The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-08-16
CONGRESS SOON
TO TAKE RECESS
PURPOSES FOR CONVENING NOT
ATTAINED.
Asrarian Bloc Delays Leave Taking,
Hoping to Pass Farm Relief
Measures.
Hugh w. Roberts in The State.

washington, aug. 14.-CoHS eS'
has agreed to recess for a month. Il
has reached such conclusion after {
futile effort to tool all the people al
the time.
March 4 congress convened in eX
traordinary session under the call OF
the president for the purpose of en-
acting tariff bill to supplant the
Underwood measure and to revise the
scheme of taxation. 1t will recess
without having accomplished either
purpose.
Some time ago responsible leaders
aware of the futility of continuing a
grind productive of no good, en-
deavored to recess. The agrarian
bloc in the senate defeated the eff,
fort. The agrarian bloc took the po-
sition that it must impress the farm
ers with an idea that it was serving
the farmers. The agrarian bloc was
about as successful as the Harding
administration in its plan to enact .
tariff bill.
Faith in Legislation.
1t is interesting to review the
work of congress since the agrarlan
bloc insisted that congress remain on
the lob and alleviate the. distress OF
the agricultural class. For the agrar-
ian bloc was imbued with an idea that
economic conditions are dependent OF
law, just as certain other association:
believe that by law they can make
the world moral.
Since refusing to recess and agree
ing to recess, congress disposed Of
the soldiers bonus bill, the meat
packers bill and the socalled farm
export bill. 1t is recalled that the
president ordered the pigeonholing o
the bonus bill. But had it been en-
acted it could not have been effective
prior to July, 1922. For the enact
ment of bill effective one yea
hence, there was no real reason fo
the refusal of the agrarian bloc to
adjourn. ,
; The packers bill, as enacted, is
deusion and sham. It is fraut
on its face. For in seven vital re
speets, it was amended by the lobby
lists in the pay of the packers. Sen
ator La Toilette so charged and b!
virtue OF no denial, so proved.
Nevertheless, the agrarian bloc re,
mained in session to enact that bill
and to confer the blessing on the
farmers which they eontended th'
bill guaranteed.
Another reason for the refusal O.
the agrarian bloc to adjourn was tn
pendency of the bill, introduced b!
Senator Norris, under which there
seemed to be guarantee that farm
ers could unite and with the assist
ance of the government. secure thu
expectation of their surplus products
Faints in Senate.
Just at the time the senate wa
prepared to enact the bill, the presi
dent appeared. He declared it yer!
bad, and ordered that substitute b.
written. The substitute was writer
and enacted Senator Norris, author
of the original bill, aware of the
hypocrisy involved. in, the substitute
denounced the administration, and a
result of broken heart, tainted il
the senate and has not since made al
appearance.
But even had the Norris bill bee
enacted in original. form, it coul
not have been influential in harvest
ing and exporting the crop of th'
current season. The senator so &C
mitted on the floor. 1t was, there
fore, not so important as to preven
an adjournment in the summer O.
1921. But the Norris bill gave the
agrarian bloc an opportunity to i'm
press the farmers with an idea tina
in another" concrete instance,
had served the farmers.
The Democratic leader in the sen
ate, Senator Oscar W. Underwood OF
Alabama, declared on the floor o
the senate some weeks ago that the
restoration of stability in bushes:
conditions was. dependent, not OF
this or that pro bono publico dream
or scheme, but on the enactment O.!
a tax bill which would relieve the
burden of business and the people
and at the same time, encourage
capital to exercise itself.
The enactment of such bill wa:
the purpose of the extraordinary ses
sion. No one seriously takes issue
&c TT,o