Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-20
CONGRESSIONAL AcRoBATIcS
ARE ENTIRELY PLAYED OUT
The Reopenlng Of the Special Session
Plainly Threatens an End OF Toler-
anee for MuddIine and lneptltude

THE party is over.
i The new Congress called in special ses-
sion by new President last spring enjoyed
every opportunity to pose for the pho
tographcr. to look pretty and appear wise.
Discrcety exercised. such posturing is
harmless enough. A new Administration is
not to be censured for drawing deep
breath of presumed resolution. for striking
nm attitude of prospective efficiency, for
viewing the past with disgust and the
future with hope
Nor is Congress. in part made over to
be blamed for preliminary delberation The
average public responsible for the new ma
chinerv is at the outset sympathetic and
patient.
Before the summer Of 1921 began it wns
realized throughout the country that Con-
grcss was confronted with some of the most
| battling problems in its annals.
Realistically regarded, the responsibility
for these difficulties matters little.
No man alive can correctly apportion the
responsibility among the Democrats. the war
or the general wrong hcadedness Of civiliza-
| ton. to mention three causes popularly
| assigned.
1t was the job Of the rcjuveuated Con-
! gross to construct. rather than dissect.
| President Harding. with the urbane sophisti
|
traits. temporarily assigned himself the role
| Of generous spectator.
For the first few months OF its career 1t
| cannot be said that the new Congress suf-
| fered grievously from Executive diCtation.
| Save for the check upon bonus legislation,
| the congressional hand was In principle
| srantly restrained or guided.
| Yet il succumbcd TO Self-induced
! paralysis so enfeebng that the recess begun
| month ago marked not In the least cul-
mination of consistent endeavor-merely an
uncomfortable pause.
The resumption Of sessions tomorrow in
| wolves a grim set Of obligations which can
| no longer be shirkcd unless Congress in
critical period is willing to challenge public
| indignation by houndcrng in a morass OF
| utilities.
Measures passed before the summer ad-
| journmant included the temporary Tariff
Bill. the bill to prevent dealings in futures
on grain exchanges, the pcstifrrous lmmi-
grafton Bill and the bill extending the pow
ers Of the War Finance Corporation to give
ere Hts to farmers
In the line OF major legislation that
was all.
Congress ls stultifcd by "blocs." repre-
senting selfish. clashing interests in which
| party lines are cffnced. A ContcntousnpSs
much more fatal to progress than lucid,
even If rigorous. partisanship is substituted.
| Meanwhile. economic and industrial dis
| tre>s continues 1t must prevail until some
sane and vigorous effort Is made to wrcstle
with the taxation muddle, with a reduction
| of governmental expenditures and with a
mass of pressing problems which inevitably
cannot react to anything but direct treat
ment.
The responsibility for frittering and foot
less tactics Is mounting. and unless rene
dies are applied the reckoning ut the next
congressional election is unacceptable No
party victory. however sweeping. can be
safely accepted as a continuing Endorsement
of a policy Of collapse.
The point to which bungling and mismau :
agemcnt have proceeded is revealed in the
endorsements of the Senate, which is
already in such n snar from it's own pro
crastination that the House is expected to
be virtually inactive for a fortnight TO enable
the upper chamber to extricate itself, even
partly, from the welter Of unfinished bust
ness.
Senator penrose is seeking to win pr-
mary consideration for the tax measures.
But further wranging over the beer bill
threatens constructive work upon the legiS-
lation which before oil others profoundly
ih.ersTts '"e Ia''"m, "'tn' O. a., pH',
Stu'""'!ne n'oN' ,. .I p CaaI ~" Nh az
proposed repeal OF tie Panama Canal Tolls
Act.
Warranted or unjustined, this proposition
on the eve Of the international conference
is most fagrsntly ill-advised.
iHe p"r'e? 4"T,t - 'us' nv" Tr,e'"S u
ooS'er up 'ne t"''a.'e9 ot Tue summers ~
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