Evening star., 1923-12-15
CONGRESS T|E-UP
MAY Be 1924 ISSUE
Vote May Be Influenced by
Inability of Body to
Begin Work.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

NO weeks nave BOHe ny, buI SoA-
gress is not yet organized.
Not only has no important bust
ness been transa cted, but it begins to
look as if it will he after the holiday
recess before a start will be made.
For several months there have been
predictions that the present Congress
would founder around in sea OF
insurgency. Those predictions are
being verified. The spectacle OF a
national Legislature unable to carry
out the supposed mandate of the peo-
pie at the last elections is such that
it may furnish the leading issue at
the polls next November when new
Congress is elected.
Neither party is able at the mo-
ment to keep harmony in its rankA
though the democrats are in bettsr
condition in that respect than their
republican opponents.
The spirit of the electorate in the
last congressional campaign was to
vote against things" The men in
oftice in both parties suffered. The
verdict was generally negatiVe-a
continuance of the negative cam
paisns that have prevailed ever since
desire at the 1922 election nothing
has developed thus far in the state
mentS of senator's and representatives
10 indicate that they are conscious of
what it was. If you ask members of
Congress what the country meant
when it cut down the republican ma
5ority to mere handful in both
houses You will get from the demo-
Gratis the answer that the nation was
showing its impatience with the lack
Of performance of "a republican Con-
gress, and from the republican mem
bprS
agricultural discomfort and adverse
business conditions at the time of the
elections had much to do with the
cutting down of the republican
strength.
Conditions Have Changed.
But the new Congress is here
thirteen months after the election
and about the only thing that most
members viii agree upon is that
conditions have changed since the
time of their election. The democrats
say the country is even more demo-
cratic and the republicans insist that
If the elections We're held tomorrow
they would recover most of their lost
seats.
About the only things that have
come to the front since the last cleo
ton and which are bound to transcend
IN Importance everything else in the
session are, first, tax revision down
ward; second, the soldier bonus and
third. fight on the railroads to force
lower freight rates for farm prod
ucts.
All three issues will be interviewer
and party lines are bound to be
broken when the parliamentary ma
neuNres begin whereby bills are framed
ana reported by committees.
Tax Cut Generally Backed.
To sum up the present situation. it
is no exaggeration to say that Con-
gress is almost unanimous in favor
of some kind OF tax-reduction meas
ure. Congress. moreover. remains un-
convinced that a soldier bonus, if
enacted, would bring about the seri-
Gus consequences to the nations eco
nomic condition which the Treasury
Department experts say would be
the result. The advocates of the bonus
admit there will be some strain. but
insist the country is in splendid con-
dition to bear it without danger.
As for the contest to get lower
freight rates, the indications at the
moment are that the railroads will
lose their fight. Sentiment to repeal
the SO-Called earning clause is so
powerful that it will take combi-
nation of democrats and republicans
10 break ii down and keep the trans
portation law intact.
il the ralIroads were able to make
voluntary decreases in freight rates
they would be able to ward off much
of the opposition to them in Congress
The earning clause is being used as a
means of striking at the railroads for
refusal to reduce rates. There is no
question but that the railroads will
be able to influence a large number
of members of both houses TO accept
the economic arguments they have
made. but the western radicals are
not as sympathetic with railroad
finance as they are with farmer eco
nomics.
Inere are rumors that President
Coolidge, while opposed to any
change in the earning clause of the
transportation act, will not make an
issue of it with Congress-. In some
respects the railroad question will
furnish more ammunition for political
battle than any other problem before
Congress. The railroads are hoping
TO hold Congress in check. however,
by bringing to bear the influence of
the many persons and institutions
holding railroad securities, which. it
is contended. would be adversely af-
fected by repeal of the earning
clause.