Evening star., 1921-09-01
PRESIDENT WANTS
CONGRESS TO ACT
Unemployment Meeting Call
ed TO Force Passage of
Needed Legislation.
WAS AGAINST RECESS
Business Hampered by Failure to
Enact Tax Bill-Fall Elec-
tions a Factor.
WAS AGAINST RECESS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The underlying purpose of the un-
employment conference called by
President Harding is to get Congress
employed. The administration realizes
that unless the republican majority
gets busy and passes the Legislation
which is needed to stimulate brsi-
ness throughout the country the num-
stead OF diminish this winter and the
congressional elections next fall may
develop constdsfahle: danger for the
party in power
VIII Push Vital Measures.
Congress is taking a vacation at
present and the administration re-
luctantly consented to the recess, But
when both houses reconvepe the drive
Will begin to clear the calehdar of the
vital measures which most everybody
believes will mean better Industrial
and businss conditions.
Few officials can be found who think
the mere calling of an unemployment
conference can produce jobs for the
idle or food for the hungry. The
collecting of data as to the true con-
ditions of unemployment and the lay
ing of that data conspicuously on the
doorstep of the Capitol as a sort of
mute warning to the republicans that
theirs is the responsibility for action
on pending bills. 1t is for the psy-
Geological effect that the conference
is being called.
President Harding wants Congress
to do several things which in his
opinion will speed the return to nor
malcy.
Wants Treaties Ratified.
First, the President wants the pend
ing treaties with Germany and Aus
tria ratified 80 that Americas foreign
relations will be clarified and trade
resumed with central Europe.
Second, Mr.. Harding wants author
ity given at once to Secretary Mellon
to arrange with the allies for the pay
ment of interest and principal on the
ten billions of dollars owed us. Thus
1t is hoped that, by definitely fixing
the time of payments. the allies will
be able to calculate upon the amount
they must set aside every " ar toward
the payment of the debt, and when the
allied governments begin to finance
themselves on a definite basis the
and international exchange. which is
the basis Of all trade. will TEND to be-
come eQualized. With exchange i'm
proved. the purchasing power of Eu-
rope will gradually return.
Would Take Surplus.
Once the purchasing power of Eu-
rope is restored. American surplus
goods can be exported and the firms
which have closed down their fac
tories will want to reopen them so as to
supply Europe.
Indeed, the international bankers
who have favored the league of ma
tions and American cooperation with
Europe in matters of finance have
argued that American factories would
never have closed down il two years
ago the United States had ratified TIE
Versailles treaty and entered into
closer financial relationship with
Europe. However that may be, the
fact is the same argument is being
made now in behalf of the Hughes
Knox treaty, namely. that ratification
will stabilize economic conditions
in Europe, and thus help America to
sell her goods.
Funding Bill Would Aid.
Third, Congress has been vainly
urged to authorize the war finance
corporation to use its funds to pay the
| railroads certain sums owed them
This, it has been contended. would
mean the placing of a half billion
dollars of money into purchases for
equipment and would mean that the
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