The Ward County independent., 1921-12-01

Senators McCumber and Ladd, and
Congressman Young and Sinclair, all
expect to spend the greater part Of
the recess in their Washington Of
fees. The regular sessions will con-
vene on December 5 and since the
tariff bill may be reported early in
the session the entire delegation will
want to be on hand for the opening
day.
The Finance Committee, of which
Senator McCumber is member, will
sit during a part of the recess, since
the Penrose-Fordney tariff bill has
not yet passed from the committee.
This committee is also to handle the
soldiers adjusted compensation act
when it is again elected to bring the
measure up for discussion.
At the arms conference the states.
men of the world are still meeting in
friendly delberation, despite the re-
ports of alarmists to the contrary.
England and France have been hav-
ing a little newspaper war; Germany
has felt outraged by insinuations Of
militaristic Vaccinations; and China
and Japan, we are told, are upon the
verge Of resorting to settlement in
the backyard. Yet surface appear
ances are quite as serene as of yore
and the American delegates leave the
conference rooms each night ref1ecting
plenty Of optimism.
And even while notes of constant
ruptures are emanating from out the
byways opinions are being expressed
by the observers Of affairs that the
success of the present meeting but
presages the calling of other and per-
fecting conferences.
At home, anywhere in the country,
people are looking askance toward
Washington, muttering because of
things Congress has done, or left un.
done With hard times knocking at
the door it is easy to blame things
on the Lawmakers when all does not
run smoothly.
In Washington congressman, rest
ing after a tedious seven months
session, are congratulating themselves
at some of the milestones passed.
And SO it is with something to be
said upon both sides. Quite assuredly
both sides will tell it, too.
However, much has been done, much
that will not have to be undone or
re-done. The troublesome medical beer
bill perplexed the. senator's for days.
That is now ancient history. The
maternity bill is law, after much
propaganda, pro and con. The Vet
erans Bureau Act, consolidating all
soldiers relief agencies, something
long demanded by the American Le-
gion, is an accomplished fact. We
are at peace with Germany, Austria
and Hungary. The action came with
out flag-waving but it took some time.
The immigration restriction law was
enacted. Farmers were given the pro-
lection asked in the emergency tariff
bill, passed, and once extended. The
budget law, long dream, has become
a reality. Army and naval appropria-
tions bills, left over from last ses-
sion, were passed. And the $25 ,0OO,-
900, farm loan act liberalizing farm
credits, is in operation.
The revenue revision bill, the big
gest job of all, became law with the
end of the session. 1t may be chang
ed in later session but for the time
it is out of the way and for the most
part it will be the law Of the land
for while.
The permanent tariff bill, another
legislative Tartar, is half way thru
the mill. 1t may have to be changed,
as conditions with which it deals
are changing, but the heavy end Of the
job has been done.
After reviewing the work done Rep
resentative Mondell, the Republican
floor leader, calls the session zone of
the most diligent and important ses-
siOnS in tho history of tho Amoriran
Congress-" Probably most Of the
men who have been doing the work
will agree with him. Certainly the
members of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, after laboring for months upon
the two great measures of the present
congress, and other lesser bills, as
well, feel that they have mastered
some tremendous obstacles. And
Senators who sat oft times until time
for the cock to crow, will probably ad-
nit that they have done their bit.
With the folks at home, where re-
suits alone will be weighed in the
balance, the verdict is still to be rem
dered. And before the tests in June
and November the legislators at
Washington must grind away again
for many months. In the meantime
it may be well to consider that Con-
gress is meeting place Of many
minds, that changing conditions create
varying opinions which must be
threshed out in the mill day by day.
All Of which takes time.
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