New-York tribune., 1921-02-15
Calls
On Congress to
Clean Up Bills
Appeals to Lodge and Mon.
dell Convey His Desire
That Docket Should Be
Clear for Next Session
House to Finish Thursday
Army and Navy Measures
Likely To Be Lost as
Result of Controversies
Fron. The Tribune's Washington sur,o

from me Iftohfee'S washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14.-PresideRt-
elect Harding to-day openly took a
hand in the effort to force the appro-
priation bills through Congress before
March 1. In kilograms to Senator
Lodge, Republican leader in tie Senate,
and Representative Mondell, Repub-
lican leader in the House, he expressed
the wish that the measures be disposed
of and emphasized the Importance of
clearing the way for the consideration
of new and special problems in the spe-
cial session.
Representative Mondell replied in a
message saying the House would have
all the appropriation bills passed by
Thursday night. Senator Lodge also
replied, saying he was in accord with
Mr.. Harding's views as to passage of
the appropriation measures, and would
continue to do all possible to get them
through.
The messages of the President elect
to the Senate and House leaders are
looked on here as especially note
worthy for the reason that they are
taken to indicate that when President
he will not hesitate to exert influence
on the legislative situation when he
deems it advisable.
Penrose Ignores Appeal
As a matter of fact, he has urged
leaders since last December to try to
get the appropriation bills passed by
March A. However, it developed to-day
that ne wr .te to Senator t>nr Sc TO
the same effect several weeks ago. SEN
ator Penrose, however, has not seen
fit to sidetrack the tariff bill in order
to get the appropriations passed, and
not long ago he said on the floor it was
not essential that the appropriations
be disposed of by March 4.
Whether the Harding kilograms will
have the effect of breaking the legis-
lative jam and bringing about the
passage of the appropriation bills is
uncertain. The fact the House will
have passed all the bills by Thursday
night means nothing. The real ques-
tion is whether the Senate will pass all
Of them and, after that, whether they
can be agreed to in conference and th
conference reports can be adopted.
Many Senators doubt whether this can
be done.
Senator Lodge, in commenting on the
matter this afternoon, said: 1--WE shall
do the best we can"
Senator Curtis, Republican whip, said
the bills could be passed if night ses-
sions were held.
The Senate has yet to pass the dip
Ilomatic and consular, postofflce, agri-
cultural, Notifications, army, navy and
general deficiency bills. 1t has passed
The District of Columbia, sundry civil,
Indian, pension and legislative meas
ures, 1t has fourteen legislative lays
left and has not yet disposed of the
tariff bill, on which vote must be
had, according to the advocates of the
measure.
Indications are strong that in the
end two or three of the appropriation
bills will fail. The navy bill and the
army bill contain subject of sharp
| controversy, and as things stand to-day
both are in danger Of not passing.
The following is Mr.. Harding's Ines-
sage o Senator Lodge:
~ have been learning OF the danger
Of the failure of some OF the appro-
priation bills at this session of the
(Continusd on page seysn)