Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-08-17
BY JAMES p. HoRNADAY

NdSnlngtOn.-Ine senate which has
been struggling along with the wool
schedule Of the tariff bill-not a most
desirable hOt-weather topic-would
not make much of a protest If Presi-
dent Harding should suggest that the
tariff bill be abandoned and this ses-
sion of the congress brought to an
end. But the President does not in
tend to make any such suggestion He
feels that the Republican majority in
congress, having undertaken a revision
OF the tariff, should complete the job.
Whether he will sign any kind Of an
old bill which Is presented to him is
question which will not be answered
until congress completes a revision.
The senate could, Of course, recommit
the tariff bill to the committee on
finance any day if it desired to do il
and that would pigeOnhole the subject
for this session. but the Republican
leadership in the senate, such as there
Is, much as it would like to be rid of
the tariff bugabOO, has not the cour-
age TO advocate pigeonholing the bill.
49, III Nh1 Atnt VI llit ltRiSiullNf
program, 1t has gone by the board,
apparently. The real problem before
the Republicans in the two branches
Of the legislative body now is to get
the tariff bill through before the heat
OF the congressional campaign comes
on. No one any longer prophesies as
10 when the senate will finish with
the bill in its present form. The con-
troyersial nature of the proposed leg
isatiOn makes 1t certain that the bill
VIII be in conference "A good while.
Then after an agreement in confer
ence-the conferees may almost com
pletely rewrite the bill If they decide
that is the thing to do-each legisla-
tive branch will take plenty OF time
to decide whether 1t favors the con
ference report.
October Set as the Limit
Nnety-flye per cent of the members
OF the house of representatives will In
slst on an adjournment of this SEES
sion not later than October in order
that they may give proper attention
to their campaigns for reelection. and
one-third of the senator's will be in
the same frame Of mind. SO It Is gen
orally agreed that the tariff legisla-
ton must be in the hands of the Presl-
dent by the last week in September
Most of the Republican leaders are
setting their heads very determinedly
against attempting any other important
legislation in the meantime.
1t Is now about as certain as any
thing can be, short of the actual devel-
opment, that there will be no ship sub
sidy legislation at this session. Pres
ident Harding, according to persons
who are competent to speak, has prac-
tically abandoned hope of getting the
administration subsidy bill started dur
ing this session. The nationwide cam
paign Ia the interest of the measure.
much talked about six weeks ago. will
not be undertaken. The members of
the house of epresentatives-the Re
publican members I'm particular-who
were to have set this campaign going
during the recess of the house. have
not done thing. There is no at
tempt to conceal the Administrations
keen disappointment over the failure
of the Republican representatives TO
take the time during their stay at
home to tell the people about the fine
points of the proposed subsidy legisla-
ton. SO. far as the administration Is
advised, not single speech in favor
of ship subsidy has been made by
a member of the house since the re-
cess came on.
Not Chance for Subsidy Now.
The outlook now Is that the powers
that-be In the house of representatives
will decide soon after August Is, the
date on which the house is to recon
vene, that subsidy legislation must go
over. President Harding said public
ly some time ago that he would re-
call the congress il it should adjourn
without giving the administration
subsidy bill due consideration, but a
good many things have happened since |
the President made that observation. |
AS a matter of fact the administration |
is not interested at all Just now i'm
legislative matters. The President and |
his advisers are too much concerned |
with the industrial situation TO give
any special thought to anything else. I
Even II the house should under pres |
sure from the White House pass the |
subsidy bill the legislation will be I
in the senate.
President Harding during the last few |
days has made it little clearer per-
haps than ever before that if bonus
legislation should be passed without /
any provision for getting the money
with which to pay the service men,
he would veto the bill The Republi-
can leaders in the senate now under
stand perfectly well how the President
feels about this legislation and the
chances that an effort will be made
to put bonus bin through following
the passage of the tariff bill are daily
becoming more remote.
Portugal contains only two cities,