The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-11
UNDERWOOD SAYS REPUBLICANS ARE
 SLOW ON THE JOB
We Need and Must Have a Revision of the Scheme of
 Taxation," Says Ala .. bama Senator :.
Fly HUGH W. ROBERTS Washington Bureau The Age Herald
 300 Davidson kuifdinw

Washington, July 10.-(Special J- The Congress is engaged in what ap- pears to be an effort "to fool the people all the tfme." On account of the distress in. agricultural sections. and in the business world, in general those members who are leading in the prosecution of the programme. are able at all times to force their way ahead. On the eve of the congress sional elections it is only the very bold man who will oppose any move- ment. however impossible of effec- tive operation, which is said to be in the interest of the farmer, the live stock producer or the ''victimp of railroad transportation.
 Senator Underwood of Alaba ma. democratic leader, declares that patchwork" legislation, the frantic effort of certain senators to secure governmental relief for this and that, to- build up semi governmental cor porations for the financing of stag rated industry would be unnecessary were the republican majority, by the enactment of wise and adeouate fls- cal legislation, to stabilize conditions
 My criticism of the republican party continued the Alabama sen ator' lis based on it's delay in bring ing forth the legislation for the con sideraton of which we we're called into extraordinary session. And I do not mean the tariff bill That is only a small part of the necessary legislation. We need and must have revision of the scheme of taxation.p
 Refused Advice
 But the advice of the Alabama sen ator was not needed. The advocates of the maternity bill, which would make midwife of the United States government, and substitute for moth CTS In the rearing of children fed eral bureau composed almost exclu- svely of spinsters; the advocates of bonus legislation under which the treasury would "break" in paying American patriots of able bodies $50 per quarter; the advocates of the bill creating a $100,000000 corporation for the financing of agriculture, and the advocates of bill increasing the lending operations of the federal land banks insisted that such legislation be enacted in rapid time for the ben eft of those in whose interest the bills were prepared
 The Senate last week refused to I lou, ..rr bill was ready for the considera tion of the Senate. 1t refused because of the pendency of the bonus bill and the bill creating a government cor. poration for exporting agricultural products. The farmers of the coun- try and the soldiers applauded such refusal. And yet irrespective of the haste employed in enacting the ex- port corporation measure, it's author, Senator Norris, admits that it cam not be put in operation in time to serve in distributing the crops of the present season; and the bonus bill, were 1t to be enacted today, could not put cent into the hands of any sol dier prior to July l, 1922.
 Should Have Adjourned There was no reason. therefore, why the Senate should not have adjourned.
 
 the consideration of a bill which can benefit no crop other than that of next year, and for the consideration of bill which can give no money to soldiers prior to July next year. And it is altogether probable that the Senate would have adjourned but for a wonderfully effective political speech of Senator Simmons of North Carolina. He pointed out the fact which is self-evident, that the Con gress has done nothing for the relief of anyone. He declared that perhaps pending bills contained no positive hope of relief. And then he asked the republicans: What are you going to do? Adjourn and confess yourself in competent? Such legislation as will extend the credit of the government to producers is not popular with big business with which the republican party has always been aligned. Will you adjourn to please big business% Then adjourn. I will have no quarrel with you. But. the farmers of the country will. They will wipe out your majorities next year"
 He shook the republicans from head to foot. and they did not adjourn. But the. distress of the farmers will be just as acute 90 days hence.