The daily times., 1921-07-02
MURMUR|NGS OVER
SLOW PROGRESS OF
ADMINISTRATION
THE TAX BILL DELAYED
There is Beginning to be Rec
ognition OF the Fact That a
Mistake Was Made I'm Re-
fusing to Put Tax Revision
Ahead of the Tariff. AS Re.
suit Nothing Accomplished.
(By David Lawrence).

10y DdVlQ Lawrence. J..
Copyright 1921 by Daily Times.
Washington, July 1.-The first of
July is here and Congress has failed
to live up to the prediction made duri
ing the last campaign that the busi-
ness men of the country would know
how much taxes they would have to
pay for the fiscal year which in SO
many business concerns begins today
the beginning of the governments
fiscal year and is always regarded as
turning point. Therefore it is not
surprising to find discussion today of
has made to date and to note certain
murmurings inside and outside of
Congress and tendency to pass the
blame from the Executive end of
the Avenue to Congress and back.
again.
The truth is that anyone who be-
lieved the Republican would be
able to get a tax bill out of the
way by July first miscaiculated the
speed of Congress. The Republican
majority is so big that it is some
what unwieldly and the old fashion
ed method of having the two houses
steered by leaders in whom the rank
and file would have confidence has
given way to the groups and fact
ions which have their own leaders
President Harding has never abat-
led his desire for prompt passage of
, a tax bill but it is one thing to hope
for speed from Congress and quite
another thing to get it especially at
the start of an Administration when
Senators and Representatives spend
much of their time either getting
new jobs for their friends or saving
their old friends from losing said
jobs.
| Congress has literally slid along
from day to day without program
and without aim. Nobody sits over
Congress and cracks the whip. The
same leisurely methods that have
prevailed for years are still in vogue
and so many measures are proposed
by individual members that the maiI
are not pushed forward with the
combined energies of the members.
The real trouble is that pride o.
party is disappearing. Time was
| ;o1f hn oil
ments in the Republican party b!
calling upon its members to upholt
: the reputation of the G o P for eff
cheney and smooth dispatch of publi
business. Only the Democrats used t.
be held up to seorn as unable to han
die legislation efficiently. So man,
groups have arisen in the Senate an
House that instead of pride of part
there is in it's place pride of indi
vidual opinion. There is little regar'
, for party harmony. A Republical
) Congress, for instance, has just em
barassed a Republican President an
Secretary of War by ordering tina
: the standing army be cut down t
: -l15O,OoO men by October 1st. instea
, of next May as originally planned. A
a consequence, the government
: placed in the position OF having t
: discharge men who enlisted for
t year The government in other word
, is obliged to break its contract. Tn
4 lSecretary of War thinks it would b
a stain on the honor uf the govern
e ,ment to do so yet he is required b
law to bring the army down to tn
a size for which money was apprc
d priated He can't keep faith with tn
!, enlisted men without violating
f statute. If a trooper deserts an
e lbreaks his contract with the govern
j. ment, he is punished but the arm
d linen how wonder how the govern
o Iment can justify a breaking of il
|, Iown contract. President Harding hs
h appealed to Congress to straighte
tout the matter by new legislation. d