The Connecticut labor news., 1921-09-09
Mysterious Amendment to Agricultural Bill ArOuses Suspicion Poor Leadership and Petty Politics Held Responsible.

Congress, called in extraordinary session to give it's attention to mat ters of the most pressing importance has voted to take a recess for SC days, writes former Congressman John M. Baer in LABOR of Wash lngton. The American people, how ever, are not taking a recess. They are working desperately in the effort to make a living and earn the money that the government Is taking away from them in the various forms of taxation.
 Many efforts have been made to justify this suspension of work dur ing a most critical stage of our ma tlonal affairs. The first reason as signed was that the Senate Finance Committee should be freed from all responsibility save the framing of the tariff and tax bills. That didn't go down well with the public, for com mitteeS before have shaped up inn portant legislation during sessions of Congress without any vital interest being jeopardized. Then brand new excuse was trotted out. In care fully prepared statements, emanating from inspired quarters, 1t was de clared that the warm weather of Washington had adversely affected the elder members of the Senate and that a number of them were entirely incapacitated from service. The av- craze age of these "elder statesmen" is placed at about 70 years. They are unable, the public is told, to with stand sustained effort. If they are compelled to continue at work through the summer the effort will be apparent in the legislative output.
 ic ment, and it should bore itself into the consciousness of the voters. With the nation sick almost unto death with a motley of economic, social and industrial ills, 1t IS not comforting to realize that those to whom have been entrusted its destinies have them selves one foot in the grave.
 Beer, Glorious Beer"
 With the certain prospect of one month ot inaction, the Senate ritter ed away three precious legislative days in futile discussion of the so- called beer bill" At times the de- bate degenerated into disgusting bill ingsgate. When the gavel fell the last controversy was as far from deter imitation as when it began. The Sen ate absolutely modifying the Stanley amendment, which, proponents of drastic prohibitory legislation charged, would if retained defeat the purpose of prohibition legislation.
 The Stanley amendment made it a h misdemeanor for any prohibition en- Frcen4ent officer to search the homes "appurtenances" of any citizen. In Ether words, 1t purported to give Statutory effort to the fourth amend ment to the Constitution. The battle n the Senate waged over the sacred ness of the Constitution and the in violability of "every mans castle" but there was something vastly differ ent down under the surface.
 Not only did the Senate refuse to Scept the conference report; it de-
 ned to make 1t the unfinished busi- kss when the session reconvenes. It
 lstl take it's risk with the tariff and
 venue bills, which means that it is
 ng to have slim chance of get
 attention.
 w6ecretary Mellon, however, has blasted the hope of the "wets" by an nouncing that the Treasury Depart ment does not intend to issue regula tions governing the sale of beer for medicinal purposes. If this policy is adhered to the status of prohibition laws will remain unchanged until Congress moves one way or the other.
 Farmers Relief"
 During the closing hours and amendment to the War Finance Cor poration act was approved. It pur- ports to offer relief for producers of and dealers in agricultural products, and for other purposes" As origin ally presented, it provided that ST. 100000, ,ooo should be appropriated for Az +la propriation is for I,5oo, 100000. The addition of half billion has been the subject of considerable speculation, and it is charged that it is going to find it's way into the treasuries of the railroads.
 So certain was Wall street that this was the intention that rail stocks en- joyed a moment of buoyancy follow ing the announcement of Congress generosity towards the farmers It is held that the clause, and for other purposes" gives the War Finance Corporation all the authority it needs to help the carriers in pinch. Di rector Meyers of the War Finance Corporation authorizes a statement that the additional $500, ,ooo, ,ooo credit cannot be used for the purchase of railroad securities. He holds that no such authority was granted in the farm relief bill
 Nobody seriously believes that Congress intended to deal so gener- ously with the farmers. There was considerable opposition to the farm relief proposal, which disappeared so suddenly as to arouse suspicion, and it was not allayed when the sum de manded was unexpectedly increased by third
 Railroad Benefits
 MT Meyer to the contrary notwith- standing, the situation will bear close watching. The railroad lobbyists were insistent that Congress should not recess until the railroad relief bill carrying $5oo,ooo, ,ooo-the exact sum added to the agricultural blll- had been enacted The administra ton, it was stated, was equally in sistent that something should be done along lines of rehabilitation of the railroads. Then the situation com pletely changed. The lobbyists be- came as quiet as the proverblal mouse, and the administration drop ped it's demand for action.
 It was urged in justification of the railroad relief plan that the carriers were in desperate condition, and that without substantial government help
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