Mountain advocate., 1922-05-05
Congress Is Industrious
Record of Accomplishments Not
Excelled in Annals of
Legislation
(By Rep. Simeon D. Fess (ohio),
Chairman Republican Con-
Rressional Committee.)

other nation gigantic debts, tremendous
expenditures, burdensome taxes, dis.
jointed economic conditions and gen.
eral unrest No previous administra-
ton since the establishment of our
Government came into power with
greater domestic problems demanding
solution at its hands than confronted
the Republican administration on
March 4. 1921.
Immediately upon the Inauguration
Of the President and his call of the
special session of the Congress a pro
gram of rehabilitation was outlined
and work Immediately commenced to
consummate it. Undesirable immigra.
tion was flooding the country. This in
creased unemployment, rendered more
difficult a solution of our industrial
problems. while the character Of many !
of the immigrants was menace to
our social and political institutions. To
protect American labor and American
institutions against this invasion law
was enacted limiting further immigra'
ton to but three per cent of the ma
tionals already in America.
The first necessary step toward eco.
nomic readiustment was necessarily
reduction of expenses and balancing OF
the budget One of the earliest meas
ures enacted by the Republican Con
gress was the budget law. The pre-.
vious Republican Congress had en-
acted a budget law, but it was vetoed
by President Wilson. The law went
! into effect July /, 1921, in time to apply
to the fiscal year beginning on the
same date. Whatever economies have
been effected by reason of the Budget
Bureau since that time are to be cred
tied to the early action of the Repub-
lican Congress in putting the law on
the books which created the Budget
Bureau and made its operation pos.
sible.
The agricultural industry of the
country was suffering in a degree
which has never been equalled in its
history. This important industry,
which directly affects one-third of our
population and indirectly affects every
industrial, commercial and financial
activity, was facing bankruptcy. In
order to assist the farmer in this
period of economic distress the Re
publican Congress enacted an elab
crate program Of agricultural rehablli
tation. This program of constructive
legislation in behalf OF the American
farmer is without parallel in the an
nails OF American legislation. The sub
stantial effects of this legislative pro
gram are now apparent on every hand
Notwithstanding the Republican
Congress elected in 1918 and assem-
bled in special session in 1919 haC
appropriated hundreds OF millions fol
ex-service men, the administration o
these funds by the various executive
agencies controlled by the Democrat!
had been such that the ex-service mel
had received a minimum of benef
from the funds. A large part of thi
was due to lack of coordination ant
cooperation of the various bureaus
One of the greatest pieces of construC
tive legislation OF the Republican Con
gress was the consolidation of the va
rious agencies dealing with the eS
service man under the one head of tn
Veterans Bureau. This assures expe
dition as well as fair and adequat
treatment Of our disabled ex7servic
men.
In addition to this consolidation an
reorganization additional millions wer
appropriated for the use of the 81
reau. American eX-service men of tn
World War have been better treate
at the hands of the Republican Coz
gress than the ex-seryice men of an
previous war in American history an
better treated than the ex-service me
of any other nation engaged in tn
World War. And the end is not ye
AS an aid to the agricultural Sc
tions and as an antidote to the uner
ployment situation, the Congres
passed at $75.OO0,O00 appropriation bi
for the construction and maintenan'
Of improved highways, which sum wi
be doubled when the provisions OF Il
bill are complied with by States pu
ting up an equal sum OF money.
Among the numerous construeti'
and relief measures the Maternity b
was enacted In response " the dsmaE