Evening star., 1922-06-04
HOUSE SOON TO SLOW UP III
IT'S LEGISLATIVE GRINDING
Already Has Sent Many More Measures,
to Senate Than That Body Will
Be Able to Digest.

, passed before the recess It may be
considered the best time to take It
up when the members are here wait
ing for the tariff or soldiers bonus
bills to come out of conference.
Likely to Be Lost.
Taking this view of the situation
lative proposals that have been con-
sidered. or which are in some stage
of the legislative process which are
not at all likely to come up this ses-
sion.
The education bill ran into the dou-
Bile snag. 1t provides for a new place
in the cabinet, at a time when the
ganiZation is awaiting consideration
by a joint special committee. and
when the cabinet is unable to agree
upon even tentative plan of reor-
will support. Besides this the educa-
tion bill calls for a very large ap-
propriation in the near future. and
that alone is sufficient TO defeat its
passage.
Then there is the departmental re-
organization that President Harding
promised the voters of the country.
and on which he cannot force an
agreement in his own cabinet. even
after his own personal representative
arrangement and coordination Of the
various federal establishments.
Again, there is bill introduced by
Representative Smell of New York
which is supported by a very strong
public sentiment, calling for cooper
alton with the states for the protec-
ton of timberlands-which also falls
under the ban. because it means an
additional appropriation.
There are various bills for addi-
10,
tural extension work.
Public Buildings Needed.
OF ali the measures that might have
compelling force in Congress from
the standpoint of localities. the public
buildings bill would come first Lay
and Four Corners aspirations for
public buildings, ii is a fact that al
most every large city of the country
fnds The public service suffering from
lack of adequate, sanitary. fireproof
quarters. 1t is five years since any
thing was done by the government TO
improve this general situation. Thenr-
is strong and legitimate appeal for
public expenditure for new federal
buildings, but here again the diff
Guilty arises out of the financial stu
ation-the threatened deficit
The action of the Senate committee
in reporting out the soldiers bonus
bill without the reclamation feature
although House Leader Mordell had
made persistent fight to have it re-
tanned, blasts the hopes of the west
for any general recla ma ton work
/ this session. The Smith-McNary bill
entailing an appropriation of $780,
100000. never had any. hopes in this
Congress unless it could be put in
as an amendment on the bonus bill
nr1t hirr, civ
435 members, a mere S per cent, ,are
from states interested in irrigation
so il is easy to see how slight a
| chance this measure has
Not interested in Irritation.
| With those interested in educa-
tional bills. forest preservation bills,
| agricultural extension bills. public
building bills and others of wide
| general interest demanding an. oppor-
! tunity to press these measures any
measure proposing large expepdi-
| ture principally in one section ofSthe
! country-such as the reclamation bill
would receive scant consideration
| without regard for its intrinsic
merits.
| The floor leader of the House is
i undoubtedly favorable to the recla-
| ma ton legislation. but the temper
| of the House can be judged from the
! fact that, while largely through Mr..
Mondell's efforts. the bonus bill car
ried the reclamation feature, the Sem
ate. with so per cent of its members
| from irrigation states, declined to
retain the reclamation features in
| the bonus bill.
| And it is only the persistent insist
ence of President Harding that can
! force the west to allow the ship sub
| sidy bill to pass at this session.