The New York herald., 1922-03-31


Floor Leader Mondell stirred up a
hornets nestin the House to-day whea
he attacked certain writer's and GER
tain newspapers" for trying to create
the impression that Congress and the
President are at loggerheads over
pending legislation" Democratic lead
ers took issue with Mr.. MondelI and
They cited several instances which
they said certainly justified the re-
ports of friction.
The anti-bonus campaign of certain
metropolitan papers" said Mr.. Mon
cell. has given us the finest example
we have. yet had as to the length 10
which some people are willing to go
in campaign of Misrepresentation.
They advised the House to turn its
back on pledges that had been SOL
emnly made by a large ma jority of the
members. or on their behalf by their
party associates, in harmony with the
expressed view of the people.
They assumed. without leave or au-
thoritys to declare Executive views on
measure relative to which the Presi-
committing himself one way or the
other. The vote in the House. whereby
approximately four fifths of those pres
ent gave their approval to the measure.
ought to be quite sufficient answer to
these journals. unless they are prepared.
as ! presume some of them are, to in
dict the Congress- at least the House, as
a whole"
On that point Representative Garrett
(Tenn.). acting floor leader of the
minority, said:
1T seems there is quite a difference
OF opinion between the Congress and
the President on the bonus issue. The
President said that IL YOU want to pass
bonus bill put a sales tax In to raise
the revenue What became OF the prop
osition and why? There was no differ
cree of opinion between the President
and Congress on that proposition"
Z Mr MondeIl next referred TO army
and navy legislation, saying:
And then there Is that compare
lively small but very active. very posi-
tive and very persistent class who may
always be fourd advocating the largest
establishments and appropriations for
military and naval purposes that any
body may suggest They have not ap-
proved the House appropriations for the
military establishment, and therefore we
are told. frantically or solemnly, as the
case may be- that the President does not
approve what we have dore.
II leave to these folks a monopoly Of
assuming to report the Presidents posi-
ton on these matters. but / venture-the
assertion that the Presidents view with
regard TO the military establishment is
much more nearly in harmony with
the action which has been taken by the
House than il is with the attitude OF
the majority Of the newspapers and
newspaper writer's who have assumed to
know and to promulgate his views"
Representative Garrett pointed out
that when the army bill was passed
by Congress and that body insisted upon
an amendment reducing the service to
TO 1900 men the President signed
the measure. but sent word to us ne
had no doubt that little later he would
come back and ask Congress to increase
II. OF course he did not. because he had
proceeded upon false basis. as he
thought they could not get the men 10
leave the army to make the reduction"
Continuing. Mr. Garrett said Now,
OF course until the gentleman from
Wyoming spoke, the whore country be-
lieved. and had the right to believe, that
there were sharp differences between
the ina jority of the Congress and the
Executive on the present army bill. If
there is no difference between the Presi-
dent and the Congress then there is a
very woeful and distressing difference
between the President and his. own Sec
retary of War"
Mr. Garrett said the same conditions
prevailed as regards the Navy Depart
ment and he gave II as his opinion that
the President was standing by his Cab
met officers in their demand for a
larger army and navy rather than with
Congress on those propositions.
ut seems very remarkable that the
majority leader should find II to be his
bounden duty on one day TO lecture the
House." added Mr.. Garrett, (which pro-
ceeded promptly to show him what they
thought OF his lecture on the matter of
maintaining the budget. and then on the
day following he finds X necessary 20
lecture the Republican press OF the
country because OF the fact that the
press is publishing the news of the day.
There are certain newspapers. surely that
do not rnisrepresent the attitude Of the
President Of the United States
Representative Garner t'rexas) took
occasion To observe II wonder II IL is
because OF the harmony he speaks OF
that prompted the President TO authorize
the statement that he does not propose
10 defend the Congress at the coming