Evening star., 1923-04-04
Politics at Large
BY N. o. MESSENGER.

Accepting the challenge construed
to the implied in the disclosure Of the
plans of the ultra-progressive and
| radical bloc in Congress. for legis-
lation to be urged in the next Con-
gress. conservative republicans are
already rallying to resistance. Sena-
tor Watson of Indiana. who will be
a member of the finance committee
| in the next Senate, and who is in
| touch with administration sentiment
in the House, where revenue legis-
lation must originate, declares that
there will be neither tariff amend
! ment nor tax changes on the admins
! tration's program for the next Con-
gress.
Senator Watson makes 1t plain
| that the administration will oppose
for proposed amendments of the tax
and tariff laws. This would appear
| to be warning served on the pro-
| gressives in the House, some Of whom
| are known to favor mild changes in
| the income tax law, mot to start
anything" The radicals are said to
hope that the mild progressives will
| break with leadership of the admin
istration and stand ready to- welcome
! them with open arms into their bloc.
4 X X 4
The political leadership In the re-
| publican party is exceedingly desir-
| Gus Of avoiding legislation which will
| threaten to disturb business in the
year 1924, when the elections are
| coming on. One of the main assets
of the party, 1T has been pointed out,
wilf be prosperity, growing out OF in
creased activity in all lines of in
! dustry, production, trade and trans
portation. Anything which causes
| disturbance in business will initiate
| against the success at the polls of
| the party in power.
| Tampering with the tariff or taxes
| is classed as containing elements Of
| disturbance always dangerous in the
| midst of a campaign. This is espe-
| cially true when II is proposed to in
| The excess profits tax was removed
| because Congress realized that it was
| an unjust burden on legitimate busi-
| ness.
One of the most radical propositions
| of the radical bloc is to place a re-
| troactive tax on undistributed earn
| ings of corporations. Such a sugges-
| tion, it is said, will alarm business
and upset conditions which now seem
so favorable. 1t will be resisted even
eyrdd 6y e the Fround tnt It YOU'D
| do more harm in the way of disturb
| ing In revenue. Uncle Sam. they say,
| must be careful not to Kill the bird
| that lays the golden egg. when he Is
| searching for revenue.
| 4 4 * X
| But there are other subjects of leg
| islation, also, which are worrying
some of the leading republicans IN
Congress, their anxiety accentuated
by the probability that they cannot
be avoided or action postponed. The
iexpected efforts to amend the railroad
transporta ton act are regarded with
much foreboding by some of the lead
ers who foresee the possibility of
Hong consideration without effective
! result, of contention and conflict or
| ideas without getting anywhere.
| 1t is pointed out that there are a
| number of interests desiring special
amendments They are satisfied with
! the act in general. and only desire to
| change it in some particular which
! they believe affects them more than
any one else, thereby giving them
right to ask repeal or modification.
The leaders say It Is going to be a
| Herculean task to attempt to com
pose all these conflicting and posi-
Z, bly, irreconcilable interests. Some,
| body will have to be disappointed and
nobody satisfied in full, it is feared.
| The preparation of the present law
nearly killed its two authors, Sena-
! tor Cummins and Representative
Esch. The members Of the House and and
out in long and laborious study OF
| the mass of arguments, contentious
and objections made in the hearings.
II took nights and days Of efforts to
ha ~
plans into a measure Of harmony and
| effectiveness. And the law, ever since
it's completion, has been under fire
from one angle or another.
X y X
The railroads do not fancy the idea
of the disturbing effect of the pro-
posed changing Of their status or
regulation at a time when they hope
to be in full stride with advancing
prosperity and improved business
conditions after the long period OF
harrassment and losses they have
been going through.
But the biggest bugaboo to poltt1-
clans, railroads and conservative
Thought of the country Is recognized
in the certainty that all of the con-
tention in Congress over the changes
in the transportation act: all OF the
ldisappointmentS which are inevitable,
will add fuel to the smouldering fires
of demand for government ownership
of railroads.
! An element of labor still clings to
the hope of forcing the government
ownership and operation Of railroads
They find recruits in other elements
of the citizenship. Theorists, forget
Iful or disregardful of the lessons
Taught by actual experience in the
war join their ranks from time to
time. The approaching contest over
amending the railroad transporta-
tion act and over the numerous IN
dependent bills expected to be intro
lduced and later urged as amendments
can have no other effect, 1t is appre-
hended, than to spur the agitators
for government ownership to renew
ed effort. And, II no action comes
their last work will be I'VE told
you so; give US government owner
ship
| In republican party leadership cir
cles. President Harding's coming
swing around the circle Is widely
restoration of republican morale and
to his own interests in making the
country acquainted with his admin
istration and it's achievements.
Secretary Of Labor Davis Is recog-
nized as having hit the nail on the
in Boston he told his audience that
President Harding was about the
poorest self adviser in tho world; that
any corner groceryman could beat
him at the game of selling" himself
70 the public. The President holds,
said Secretary Davis, that the best
politics is service to the people. That's
all very true, say other politicians.
but after service has been rendered
it is no detraction from their value
| to the public to let the public know
| about them.