The Cordova daily times., 1921-07-01
OPTIMISM IN
 WASHINGTON
 OVER FUTURE
BY COL. WINFIELD JONES
 Special Correspondence

WASHINGTON, July 1. - Congress is pleased with he outlook for the country. This is the general opinion among most members of house and senate.
 Until quite recently a lot of congress. sional and business pessimists were drawing long mouths and privately expressing the opinion that the coun- i try was going to the dimnition bow VOWS.
 The great thing is that we have peace. national situation where we do not have to pour our young men by millions overseas. and where the stay. at-homes do not have to bear the terrible war burdens of daily casual ties and crushing debts caused by war expenses and war taxes.
 It is true that the aftermath of the war has 30 far been full of disapoint. ments, but as the people we have much to be thankful for For one thing the cost of living has dropped considerably. though as yet taxes have mot been decreased
 The cost of living has decreased, and it is inevitable that the generally high prevailing wages will have to come down in proportion. Already the wages of the railroad workers have been cut 12 percent This is the first big clash in pay in any great national industry. But others are coming despits MT Gompers' threats that no reductions will be suffered hy the laboring men.
 The situation is well understood in congress and congress is not worrying much over the situation caused by the post~war establishments.
 Congress is worrying. however. over tho tariff and tax bills. There are groar differences of opinion in house and senate concerning the tar If and tax bills But these differ enccs will be ironed out at this sos- sion, and tariff and taX legislation, the hest that can be devised. will be on the statute books before the snow flies next winter.
 This legislation is expected, the tariff to increase the revenues of the government and protect American in- dustries so that they may prosper and give steady employment to labor at not only living but generous wages The tax Legislation is expected to reduce the taxes levied because of the war. thereby taking some of the pres ent financial burdenc off the backs of the people
 But cOmmonsense teaches that mir acles cannot be expected or wrought in the reconstruction work now en- gazing attention of congress and the federal government.
 The most valuable asset is a spirit of optimism by all and legislation by congress which will improve immense fly all our commercial and business life. The new tariff and the new taxes are expected to go a long way toward that.
 Along with these requirements to- ! ward prosperity we need a thorough overhaullng of the federal govern ment. from top to bottom. The fed eral government has far too many em- ployes and is far too extravagant in it's whole management Witness the recent senate charges of graft and mismanpgement in the shipping board. That board certataly possesses a black record. from the time of the Hog Island scandals to the present Ii any government agency ever neei- If any government agency ever need ed thorough house cleaning the ship ping board does. There are other government agencies that could be named that are as bad or nearly as bod as the shipping board. The Hard ing administration and congress are moving swiftly, however to clean out some of these Augean stables.