Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-01-06
WORK IN CONGRESS.

: When Congress reaSSembled Jan
! uary 3rd it still had before ii sever
al matters Of importance which it
failed to settle before expiration of
1921. Some Of them had been sched-
uled for action last fall, but, for one
reason Or another, they have been
held over into the new year.
One Of the most important among
these hold-over problems is the mat
ter Of refunding the foreign debts Of
81 900, 100000 owed by other gov
ernments. President Harding has
asked repeatedly that the foreign
debt refunding bill be passed, but
Congress has been unwilling to
grant the administration the broad
powers it is seeking.
Congress also has refused to pass
the railroad refunding bill sought
by the President. 1t has ignored
his project for the creation of a well
fare department. And the anti
lynching legislation for which he
asked has been placed in a pigeon
hole where it is slated to slumber
for a long time.
: The reorganization Of the admin
istrative branches of the govern
ment, announced as one Of the chief
tasks of the administration, has gone
little beyond the announcement it.
self. Congress has done virtually
nothing with it.
The tariff bill, though, is the prin-
|cipal BUSINESS remaining for dispo-
sition from the old year. The Sen
ate finance committee expects TO re-
port out the house bill within a
short time after Congress recon-
Ivenes, and leaders will make an ef-
fort to place it on the statute books
early in the new year. The bill, as
reported out in the upper chamber,
Twill differ radically from the form
LII which it passed the house, al
though it will retain the American
Valuation form Of assessing duties.
Congress also will be faced early
in the new year with appropriation
bills. Those provided for the main
tenance of the army and navy will
be the last to be written, as they will
be shaped to conform with the re-
suits of the armament conference.
!! In his various communications TO
Congress, the President has cndcav-
ored to establish cooperation be-
tween the capitol and the white
house, and on various occasions
he has summoned Senate leaders to
hiS Offices for conferences when tn :,
legislative program seemed hope
lessly invilved. Nevertheless it has
been demonstrated that the
majority in Congress cannot be de-
;'pended upon to pull in the admin
istration harness at all times. The
administration, it will be recalled,
tried TO prevent reduction Of the
army below 175,000, and failed. 1t
sought lower surtaX rates and many
other things connected with the
revenue law, which were not OBJ
tanned. Its policy in regard to the
dye embargo was rcpudiatcd. And
Ithen there are two rcfunding bills,
pleas for the passage Of which have
been ignored.
One Of the reasons why the adj
ministration di dnot get the kind of
revenue law it wanted was the ac-
! tvity Of the farm bloc" composed
of Senator's from agricultural States.
The bloc, chiefly Republican, has
been able to force through laws and
block the passage Of others, in OPP
i'position to the wishes of both the
President and the administration
leaders. The President publicly
criticized this group in his last mes
sage, bu! nevertheless, it will con-
tinuc TO operate.
An examination af the record Of
Congress shows the following as the
most important Of its accomplish
mcntS:
,Hcducing the army to strength,
of 10000.
Providing for extension of credit
TO agriculture up to billion dollars
through the issuance of securities
by the war finance commission.
Creation Of a federal highway
commission TO administer federal
aid road funds.
Enactment of a budget law, de-
signed 10 put the business affairs OF
the government Oh business-like &c
basis, and permit scientific appro.
priation of funds.
Revision of taxes, accompanied by
the repeal Of the transportation and
excess profits tax, and reduction OF
! SurtaX rates.
Passage Of the peace resolution
and ratification of treaties establish
ing peace with the central powers
Ratification of tse Columbian tre.
| atty, and payment to that country OF