The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-12-21
CAPITOL cuLLINos

ashfngt0ns ID. e., Dec. H.
5ident Harding, in a message
fich reads as II 1t had been written
By Mr.. Harding himself, has told
Ae first regular session Of the
kty-Seventh Congress what he
Thinks about the state of the Union,
with the exception of the Newberry
Case, and what he expects of this
session.
Initiating President Wilson, he
read his message in person, and fol-
lowing In the footsteps of his illustri-
Gus predecessor, he notified Congress
that he would not obey its order
abrogating all existing commercial
treaties. He also followed in the
footsteps. of the Wilson administra-
ton In his revival of the proposal
for the reclamation of arid lands to
provide homes for soldiers.
The President administered a
reprimand to the agricultural bloc,
coupled with a plea for party unity
on the ground that we have party
government, but ignored the plain
fact that Republican dissension in
Congress is due to the autocratic
spirit and dictatorial attitude of the
ivory bloc.
His dissatisfaction with the Tax
bill passed at the special session
makes the dissatisfaction unani-
nous, and it will be interesting to
note what success he achieves when
he comes back later, as he promises
to do, with special plea for fur
Their reduction in the higher surtax
for the benefit largely of profiteers.
President Harding's attempt to
meet conditions in way to justify
the passing of tariff law is almost
pathetic. From reactionary party
standpoint, perhaps, it was tactful,
but as far as affording any satisfac-
tory solution of the tariff middle it
is as impotent as the tariff bill it.
self as it came from the hands of
uncle Joe" Fordney.
His plan is to have Congress dele
gate it's constitutional power to levy
tariff taxes to the Executive, so that
the taxes can be levied by himself
in the form of an executive order,
or a ukase, after the manner that
legislation was promulgated in Rus
STA in the days of the Cars. 1t
would seem that many of the ideas
of the Executive are largely depend
ent either upon a change of the
Constitution or the delegation of
constitutional authority or ignoring
the Constitution entirely for their
application.
The suggestion for constitution
al amendment % enable the taxing
of State and municipal securities
now exempt is of doubtful value, ex-
cept perhaps as political gesture,
for the reason that in the belief of
many three-fourths of the States
which are able to market their Sc
curities satisfactorily largely be-
cause they are exempt from taxa
ton would have to ratify the amend
ment. The suggestion that the
States surrender another Constitu-
tional right in matter that affects
the very fundamentals of our dual
system of government will arouse
more or less controversy. This is
matter that should be dealt with in
more practical manner and that
will give greater promise of success
on more equitable lines.
It may be assumed that a favora-
BILE reception will be given to the
Presidents recommendation to APP
propriate for the Russian famine
sufferers a sum sufficient to purchase
70, 900 900 bushels of corn and l.
\G.OoO bushels of seed grain al
Ugh this is way below the esti-
lie made by Gov. Goodricn OF ihu-
lana, who has made survey of the
and who estimates 1t will
take fifteen or twenty million bush
els of corn and four or five million
bushes of seed wheat to relieve 25,-
900, 900 people.
The purchase of the corn and the
seed grain for this worthy purpose
would help the American farmer In
getting rid Of his surplus and would
give relief in corresponding measure
to the railroads which exact In
freight rates a sum equal to the cost
of raising the grain.
In contrast to President Harding's
statement acknowledging 1.-The really
arge volume and excellent quality