The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-21
HARDING MUST
CALL HALT UPON
.SPENDTHRTFTS
Too Many Appropria-
tior7s Are Made by
Congress.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial to The Argus.) }

topecldl 10 Inc ATSuS.J
Washington, July 21.-President
Harding may have to take another
trip to the capitol or in some other
way apply the brakes to the tend
ency of congress to appropriate for
new purposes all the money that
| has been saved by the careful prun-
ing of the budget
| The senate is in a snarl again.
Although Mr.. Harding pleaded with
his former colleagues to sidetrack
not only the bonus but other legis-
lstion excepting the tariff and tax
alton, the bill providing 100000, 900
tc finance farm exports now-is up
for consideration. 1t means. if
passed, a spending of exactly the
amount which c. G. Dawes, director
of the budget, announces has been
saved. In other words, just as fast
as a saving is accomplished at one
end of the national capital means
OF spending an equivalent amount
are found at the other end. And
OAL SOP VI II Oil L4S ACo
board finds it necessary to ask for
$50, 1000, 900 to salvage the wreck on
its hands. Thus the president finds
himself in the awkward situation
o. appealing to congress directly or
Indirectly to concentrate on the tax
program ami let alone other mat
ters.
Push Farm Bill.
The agricultural blCc in the SEN
ate is pushing the farm export
bill with the same vigor that the
bonus was pressed. The president
himself has not said anything for
or against the farm bill and there
is no doubt that he would like 10,
see agriculture aided in just such
practical way, but the question of
establishing a precedent and CIV
ing 100000 900 to one class is
perilous one. Other Industries may
come forward with requests for aid.
Furthermore, the farm bill gives
authority for possible appropria-
tion of billion dollars eventually
as it is a progressive thing with
S100, 100000 to start with.
Mr.. Harding has asserted his
leadership somewhat to the discol-
future of some elements in the sen
ate but to the qualification of otn-
ers. His closest friends would well
come another trip TO the capitol.
They insist that the senate has no
leaders powerful enough to over
ride the wishes OF any bloc or
group. The demands of different
sections of the country have upset
ha sv,f Of ha
ty leader. The call to party is not
as strong as it used to be. Mr..
Harding is being told he is the only
nan who can lead the senate out of
the wilderness of it's variegated in
terests and force action on the big
questions of taxation and revenue.
Not Much Accomplished.
AS it looks now about all that
fas been accomplished in general
way by government economy has
been the prevention OF higher taxes
than last year. Were it not for the
efforts at economy made through
the budget committee and the APP
peals Of President Harding to his
cabinet the government would be
faced with the necessity of increaS-
ing rather than decreasing the tax
rate for the calendar year of 1921.
Unless some drastic cuts are made
in government expense on the one
hand, accompanied by few Vetoes
of congressional desire to spend
more money, the tax rate will re-
main unchanged. This, the po-
litical advisers of the administra-
tion fear, will react against them.
They promised to reduce taxes and
unless a gradual reduction can be
put into effect so that a convincing
demonstration is made of the Re-
publican purpose to keep its pledge.
Republicans themselves admit they
will enter the congressional elec-
tons with a gloomy prospect. Presi-
dent Harding's intervention in the
senate situation is again regarded
as inevitable.