Evening star., 1922-02-26
BY N. O. MESSENGER.

~ N Capitol Hill the horrifying
rumor is afioat that II the SOL
dier bonus bill is passed there
will be no reclassification of
government salaries at this session of
Congress. Now, will that suggestion
attract your attention and lure you on
to further perusal OF this story?
Some up there say it is a dead GER
tainty that the reclassification will have
to go by the board il the bonus bill
passes. and that Furthermore there may
be efforts to cut down some Of the de-
partmental forces.
Problems of surprising importance to
the country and all its peoples Of high
or low degree, and not without interna-
tional application. are to be under legis-
lative and executive consideration at the
American capital this week. Congress
and the President have their hands full
and are quite cognizant of the fact that
the attention of the nation is fixed upon
the Capitol and the White House in in
tense degree.
The soldier bonus. the tariff. the four
power Pacific pact and probably before
the week is out a subsidy for Ameri-
can shipping constitute four major ques-
tions upon which there Is wide diver
gence of Judgment and opinion. party.
factional and individual. So violent are
some of the differences as to seem al
most impossible of reconciliation. So
far apart are some of the groups in
Congress as to give at first thought
the impression of difficulty of ever being
brought together. There are even con-
hicting views between the President and
various elements in the Congress, not
altogether political
But don't let's got downhearted at
the outset. The differences will be
reconciled the groups will be brought
together. the conflicting views will be
merged into a definite policy trans
lated into legislative action. and
"somehow or other" the great Ameri-
can Congress will find it's way out of
the muddle it now finds itself in. In
the vernacular. Its is case of must"
So, with an outcome assured. it lis
DOSSlDlG 10 ldhc up thC duSSeAoiis'
calmly and discuss the difficulties at
tending their solution.
X X +
President Harding, 1t Is declared
by observers on the side lines. will
occupy in notable degree the position
of mediator and referee in the trou-
bles of Congress. having aforetime
~ - h4 fiNn O
exercised the function Of recon-
mendation with which he is empow-
cred by the Constitution. The fact
that his suggestions are not accepted
in full by the legislative branch does
not constitute a cause for quarrel
between Congress and himself. In
fact, political economists and philoso-
piers might consider it a sign of a
healthy condition of affairs for dis
agreements to exist. You are dubious
of fellow who agrees with you al
ways and at all times upon every
thing.
The saving grace Of the present
state Of difference Of opinion be-
tween the executive and the legis,a-
tive branch is that President Hard
Ing is not a man who will attempt to
force his conclusions upon those who
differ with him, and that he is so
constituted that he can see the other
side of a proposition he himself has
advanced and appreciate the logic of
the argument presented to sustain 1t.
There is another point to be taken
into considerations; 1t will be found
that In some of the matters at vari-
ance the President has not assumed
the initiative in suggestion. but has
been solicited by the legislators for
his advice and help in solving prob,
lens for which they were primarily
responsible
1t will not be in order, therefore,
for anybody to shake their CORY
locks" at him and cry dictator.
+ X + \
The most exigent case of difference
between the executive and the legis-
1ative point of views relates to the
ways and means Of meeting tho
for granted that Congress has It's
heart set on passing the legislation
for adjusted compensation and Is only
concerned with the method Of meet
ing the obligation the government
will thereby assume.
The latest votes In the subcommittee
Of the committee on ways and means in
dicated trend to passing bill author
izing the bonus and then 'let the Treas
ury Department walk the floor" to find
the means Of payment. The legislative