The Washington times., 1923-03-04

81 200 900 900 TO $22 500 900 900. not
excluding the recently funded British
debt of $4,60O, 000, 900. AS for the
fund devoted to RUNNING the Gov.
eminent, the claim is made. that al.
though at the beginning Of the fiscal
year 1929, Uncle Sam" was $685..
0e0 600 in the hole, economies and in
creased. receipts have nearly wiped
this out, until the estimated deficit
for the end of the fiscal year. June
80. is only t$92 10000 This. say the
Republicans, is their achievement.
and the country may soon expect a
perfect balance.
NEARLY 20,O0O BILLS.
Nearly 10000 apples were
chuclxed into the Congressional
cider mill, and cider caine out of
approximately one.thirteenth of
them. The House members offered
nearly 1880 bills. 564 resolutions.
461 joint resolutions. and So con-
current resolutions; Hills favorably
reported totaled l,723 The Senate
mill took in 4,637 bills, 455 resolu-
tons, 237 joint resolutions, and
more than forty concurrent resolu-
lions. The net result in bills passed
by both branches Of Congress and
which became law was approx
mately 425 public bills. ITO private
bills and ninety resolutions.
In at least one respect Congress
broke all records. 1t held four
sessions. two regular and two ex-
ira, whereas the previous mark
had been three. It was called into
special session April IL, 1921. i'm
mediately after the inauguration of
President Harding, to pass import
ant bills killed in pocket Veto'
fashion by President Wilson. It
and re-convened in regular session
December 8. From June 80. 1922
until August Is, 1t recessed, then
third session, a special one, began
November 90 and adjourned Decem-
Der 4. at which time the fourth
and present session started.
Notable was the ability Of the
to travel the same direction in
harness. This accommodation of
Executive will to legisIate desires,
and vice versa, was held by the
leaders to make unnecessary the
use Of the proverbial big stick. 4"
In general. the pace was conserva-
tive; many forward-looking spirits
claimed it was dog trot, and that
the holding-back strap was over
worked while travelling down hill.
The President got practically all
the legislation he asked except the
ship subsidy and railroad rate re-
duction, and the only piece of
legislation he vetoed was the sol.
der bonus.
In line with this policy of con.
servatism-of waiting to see"-
were the steps of the State De-
partment, which consistently re-
fused recognition to Russia and
Mexico, and proceeded cautiously in
its international commitments.
Congress was in session AIS days,
over a period Of sixty-two-years
at rates of interest to yield $6,5OO.-
900 900.
The peace resolution, re-establish-
ing technical peace with Germany
Tax revision, which, according to
Mr.. Mondell, relieves the public of
billion in taxes yearly.
The Fordney-M cCumber tariff bill.
under which the nations labor and
industries are protected"
The establishment of the budget
system and passage Of the various
appropriation bills.
The soldiers bonus bill, opposed
by the big business interests, which
claimed 1t was raid on the Fed
eral Treasury and would disorganize
the country's financial system,
passed both House and Senate, but
hit the rocks of Executive veto
power. President Harding main.
tanned that he had no objection to
a bonus raised in the proper way
that is, by the sales tax method
but that he could not approve leg.
/ islation that levied a direct tax on
the American people.
The bonus was championed by
the American Legion. which openly
| charged Congress with passing II
| to save political faces. while Know.
| ing the Presiden held a veto up
his sleeve. Various ways of raising
the money were proposed; 1t was
even suggested in certain quarters
, that the doughboy would not object
to tax on light wines and beer.
and thus would pay his own bonus.
as well as quench his thirst AS
a compromise. the Administrator
turned its attention to establish.