Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-23
Adjournment Friday to Be
Accompanied by Stock
taking by Members-Bud-
get Law EpochaI
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(CopYrig ht. 1921


(Leased Wire Service to The Journal)
Copyright, 1929
WASHINGTON, Sept. Gloon
gress is going home Friday, wearied
and apprehensive. What will people
say? How will they vote on Novem-
Der 18th? Many a member Of the
senate and house would give a
good deal to know. For the record
IS not easily explained to the aver
age voter, and it is more easily
picked to pieces by critics.
Congress was convened in spe-
cial session originally to pass the
tariff and revenue bills. This has
been done at last. The bonus bill
was passed, but failed to become
law over the presidents veto. Tax
measures are never popular, and
the reduction Of the burden was
so slight as to be politically little
Of an asset. AS for the tariff, it will
not be in full operation soon enough
to hurt or help from a political
viewpoint. What does it leave,
therefore. as the outstanding
achievement?
Though budget legislation is not
spectacular or simple Of explanation,
it stands out as the beginning of
an epoch in government finance.
The Democrats helped pass it and
will not permit all the credit to go
to their Republican brethren, but
the fact remains that a budget sys-
tenn was established under q Re-
publican administration, and the
key to lower taxation lies in the
balancing of receipts against ex-
penditures. There have been some
efforts, more or less successful to
ignore the budget. The passage of
the bonus bill was outside the bud
get, and the latter would have been
dealt a body blow if President Har-
ding hadn't killed the measure for
the time being, at least.
Budget Measure
Thus far the tendency to ignore
the budget has not cost the govern
ment very much and the2truth of the
matter is everybody expected con-
gress to ignore it much more than
has been the case. The budget is not
yet beneficial because it's principles
have not been firmly entrenched but
the Republicans can count it as an
asset of the present congress and
for the indefinite future too until it
does break down.
Unquestionably the budget ranks
with the reform Of the nations cur
rency system as a constructive
measure.
Passing from the achievements to
the sins Of omission, most politi-
clans will agree that the biggest is
sue before the country has beer
twin
lens involved in the rail and coal
strikes. Few will venture to as
sess the political damage done by the
attitude of the government to-
wards those disturbances. The in
junction proceedings in Chicago are,
themselves, an issue. Whether
strikes on railroads should be pro.
nibited, whether the administration
should have taken a hand in the
coal strike earlier than it did
whether Mr.. Harding could have
compelled settlement of the shop
mems strike-all these questions
Will be discussed on the stump and
the majority of the votes will. as
usual, have made up their minds
long befor election as to where the
responsibility lies.
prosperity, or the lack Of it, is al
ways an issue. Members of congress
are leaving here with a feeling thai
business is on the upward trend.
Ihey would have felt more certain
OF this If Henry Ford had not an
nounced a shut down but thew looI,
hopefully at the increases in wages
given by the steel corporation as an
offset for political purposes.
Harding Stronger
Here and there minor pieces of
legislation have been passed but II
Is a fact that the situation in Europe
with respect to Preparations has been
ignored through the failure of con-
gress to take Mr.. Harding's hint that
he wanted America represented on
the reparations commission, and
with the exception of fact-findine
commission on coal and arrange
ments for priority Of delivery, con.
gress has not taken any steps by
legislation to prevent future strikes.
President Harding's position as
party leader is stronger than it was
with congress. His veto Of the bonus
has stilled many tongues. It had
been said that he would waver and
finally sign the bonus. His stiffened
attitude has made him more respect
ed even by the bonus foes though
Senator Reed, of Missouri, Democrat,
made a deep impression with his
argument that if, as Mr.. Harding
says, the bonus is class legislation,
he should, to be consistent, veot the
tariff bill which helps the manufac-
turing. class. Mr.. Harding will
naturally be discussed during the
campaign and many Of the Republi-.
can leaders, like Senator Lodge and
Representative Mondell, who voted
to override the presidents veto, will
find it somewhat embarrassing to ap-
peal for support on the stand-by-the-
president argument.
So far as the spirit Of the depart
ing congress is concerned, it is one
Of confidence. The Republicans are
sure they will come back in control