The Colorado statesman., 1922-06-24
BY EDWARD q. CLARK


boring with the tariff bill. Within a
few days the Republican leaders seem
ingly have found some cheer In the
situation which has been gloomy. for
they are predicting that the bill will
become law in July.
1t is true that the Democrats of the
senate are showing some inclination
to let up little in debnte, thus giving
the opposition party the feeling that
the Fordney-McCumber bill may be-
come law earlier than a week or two
ago 1t was thought possible.
There are obstacles. however, in the
way of even fairly Quick passage of
the customs measure. obstacles which
have nothing to do with Democratic
opposition to the schedules as they are
written. 1t may be an old story now,
but again let it be said that the ma
| j0rity in the senate has proposed more
| than 1000 amendments to the tariff
| bill as the majority in the house gave
| ii its sanction.
Even with the possibility of cloture
| proceedings, which will limit debate in
the senate there necessarily will be
some difficulty in strengthening our
the differences of opinion between the
| two houses of congress. When the
| bill passes the senate a conference
| committee to meet like committee
of the house will be appointed. The
deliberations of this joint committee
are likely to be long drawn out.
President Urges ship Subsidy.
| President Harding desires that GER
| tain legislation other than the tariff
shall be enacted by the present con-
gress. He has been urging the leaders
of his party to press the so-called
ship subsidy bill to passage. 1t de
| finitey is known that il good many of
| the administration leaders think that
subsidy legislation is as important to
| party success as tariff legislation. They
say: Something must be done for the
ships OF nothing can be done with the
ships"
President Harding seemingly is
heart-bound to subsidy legislation. His
interest in the subject through the
years has been set forth in the press
| from time to time. Seemingly the
President saw an opportunity in the
present merchant marine clrcum-
stances to strike for something in
which he has believed. Therefore he
urged congress and still is urging 1t
to care for the merchant marine
through legislation, and there is
| feeling that the Republican lenders
may conclude to put the bill through
the house this summer and to promise
| that the senate will care for it next
| winter.
If the subsidy bill is to he given
| consideration by the house of repre-
sentatives it will not mean necessarily
that congress will have to sit long
after the tariff is passed. unless of
| course the senate determines also to
give consideration to the merchant
marine measure. The house soon will
adjourn for three days at n time,
waiting on senate action on the tariff
bill. OF course, if the house is so in
clined it need not take these three
day adjournments, but can, under the
direction of the majority, go to work
at ship subsidy.
Why Democrats Are Cheerful.
The Democrats are cheerful today
over the November prospect They
say that the country seems to like
| President Harding. but that the coun-
try does not like the Republican con-
gress. 1t is true, apparently, if one
may judge by what both Democrats
and Republicans here say, that the
President stands better with the coun-
try than his party's majority in con-
gress stands. Therefore. 1t may be
that the Republican majority in con-
gress recognizing the fact, may yield
to the Presidents desire that ieglsla-
ton other than the tariff shall be en-
acted at the present session, ut least
by the house of representatives.
Bonus legislation still IS in abeyance.
The country knows, Of course, that
the President has desired one thing
ana that the party leaders In house and
| senate have desired another thing.
Recently there have been Indications
that there may be In the senate
| combination of Democrats and Repub-
licans to put through bonus legislation
of kind to which large body of the
Republican senator's are opposed. What
the President will do with this legisla-
ton when 1t reaches him for signature
depends largely, of course, upon the
form which 1t takes.
Some of the Democrats are as anx-
lous for an early adjournment as are
| the Republicans. For the main part,
however, the Democrats who wish to
get away are those whose seats are
conceded TO be in danger next Novem-
ber. 1t would appear as If the majority
! of the Democrats would like 10 keep
congress In session as long as pos
sible. because long session will add
to the appearance of lnggardness on
the part of the Republican majority.
Icebergs and Derelicts Abound.
Rennris come To Washington of the