The Ocala evening star., 1921-07-12
REPUBLICAN, PARTY's
MEAGER RECORD

News, Senator Fletcher, speaking on
Senator Lodges motion that the SEN
ate take q recess for three weeks,
took occasion to fire a broadside at
the majority side of the upper house,
denouncing administration impotency
and the selfish interest of the high
protection, big interest serving polit-
ical party. He said:
"Of course, lapse of 20 days or
more might give time for our friends
who have the majority in this body
and in the other end of the capitol
perhaps an unwieldly majority-to get
together on some sort of a. program.
We might not lose any time if they
had the opportunity in some degree to
get united action upon measures
which there is great need for enacting,
according to their view. and certainly
the situation throughout. the country
at this time is very unsatisfactory,
disturbed and in some instances dis
tressing.
81 do not know that we would ac-
eomplish much if we remained in
session continuously. The experience
of the past months does not give us
much encouragement in that direc-
tion. We have been in session ever
since the 18th day of April, working
quite diligently, both sides of the
legislative branch of the government,
and what have we accomplished?
I'VE passed an emergency tariff
bill which everybody recognized was
an arrant fraud, humbug, pre-
tense 1t does nobody any good, and
was never intended to go anybody any
good, perhaps on the part of great
many. Certainly it has not met the
expectations of our friends on the
other side. who are very much like
the Irishman-they did not expect it
would
"The next thing we have done was
to pass budget bill, which, of course
was called for by the last administra-
tion. In fact, everything that amounts
to anything that has been done by this
administration. both with reference to
our domestic and foreign affairs, has
been done in pursuance to the princi-
Piles and policies of the democratic
administration.
"We had been given notice, al
least, that one of the, first items tc
be considered by Congress was the
peace resolution. That had been pend.
ing about three months. Our friends
on the other side were unable te
agree upon the form it should take
In the House they were unable tc
agree upon the form. In conferenc,
they had great difficulty about agree,
ment, and probably in formal way
they came to some fixed understand
ing about it, but it met with the views
neither of the House nor of the Sen.
ate. At last we passed that resolu.
ton the other day and we supposed
that the dove of peace would settle
down upon troubled and ailing worlt
and everybody would be happy.
have not observed any great changs
in conditions, psychological or other
wise.
"The blot on the signature to thai
joint resolution is symbolic of the blot
on our national honor, and the MARI
ing of our good faith. Instead of {
real dove of peace, we have fake
dove in a wooden cage, passed arounC
for exhibition.
"Our friends on the other side ot
the aisle wanted to press forward
first tax legislation. That is to say
they insisted that the tax laws SHOULD
be simplified, modified and revised
That was urged by the last admins
tration They have insisted that tha
should precede the tariff legislation
The majority party in the other bod!
insist that tariff legislation shall pre-
cede tax legislation, and there we are
Over here the majority want the ta1
measures to be taken up first, anC
thus far nobody has agreed upon wha
shall be done.
First, there came up, of course
the army appropriation bill. 0ul
friends on the other side could mo-
agree as to the size of the army. Ii
the House they could not agree as IL
the size of the army. In conference
they could not agree as to the size O
the army. Finally we got through
bill which satisfies nobody.
'The same thing is true as to tht
navy bill. They could not agree OF
the other side as to the size of the
navy .aad in the House they could no
agree as to the size of the navy, anC
now that is in limbo, hanging in {
state of suspended animation. W.
have not passed the navy bill ever
| yet, although we have been in session
kby-a<, months