The Washington herald., 1921-07-08
fells Senators He Will
Take Responsibility
Before Country.
PLANS TO SEEK
ACTION NEXT YEAR
Visit to Capitol Seen as
Attempt to Get Con-
gress on Job.
ny JOHN GLEIssNER-

personally in an effect to have the
senate expedite revision Of tarin
and tax laws and defer action on the
Soldier Bonus bill
At the same time he has approved
the program for a series of recesses'
and has asked that the Senate con-
fine itself more closely to the ac-
complishment Of the major purposes
for which the special session was
summoned.
Visits The Capitol
The President visited the capitol
yesterday and held a series of CON
ferences with most of the Rebdb-
Iican members of the Senate He
asked them, because of business de-
preston and the difficulties confront
ing the Treasury, to shelve the
bonus bill until the regular session
in December, by which time new
tariff and tax laws will have been
enacted
The President said he favored
sending the bonus bill back to the
Finance Committee, where it would
lie until some time during the win
ter. He recalled to Senators, at the
same time, that he was publicly
committed to passage of a bonus
measure
The President offered to assume
full responsibility before the country
for the delay. He told Senators ne
would soon formally communicate
to Congress on the subject, pub
licly recommending the delay.
Reason for Recesses.
The program for a serie sof re-
cesses, which he approved, would
virtually mean the suspension OF
Senate activities while the House
has the permanent taric bill before
il. This program, the President
held. would expedite the work of the
special session by keeping a multi
pIicity OF bills from clogging the
legislative machinery He pointed
out also that committees would be
able to get to work directly and
without Interference on the chief
problems before Congress.
The President it was universally
conceded, would be successful In
delaying the bonus, to which at all
times there has been great oppo-
sition- Secretary MELONS letter,
II was thought, already had accom-
plished that purpose, but the per-
sonal influence of the President
clinched its fate
But in other directions the Pres
ident't personal appeal was less
successful. Members of the agrarian
bloc, an organization of Senators
from farming states, are opposed to
the three-day recesses. They told
the President they thought the de-
preston IN agriculture so acute that
IT demanded immediate relief and
frankly said they would endeavor
to keep the Senate in continuous
session until some Of the pending
agricultural bills were disposed of.
Bills Farmers Want.
Among the bills mentioned by the
fnsurgent group are those which
would put the Secretary of Agri-
culture on the Federal Reserve
Board, increase the rate on bonds
OF joint-stock land banks from
to 5h per cent. and increase the
maximum amount of loans of Fed
eraI farm loan banks from $4,000
to S25,0OO. other measures dis
eussed, on which the group is less
hopeful of obtaining early favor
able action, were those seeking to
eliminate gambling on grain ex-
changes, and providing for the ere
alto nOf 100000 farm export
corporation.
Senators Norris and Kenyon are
understood to have been among
those voicing the viewpoint of the
agricultural group, and they were
supported by other Senators who
have measures pending on which
they consider early action impera-
tive The President, it is under
stood. inclined to the belief that
conditions in farming are gradually
righting themselves, but Senators
were unwilling to concede this.
The agricultural bloc already has
demonstrated its strength by de-
feating an attempted recess sponsir-
ed by leaders of both parties. Again
yesterday 1t interfered with the plan
of leaders Senator Lodge had plan
ned a three-day recess, but he gave
up the idea when the bloc warned
him that he would be opposed
stiII Seek Reeesses.
Lodge and others, however ex-
pect to ask for recesses of three
days at a 1me, and are now en-
gagged in organizing their forces
Concessions will be offered to re-
calcritant Senators to win them
over.
The visit of the President to the
Capitol served to emphasize the de-
moralized state of the legislative
program in Congress, and bears out
the growing belief that the ad-
ministration has not found the ac-
tivities OF Congress entirely to its
liking. There has been delay on
the fiscal program, dispute between
the Houses, and an absence of de-
termined leadership.
The President has at all times
been loath to exert pressure on Con-
gress, 1t is well known, but now
that he has assumed leadership. a
closer working arrangement between
the legislative and executive
branches is expected The President
had plannd to divert the bonus bill
In a less direct manner, but was
forced to act openly. He summoned
Senator Lodge and Representative
Mondell to the White House Sew
eral days ago to express his views
on the bonus, 1t has become known.
But when Lodge returned to the
Senate he found that the bonus bill
had been brought up during his alb
sence.
IT,. prastdant Wa, .coor,nant.S .