Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-08-07
HOUSE MEETS
!: !, ON AUGUST 10
ui
Administration Officials Look
With Keen Interest to Re-
~ converting of Congress.
a+ BY GEORGE II. MANNING
Washington Correspondents of tho
Perth Amboy News

WASHINGTON, Aug. 7.-Adminis-
tration officials arc looking forward
with keen interest to the ven
ing of the House OF Representatives
on August Is. The members of the
House who have been visiting thsir
districts during the midsummer re-
cess are expected TO have some val
liable irst-hand information gather
cd from the folks back home On the
most important issues of the day.
Having spent about six weeks
building up fences" and feeling out
the general situation their return
will afford the administration lead
ers and the political managers an
opportunity to trim sails" TO meet
the breeze that will come at the No
vember election. The legislative
program for the remainder of the
congress session will doubtless be
adjusted to meet the advises given by
the congress members who have
been out and talked face to face
with the voters.
Evidences appear of another re-
adjustment by the Republican
leaders in congress on three of the
Dig legislative issues of the day-the
bonus, tariff and ship subsidy-to
meet the advice offered by the re-
turning congressman.
There has been conspicuous evil
dence recently that the general pub
tic Is taking an unusual interest In
pending legislation. Much to the
embarrassment of the Republican
party public sentiment has devel-
oped antagonistic to t~he!party's legis-
lative program.
Three n1nufha ago fbara was H.
tie interest manifested by the pub
lie in the Fordney-McComber tariff
bill. Now. after severe hammering
from Democrats and insurgent Re-
publicans, the country appears to be
up in arms against it.
Nor does the nation wide criti-
cism confine itself to Democratic
opponents, showing on the contra
ny that probably more Republicans
and Republican publications are
lined up against any Republican
tariff bill IN American political his
tory.
On the bonus bill an almost like
situation prevails. Joined by a large
portion of the ex-service men, the
entire business interests of the
try are making open declarations
that the Republican party will be
held responsible for any further in
crease in the expenditures of the
treasury and burden on the Ameri-
can taxpayer. There Is also a grow
ing sentiment against the proposed
ship subsidy bill.
strictly speaking, Republicans of
the senate are on record as declar-
ing for finished action on the ar
if and the bonus before the session
comes to an end or a general re-
cess is taken. President Harding
has declared his judgment that
congress should pass the merchant
marine bill before it adjourns. In
this way the party has placed itself
~G--II-cerd as promising acttsn on
those measures before another ses-
sion.
Not to carry out these plans
would U a revolt from that ele-
ment which the legislation is de-
signed to benefit. while on the other
hand to complete the program
would mean a greater reaction
among those who are now openly
denouncing the party. The situa-
ton is filled with pitfalls either way
the party may turn .
1t is expected that the returning
statesmen will advise the chief exec
rtive upon the merchant marine
from the viewpoint of political ex-
nediency mainly. as to the way pub
lie sentiment has crystallized. Need
less to say the bonus and tariff will
be included in the conversations
also. President Harding has not
considered the ship subsidy from
this angle particularly, maintaining
that it presents an economic ques-
lion and should be disassociated with
politics. An interesting reaction
from these conflicting opinions is ex-
pected.
But g. eatest of all will be the deep
Interest Republicans will have in the
sentiment over the tariff bill. And
he Judgment expressed is expected
10 have a determining influence In
the final scope OF the measure.
The sensational expose of the per-
sonal interest of certain senator's in
the extortionate wool schedules has
all but wrecked the tariff. in the
eyes Of observers who believe the
charges will play an important part
In the present campaigns and cleo
lions. There Is no doubt but what
the public will in some degrees re-
pudiate the method by which the
dnance committee wrote the bill, If