The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-30

amount this year and economies which do not knock a hundred dol lars or so off the old tax bill are not very impressive. The truth is that the national budget has got so high and must remain so high for years to come, that the saving of a few hundred millions of dollars seems little more than a drop in the bucket
 when distributed among the tens c millions of taxpayers. When man is paying $500 a year in taxes, the reduction of his bill to $475 is not likely to call forth great cheering
 Prohibition and Taxes
 Despite all the talk of foreign re- lations of the tariff and various other things, the fact remains that there are just two things politically that the country Is interested in. One is prohibition and the other is taxes. Those who desired a liberali- zation of the liquor laws and thoss who hoped for a simplification and lowering of taxes have about con- cluded that the present Congress will do nothing in either direction. There fore Congress doesn't interest them for the time being Reports of indif- ference are coming to Congress every day from every section of tn country LhGsU ISt1i AN say AhAS AAiC E0Ahti J Is but mildly interested in the sol dier bonus legislation. It seems 10 be taken for granted that no matter what arguments may be produced pro or con, Congress is determined 10 pass some sort of remuneration brff. If the bill doesn't suit Presi- dent Harding that Is a matter to be settled between the President and the Congress. A bonus cant make taxes much worse anyhow so there is no great concern about the mat ter any more.
 The country also has got the Idea according to the reports reaching both senators and representatives, that Congress Is in conflict with the President on a number of matters of legislation where there should be the closest cooperation between the two branches of the government. The sympathy of the country un occasionally is with the President rather than with Congress.
 Democrats Get Letters
 It would not be fair to say that all of the complaints about Congress are being directed to the republicans. The democrats are getting letters. too There have been so many non partisan "blocs" and combinations WTillEA Ol duh HpOktH OA lALN AAAt people are beginning to believe there Is blame enough for all in the con- gressional shortcomings.
 The unpopu1arity of Congress un questionably is worrying congress men and senators alike and they are not a little puzzled to know how to deal with the problem of indiffes enee. Some republicans are inclined to view 1t as a favorable sign, be- lieving that the democrats can win the House only by a condition of po- litical excitement in the country which would lend itself to a crusade. The condition of excitement does not exist at the moment.
 Reports from the early primary states tell of slimly attended politi- cal meetings with excitement ap- parent only in these communities where some local issue Is involved.
 Champ Clark once predicted that the country was headed toward con tinuous sessions of Congress. Con- gress itself ought to hope that pre- diction never comes true, for as alrady stated, much of the present unpopularity of Congress is due to it's never-ending sessions.
 The good deeds of a long session are lost sight of in the impatienee with the delays and the ceaseless talk that mark the intervals between definite acts.