Evening star., 1922-06-03
LOOK TO ELECTIONS
TO SPUR CONGRESS
Fretfu| Mood in Capitol.
Presidents Urging on Ship
Bill Adds Fuel.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Congress is in an irritable mood
Several near-fist fights have occurred
in the last few days in the midst Of
debate. President Harding is i'm
patient of congressional delay on i'm
portant measures which he considers
as paramount. The fall elections
hang over the legislative body like
an impending storm. And the Cap
itoI has discarded its heavy rugs and
substituted thin floor mats in antici-
patton of hot summer
This is the situation as the month
OF June begins. And those who have
a habit Of looking forward are al
ready contecturing as to the out
come; Preshent Harding has just
added another chunk of Fuel. TO the
wants the ship subsidy bill passed
At this session. Up to this time he
has indicated that he would be con-
tent with action by the House alone
and that he would wait for the Senate
to act in the regular December ses-
sion.
Outlay Must Stop.
But Mr.. Harding's further exami-
nation of all the factors surrounding
|
the conclusion that the country can
not wait-that the government must
at once stop its enormous outlay for
the upkeep of ships which must be
devoted to profitable uses or become
an added drain on the government 8
finances. Mr.. Harding feels that the
ship subsidy matter Is more i'm
portant than anything else on the
legislative horizon. except the tariff.
h hfch he NO fS -
II Congress has an idea that it can
get through with the tariff and bonus
measures and take a holiday till
next fall 1t is much mistaken.
The fight on the tariff bill is only
Incidental in the progress Of the bill
the measure as reported from the
finance committee are consuming al
most as much time answering op.
ponents as are the latter. But even
If all sides agreed to eliminate un-
necessary debate the measure would
a half, for the amendments are In
the thousands and each must be
voted upon.
Strain Telling on McCumber.
The strain Of steering the tarin bill
through the Senate, is already begin
ing to tell on Chairman McCumber OF
tie finance committee. A. physical
alteration with Senator Robinson
democrat, was narrowly averted a day
ago when the two senators Quarreled
bout taking a recess after q weari.
| some night session. Indeed the lights
on the Capitol dome have been burn.
ing nightly as the republican leaders
have endeavored to keep the tariff bill
moving. Even ii there were nc
partisan inhuences-and there always
are when a tariff bill Is being con-
sidered-a measure SO revoluntionary
as a tariff revision after a war OF
such magnitude as the recent conflict
Is about the most difficult Legislative
! TASK that could be imagined The
whole thing is topsy-turvey. Some OF
the most ardent protectionists are
advocating that certain articles be
left on the free list and some of the
free-traders are shouting for a pro.
tective tariff. Economic factors have
changed since pre-war days and al
| usual. tariff bill is a strictly com.
| n.ercial affair with all sorts Of vary.
ing calculations being made about the
difference In cost of production be.
! tween foreign and American goods.
Congress Is hardly in. what might
be called an amiable mood with itself
| Internal disputes in each party are
sources Of constant friction, though
| the democrats are enjoying the i'm
| munities of a. minority party from
major responsibility. and are sailing
along without. tie same worries and
discord that prevails in the repub.
lican ranks. Today. as at the be.
ginning, pronounced leadership is ab.
sent. Representative Monden has
moved The Legislative program along
smoothly in the House. but the Sen.
ate is full Of individualists, who are
not amenable even to the human
toucheR of their former cnllea 1ue
now in the executive mansion. Maybe
| the fall elections will restore party
-. icepyrisht. Is2e.l