an
Will be prepared to meet the situation
when he considers that the psychologi
cal moment has arrived. He intend
to handle this matter personally, an
Will not delegate the task to any o
bis subordinates
Due to certain amount of frictio,
between the Supreme Court and tn
Executive, few minor internationo
problems have developed which ar
iiHely to cause the President som
worry. Diplomatic protests from sew
eral powers have been received as
result Of court decisions, but Obrego
Is expected to handle them drastica.l