Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-02-15
Poor MANAGEMENT

-HE United States Senate is described
as the greatest deliberative body in
the world and so it is. The trouble
with the Senate is that usually it doesn't de-
liberate about matters that are pressing for
consideration, but fritters away its time de-
batting questions that are wholly foreign to
the things that really require attention. The
short sessions of Congress, especially the ses-
sion that is now running its course, serve to
illustrate and emphasize the point.
Under the Constitution, the short session
begins on the first Monday in December and
ends on March following. Christmas in
teryening, the sessions life is considerably
less than three months, for Congress usually
recesses for a week ten days during the
holiday season. theoretically, the short ses-
sion is devoted only to the consideration OF
supply bills-measures that provide funds
with which to defray the expenses of the gov
eminent In the aggregate, these supply
bills appropriate, in ordinary times, exceed
ing one billion dollars. Three months GER
tainly is little enough time to give to the con-
sideration of such enormous expenditures.
The appropriation bills must originate in
the lower House and pass that body before
they get to the senate. In these circum-
stances, it is obvious that if they receive the
attention to which they are entitled the Sen
ates time would be occupied entirely by de-
alterations concerning these vast expendl-
lures. But such is not the case.
Right now, we learn from Washington ad-
vices, eight of the thirteen regular supply
bills, passed by the House, are awaiting con-
sideration by the Senate. Only one of the
big appropriation bills has been passed by
the Senate, and scarcely three weeks inter-
vene before the adjournment of Congress-
In a word, the greatest deliberative body in
the world has twenty days, Sundays inclu-
Sive, before March in which to perfect,
through deliberation, twelve appropriation
bills. Over two months of the present SEES
sion has been frittered away by the Senate
in collaborating" about matters wholly for
eign to the expenditures of the government.
Of course, the Senate will pass the big ap-
preparations bills before March 4, but their
detailed provisions will not receive the de-
Lucrative attentions that their Importance
justifes.
The Senate has not been loafing through
out the short session. 1t has been function
ing regularly as a deliberative body. but its
deliberations have concerned non-essentials
so far as the ordinary operations of the gov
eminent concerned. Days and weeks
have been devoted to discussing the oFrdney
emergency tariff bill, which is assured of
death by veto even if it should be passed by
the Senate, which is unlikely.
The Journal has no complaint to register
against the deliberativeness of the Senate.
On the contrary, we regard it as fortunate
circumstance that its rules permit the Senate
to deliberate without stint or hindrance on
matters affecting. the future of the nation
and the welfare of the people.
Our criticism of the Senate is aimed at the
unbusiness-life method which permits the
consideration or discussion of matters that
should have no place on the calendar and
which neither require nor justify the DELHI
erations that are accorded them.
If board Of directors of business enter
prise were confronted with the necessity of
providing for the maintenance and conduct
OF their business for stated period by sup
plying many thousands of dollars, it is not
likely that they would defer consideration
Of these expenditures until the eleventh hour
and fritter away their time by discussing
other matters. AS business men, thew would
get through with their business, before de-
voting any time to discussing something en-
tirely foreign.