Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-04-06
Republican Administration Pro-
gram of Construction
Being Fulfilled
Congress Is Industrious
Record Of Accomplishments Not
Excelled in Annals of
Legislation
(Ey Rep. Simeon D. Fess (Ohio),
Chairman Republican Con-
gressional Committee.)

The World War bequeathed to the
United States, in common with every
other nation gigantic debts, tremendous
expenditures, burdensome taxes. dis
jointed economic conditions and gen.
eral unrest. No previous administra.
ton since the establishment of our
Government came into power with
greater domestic problems demanding
solution at its hands than confronted
the Republican administration on
March 4, 1921.
Immediately upon the Inauguration
of the President and his call Of the
special session Of the Congress a pro.
gram Of rehabilitation was outlined
and work Immediately commenced to
consummate it. Undesirable immigra-
ton was flooding the country. This in
creased unemployment, rendered more
difficult q solution Of our industrial
problems, while the character of many
Of the immigrants was a menace to
our social and political institutions. To
protect American labor and American
institutions against this invasion a law
was enacted limiting further immigra-
ton to but three per cent. of the ma
tionals already in America
The first necessary step toward eco
nomic readjustment was necessarily
reduction Of expenses and balancing of
the budget. One Of the earliest meas.
ures enacted by the Republican Con.
gress was the budget law The pre-
vious Republican Congress had en-
acted budget law, but it was vetoed
by President Wilson. The law went
into effect July 1, 1921, in time to apply
to the fiscal year beginning on the
same date. Whatever economies have
been effected by reason of the Budget
Bureau since that time are to be cred
tied to the early action of the Repub-
lican Congress in putting the law on
the books which created the Budget
Bureau and made its operation pos.
sible
The agricultural industry of the
country was suffering in a degree
which has never been equalled in it's
history. This important industry,
which directly affects one-third of our
population and indirectly affects every
industrial, commercial and financial
activity, was facing bankruptcy. In
order to assist the farmer in this
period of economic distress the Re-
publican Congress enacted an elab-
crate program of agricultural rehahili-
legislation in behalf of the American
farmer is without parallel in the an
nails of American legislation The sub
stantial effects of this legislative pro-
gram are now apparent on every hand.
Notwithstanding the Republican
Congress elected in 1918 and assem-
bled in special session in 1919 had
appropriated hundreds of millions for
ex-service men, the administration of
these funds by the various executive;
agencies controlled by the Democrats.
had been such that the ex-service men,
mad received a minimum of benefit
from the funds. A large part of this
was due to lack of coordination and
cooperation of the various bureaus. ..
One of the greatest pieces of construc-
tive legislation of the Republican Con-
gress was the consolidation of the va
rious agencies dealing with the ex-
service man under the one head of the
Veterans Bureau. This assures expe-
ditiOn as well as fair and adequate
treatment of our disabled ex-serYice
men.
In addition to this consolidation and
reorganization additional millions were
appropriated for the use of the Blu
reau. American ex-service men of the
World War, have been better treated
at the hands Of the Republican Con-
gress than the ex-service men of any
previous war in American history and
better treated than the ex-service men
of any other nation engaged in the
World War. And the end is not yet
AS an aid to the agricultural Sec
tons and as an antidote to the unem-
ployment situation, the Congress
passed at $75,000,0OO appropriation bill
for the construction and maintenance
of improved highways, which sum will
be doubled when the provisions of the
bill are complied with by States put
ting up an equal sum Of money.
Among the numerous constructive
| and relief measures the Maternity Bill
| was enacted in response to the demand