Taiban Valley news., 1921-12-16

awaiting passage. A month ago IL WAS
said that probably it would be passed
in January. Then the date was set
forward one month, and then two
months. 1t is possible now that
new tariff law will not be put on the
statute books for year.
Last spring certain members OF con-
gress sent to the leaders therein word
that it would be wise to give over any
thought of adequate tariff legislation
until many months had rolled by. The
advice was unheeded.
The argument advanced by the
members of congress who urged delay
in tariff legislation was that there
could be no certainty that the meas
ure would be wise in its provisions
unless it's framing was postponed
until economic conditions in the world
has become something like normal.
Labor enters largely into all mat
ters relating to the tariff. The Amer
ican wages were high and European
wages for the most part were low. Ihe'
money exchange between the countries
of Europe and the United States was
"all one-sided" and there was no tell
ing when the equilibrium would be
reached. Congress, however, went
ahead with its tariff legislation, the
leaders in the fight for its passage DO
ing their best to make 1t appear that
they had been right from the nrst-
and yet today they must still look
ahead for the time, of the enactment
OF new customs law.
Bills Before Regular Session.
The first regular session of congress
will begin on December 5. 1t will have
before 1t for consideration the tariff
bill, the railroad refunding bill and
the foreign debt bill. The senate has
all, these measures In its keeping.
The extraordinary session Of con-
gress which was called by President
Harding a few weeks ago after he en-
tered upon Office has passed many
measures, among them being the great
supply bills for the army and navy,
the emergency tariff bill, which was
to relieve the farmers, the so-called
budget bill and the bill which brought
temporary halt to the great influx Of
immigrants.
In congress today there are factions
within the Republican party, although
they are not so called by the party
itself. The line Of division seems to
be between the representatives of the
agricultural producing elements and
the Republicans of manufacturing CEN
ters, particularly in the East. The So
called farmers bloc, it is believed, will
use all the strength that it has to
prevent settlement of the railroad
refunGlng question until its views have
been met.
There is to be opposition by one or
the other faction of the Republican
party, which having a majority in con-
gress is the responsible party, to eff
forts to save the legislative proposals
which have been put over for consider
alton until the regular session is in op-
GRAFTON.
With the matters which have been
postponed for debate and for passage
or failure to pass, it seems probable
that the next session of congress,
which always is called "the long ses-
sion," will in truth be a long session.
1t may last until the time of the con-
gressional election next fall. This
may be a pessimistlc way Of looking
at it, but one must judge of future
performances by past performances.
Why Legislation Is Slow.
1t may be that haste in legislation
is unwise, and that therefore all the
long continued debates on measures
have been for the best, but 1t is GER.
tain that in the elder days party meas,
ures were put through congress with
much greater celerity than is the case
today. The reason is to be found in
the fact that party loyalty, so-called, is
not what it once was. The minority
members of the dominant party who
do not agree with the majority mem
bers thereof do not content themselves
now simply with talking and with of
fering amendments. They fight every
inch Of the way, and in the senate they
are able to block legislation which
they do not approve. This has hap
pened at the extraordinary session, and
it may happen at the next session.
A member of congress said some
thing loosely the other day which
seems to fit the legislative situation
He said "The house votes and nevel
debates; the senate debates and never
votes" There is a lot in this, fol
the house cannot limit its debate
while the senate seems, even under 1T
cloture rule, to be unable to do so.