Evening star., 1921-12-04
Congress Returning to Its Tasks
Knowing the Public Is Critical

size the views of the executive with
regard to the initiation of this sys-
tenn.
In preparation for handling these
appropriation bills under the new
budget system. the committee has
been reorganized departmental.y, 50
that all appropriations for any one
service will be massed in one bill and
not scattered through several bills.
as heretofore. This has meant a tre-
mendous amount of work during the
recess for the clerks Of the appropria-
ton committee. In order that hear
ings may be held simultaneously,
while clerks are not interrupted in
their work. the appropriations COM
mittee has been given three addi-
tfonal Offices on the floor below the
present rooms, including the room
now occupied by the post office COM
mittee. which is considered the most
beautifully decorated committee room
on the House side-the first work Of
the great artist, Brumidi
The most important work of the
House will be it's appropriation pro-
gram." said House Leader Mondell.
For the first time we are to have
estimates presented after careful con-
sideration by the bureau of the bud
get. The House will approach con-
sideration of these estimates with a
disposition to adhere to all the econo-
mics which the estimates as present.
ed. may suggest and with a DISPOSE
ton to scrutinize these estimates
with a view as to whether or no still
further economies can be accom-
plished."
House Leader Mondell admitted
that "the bonus legislation has got to
be considered" This is recognized as
very serious problem and the lead
ers in both the House and Senate are
reluctant to express their views at
this time.
Regarding the reclassificatioa
measure, which is of particular i'm
portance to all government employees.
Rep. Mondell says: Among the i'm
portant pieces of legislation that the
House will consider at an early date
now being to pass a bill that will be
considered in connection with the
estimates to be prepared by the de-
partments next summer and fall, for
the fiscal year 1924"
In justice to Congress, now charged
by the country with not having done
good work during the extra session,
it should be stated that while Con-
gress may have failed-particularly
the Senate-to pass certain definite
legislation for which it was called
into extraordinary session by Presi-
dent Harding-yet it was the most
hardworking Congress in many years,
especially on the House side.
4 x X
People from all over the country,
dropping in for a few minutes or an
hour or two to get frst-hand infor-
nation on legislation. get an entirely
wrong view Of how Congress does
business. They see a very few men
in the legislative chamber engaged
in some immaterial colloquy. and
charge Congress with wasting time
Well-informed people know that the
hardest work of Congress is done in
committee.
A recapitulation and comparison of
the work done in the first session of
the last three Congresses shows that
the House was extraordinarily busy.
1t was in actual session 139 days, as
against 144 in 1919 and ia in 1917.
A total of 9,775 bills and resolutions
were introduced. A total of los pub
lie laws were passed, as against SO in
1919 and 81 in 1917. There was
CONTINUED on Third Pagel