Pueblo chieftain., 1921-05-29
PRESENT CONGRESS SHOWS lack
Of CONFIDENCE AND HESITATION
IN OUTLINING WORKING PROGRAM
Republican Leaders Trying To Fulfill Campaign Prom
ises, With Cabinet Busy With
Economy

meant In good faith. Those VINO maoe
it took it for granted they could DO
it. In some ways they have set about
doing it. Tho cabinet devotes moro
time to measures of economy than to
any other one subject.
The programme for = reorganization
of the government, which ultimately
will lead to greater economy and eff
ficicncy, is well under way. But all
that tho cabinet can do in the way OF
salvaging war material and adopting
policies of not paying rent for so many
buildings, and all the other cutting up
of useless expense, is merely minor
compared to the big items in which the
only really noticeable economies can
possibly DO effected.
The tariff revision proposed by the
Republican leaders cannot seriously
reduce the burden of taxation in the
near future. Neither. probably. could
any other tariff revision affect taxa
tion until some other things are ac-
complished first. These other things
arc in a field which congress cannot
control. They are in the field OF inter
national relations. and that is a field
in which, having marched down the
hill from where Wilson took us rather
too suddenly. we are now considering
whether to turn around and march at
least part of the way up again.
II is this self consciousness about the
futility of the tariff AS an Immediate
means of reducing other forms of taxa
tfon that accounts for the lack OF in
terest in II. II the Republicans he
lieve the tariff would really meet their
promise OF reducing other forms OF
taxation. they would 60 into 1t with a
hearty spirit AS n matter OF fact. not
only is the big tariff bill far behind
its schedule. but even the uninportant
emergency tariff. which was promised
10 he a law within two weeks from the
beginning Of the session, was still
4. tv,f- ytrn ,t.f hn ttN
session. The truth II. the tariff leaves
everybody cold II Ia this uneasiness
about the party promises 10 reducc
taxes that has brought out the most
vital speeches made In either house
during the present session. II is this
unessincss about the cost OF govern
ment That caused tho lower house to
try to reduce army appropriations TO
basis OF 900 men. a basis which,
even in the judgment of strong be
levers in disarmament. is rather low
The question OF disarmament is the
one that contains for President Hard
ing 1ho greatest danger OF having his
hand forced. He wants to go patiently
and slowly about the whole complex
business of International relations, and
until he makes satisfactory progress in
other respects he does not want. =" 10
speak to throw away his gun, but he
is faced by an increasing indisposition
on the part of congress and the peopl"
TO supply MIN with Ammunition i'i ms
gun.
Within tho next few weeks there will
develop highly organized movement
among tho churches. which ultimately
will CYPRESS itself In demand on
President Harding that he call an in
tcrnstional conference for disarma-
ment. Politically. X will he most un-
fortunate for President Harding II
circumstances make him seem 10 resist
this demand.
Even II he should get past tho crisis
OF the next few weeks. he Will face
worse one next December. In Dcccm-
ber. another naval Appropriation bill
viii come up. II will he hanlcd by tho
sauyc congress that lis already restless
about tho present appropriation bill.
When tho new naval appropriation bill
comes up. congress will he within
three or four months OF the primaries
which will rc-clect or reject them.
Under those circumstances. the dan
ger is that there will be forced upon
President Harding and upon the coun-
try a disarmament by ourselves alone
without references To what other ma
tons do President Harding has tho
alternative OF proceeding to disarma-
mcnt by conference with other nations
in tho near future Of disarmament
without regard to other nations next
December
Copyright 1871 by tho New York
Evening Post, inc)