Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-06
CONGRESS IS EAGER
|. TO FOLLOW HARDING
BY ROBERT T. SMALL
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921

BY ROBERT T. SMALL
(Ieased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.--Congress
comes back Monday to the unfinish.
ed tasks Of the extra session and to
the added responsibilities Of the first
regular session Of the Harding adj
ministration.
So brief has been the interval
since the adjournment on November
%, and so completely had tae dying
extra session been submerged by
the pomp and circumstance Of the
arms conference, it is difficult for
Washington to realize that congress
has been away.
But the nearby jewellers have had
an opportunity to go home for a
few days and they are returning to
Washington with, the somewhat
acute knowledge that there has been
countrywide criticism of the con
gfess for the legislation which con-
gress itself has admitted has been
of the nake-shift variety. a.
Senators and congressman are
bringing back word that every con-
domination of congress is accom-
panied by the warmest conlmenda-
ton of President Harding. The leg
islative leaders, therefore, are sit
ting up nights trying to figure how
they can bring themselves within
the reflected radiance of executive
popularity.
For one thing they already are
asking the president to take a more
important part in the direction of
congress. The men responsible for
congress want to go into closer part
nership with the White House. They
have a dual purpose in this. The
first, of course, is the hope to get
more accomplished through the pub.
lie opinion which will be aroused
by the presidents activity. The Sec
ond is to improve the standing OF
congress with the people by stress
ing the fact that it is working in
the closest possible cooperation with
the president.
No Tax Relief
The difficulty with this program is
that the obstructionist elements in
both the senate and house of repre-
sentatives are so "set" in their ways
that it is doubtful If even the presi-
dent can iron out the wrinkles suf-
ficiently to bring about smoothly
running machine. Some elements OF
the Republican party, having acquir-
ed the obstructionist habit under the
Wilson administration, are finding 1t
difficult now to change their ways.
President Harding, who hesitated
heretofore about taking the lead in
congress because he thoroughly be-
Iieves in the functional form of gov
eminent and a division of RESPONSE
bility among the three branches, is
certain to accede to the request OF
the congress leaders for more and
more active assistance in putting
through an administration program.
Congressman generally realize that
the coming regular session is not like
ly to add greatly to their popularity,
for no matter what excellent leg1s-
1ation may be enacted in other direc-
tons there is no. possibility of meet
ing the demands of the people for
heavier cuts in their tax bills. There
is also the necessity of making APP
preparations which in the end will
run very close to $4,000, 100000. The
appropriations will be made under
the new budget system, it is true,
and there is no doubt that the budget
commission has been able to shave
many Of the departmental estimates,
but the saving of two or three nun
dred million dollars in total budget
of nearly four billions is not easily
recognized by the harassed tax pay
ers.
The cuts in taxes made in the
revenue bill approved by the pres1-
dent few days ago, While amount
ing to a considerable sum in. the
aggregate, appear somewhat meager
when distributed among the millions
of taxpayers.
AS a matter of fact the cuts will
scarcely be felt at all during the
next year. And it is next year that
all of the members of the house of
come up for re-elec-
ton. The one ray of hope left the
members is their promise to the
country that the new tax bill is only
a temporary one and that it Will be
changed from time to time In an ef-
fort to improve it.
And so, with the tax law in an
unsatisfactory condition.
Congress will soon begin to thrash
out a tariff law. And it is admitted
already that the new tariff law, like
the revenue law, will be but tenn
porary affair. There is hope to get
the tariff bill out of the senate
finance committee just before con-
gress adjourns for the Christmas
holidays. There may be hitch
even in this program, and so at best
there is little thought of any con-
sideratinn of the tariff in omen SeS-