Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-04
THE FIRST YEAR OF HARDING
As HEAD OF THE GOVERNMENT
Hls Record Of Achievements 10 Mue
Better Than That Of Congress

first year Of complete Republican control
In Washington a sharp distinction should
be made between the achievements OF the
executive and the legislative departments.
President Harding, who entered Office
comparatively unknown, did not arouse any
enthusiasm at first save among the hard.
and-fast partisans who always insist that
any sort Of a Republican Is better than the
ablest Democrat who ever lived.
The Announcement Of his Cabinet was
received with satisfaction, for he selected
as bis advisers u group Of able men with
minds Of their own. who would actually ad-
wise. The final decision would be with the
President. OF course, but It would be reached
after a genuine exchange Of views among
men qualified TO speak with knowledge.
In the twelve months that have passed
since this Cabinet was announced the Presi-
dent has shown that he Is q capable leader
and not q mere dummy or fgurehead. He
began his term with the wish to confine his
attention to the executive branch Of the
Government, while Congress would devote
itself to legislative matters. But he has
found that II Is necessary for him to assume
to some extent the leadership in Congress
and to lay down policies to be pursued. He
did this last summer when Congress was
entansliny itself with the bonus business
and could not see way out, for with manly
courage he went to the Capitol and told the
legislators that It was not expedtent at that
time to pass any bonus legislation. as the
country was in no financial position to In.
crease its expenditures. And this week be
has been formulating Q ship subsidy policy
80 admirably conceived and so skillfully
framed as to spike the guns Of the reason.
able opposition.
Under his direction conferences have been
held in Washington to study ways Of reliev.
ing unemployment and agricultural depres.
sion. At his suggestion the powers Of the
War Finance Corporation were extended In
order to enable It to 60 to the relief OF the
railroads, and when Congress took his advice
and passed the Budget Law he appointed to
administer 1t General Dawes, one Of the
most capable business executives In the
country. Plans have already been made
under this law which will result In the
saving Of tens Of millions Of dollars a year
without any interference with the efficiency
Of the departments.
The great achievement Of the year has
been the Washington Limitation ct Arma-
ment Conference. 1t was Harding enter.
prise from start to finish. The success
which attended Its efforts has lifted the
United States back into the respect of the
world, q respect which It lost when the
Senate failed to ratify the Versailles Treaty.
The record would have been better II the
President had interfered more frequently
with Congress. lie Is the head Of the party.
and its continuance In favor depends on
what Congress does as we'll as on what he
does. He could have interfered more fire.
quently with good results. Because Of lack
Of adeQuate leadership the congressional
record Is unsatisfactory. A law revising the
internal taxes has been passed. 1t Is true.
but 1t Is admittedly a temporary statute.
1t has reduced the taxes by $3.50 900, 900.
, but It has left burdensome taxes unchanged
It is a demagogic measure, the evils Of which
ought to be pointed out by the President
himself when the time comes to pass the
permanent law.
The immigration Restriction Act, passed
to prevent an increase Of unemployment BY
the flooding of the country with refugees
from Europe. was probably justified by the
circumstances, but its enforcement has been
unintellisent and has produced needless
hardship by the separation Of families and
by tie deportation Of children with no homes
left in Europe 70 20 back to. THIS . an
executive responsibility.
The law providing for the funding of the
! ,r,il1 hat 1nor in
table shape and pave the way for It's final
disposition In whatever way may seem best.
And while Congress is struggling with the
bonus 1t has not neglected the disabled sol
diers, for 1t passed a law establishing q
veterans bureau and consolidating all the
agencies Of relief.
But no attempt seems to have been made
to treat tariff revision with the seriousness
that the subject demands. An emergency
law was passed In the interests Of the farm
ers. It was a political measure aimed Al
conciliating the farmer vote, and 1t has done
no good. No one familiar with the subject
expected it to have any economic effect
Politically, it is likely to be worse thar
useless.
Months have been spent by the committee
in the preparation Of a general tariff act
but It has been prepared largely in accord
ance with the theories that were popula
twenty years ago and In almost complet
disregard Of the changed conditions Of tn
world.
The President will have to 20 to tn
Capitol again and lay down the principle
on which q tariff law suited to the condi
tions Of 1922 shall be drafted or we shal
have an oct that will breed trouble as 500
as its enforcement begins.
But on the whole, the record Of the yea
is a great improvement over the record @
the last year Of the last Administration
Mr.. Wilson was an invalid incapable
functioning as President, and affairs 1
,, Washington drifted from bad to worse. tn
, appearance in the White House of q ma
, | q, the full Dossess!on of his powers and dis