New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-29
Harding Speeds
Reforms While
Congress I4ags
President Given Credit for
Much Constructive Ac-
ton, but Legislative Rec
ord Cheers Democrats
Essential Plans Held Up
Measures Designed to Help
Business Sideiracl<ed hv
Politics on Capitol Hill
By Garter Field

WASHINGTON, Aug 2S.-With the
auspicious beginning Of the armament
limitation conference, the conclusion
of separate treaty of peace with
Germany and Austria, the settlement of
the long standing squabble between
Panama and Costa Rica ard the bright
ening Of prospects with regard to Mex
leo, the Harding Administration has
made a remarkably good record so far,
in the opinion Of most observers here.
Indeed, this good start is conceded by
most of the big Democratic leaders, so
far as the administrative end OF tbs
government is concerned.
But up on Capitol Hill Congress has
been making very different kind of
record. 1t IS, indeed, the general
consensus here that unless President
showing with the armament limitation
conference that it becomes the big is
sue next year the Democrats have
good chance as it looks now, of cap
turing the next House.
Congress may turn over q new leaf
after the present thirty day rest, but
its performance to date in the extra
session is one which pleases the Demo
Gratis as they look forward to the next
(dlI tSH i1OIc tidI inc NeDUOllCauS.
Economic Measures Blocked
In the first place, Congress has been
blocking stubbornly and persistently
several of the things regarded by Pres
ident Harding and his advisers as abso-
lutely essential to relieving the eco
monte situation. How important the
economic situation is from a political
viewpoint is difficult for those who do
not make business of studying poll
tics to understand, but every politician
knows it is fundamental that hard
times may beat the party in power
ond good times makes it much more diff
fcult to Dust 1T from control.
Presidential candidates of the party
in power have been defeated because
the wheat crop was bad, and elected be-
cause it was good. Candidates of the
"outs" have been swept into Office be-
hard times just before election, and
have been decisively defeated because
some economic condition. such. for in
stance, as a flood of buyers orders
from abroad-over which they had no
control, interviewed to make business
good.
SO President Harding and his ad
visers have approached the problem of
making business-wh has not been
GA lAt DtSS lhtcly -IiOlt dCt1'Ss vic
of the big sore spots has been the rail
roads cf the country which, starved
for years, with no ready cash and with
the highest interest rates for years
staring them in the face, have cut all
their expenditures to the bone. Natu-
rally this cessation of buying ard
spending by the railroads has been felt
all the way down the line in the bust
ness world
Prescribed Oxygen for Railroads
The President has felt, and members
of his Cabinet agree with him heartily,
as do for that matter most of the
leaders up on Capitol Hill, that if a
little oxygen could be pumped into the
railroad organizations the effect would
be instantly apparent on the whole
country. He proposed tooadVance them
the cash which the government owes
them without forcing them at this time
to paw what they owe the government,
the determination Of which amounts,
incidentally, Will require a consider
able period of time for discussion and
litigation.
But little Roadway has been made
by Congress on the Admin stration
railroad bill, Railroad batting is still
believed by some of the politicians in
both houses of Congress to be good
politics. They declaim about the ex-
traYagant salaries paid railroad presi-
dents, sob about proposed wage reduc-
tons and defend the interests of the
"peepul."
The men opposing the railroad bill