Evening star., 1924-06-06
CONGRESS DODGES BIG
ISSUES IN LAST DAYS
Disposition to Get Popular Verdict
in Fall Before Acting Marks
Unique Session.
FARM FIGHT GOES TO STUMP
Tax Revision and Bonus Rated
Achievement by Many.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Congress winds UP the most extra
ordinary session of generation
without even the JOY Of self-satisfac-
tion let alone the pfaudits of an ap-
proving electorate.
To judge fairly what has been done
requires an understanding of the al
most insurmountable obstacle pre-
sented at the outset-namely, the in
ability of the Republican party to
function as a majority because of
western insurgency and radicalism.
To those who thought absolutely
nothing would be accomplished, not
even tax revision, the record is a
pleasant surprise. To those who have
become accustomed to a fair amount
of new Legislation and a showing, at
least, on major issues, such as agri-
culcural relief, the session is an out
and-Out failure.
What Congress has done amounts
to little compared to what might
have been done had the Republican
leadership been able to control its
party membership in both houses.
Farmer Program Fails.
First of all. Congress adjourns
without passing any of the agricul-
tural bills. The McNary Haugen bill
was beaten in the House and lost in
the Senate Jam. The Norbeck- Burt
ness bill. sponsored by MT. Coolidge,
was defeated in the Senate Even the
more or less innocuous bills to co-or-
dinate the activity of the co-opefa-
tive societies and organizations fell
by the wayside. This gives the radi-
calls their main talking point-Con-
gresS has not acted affirmatively for
the farmer.
One measure alone--the Smith
Hope resolution--is looked upon by
the administration leaders as an an
swer to the cry OF the farmer in
Congress. 1t is declaratory and sets
forth that freight rates are too high
and that the Interstate Commerce
Commission should reduce the rates
on farm commodities. This Is not
mandatory. 1t is simply congressional
opinion.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
involving farm products. Confronted,
as it is. with the provision OF the
transportation act, which requires
that the railroads be permitted to
earn 5R per cent return on their
investment. the commission is held
within limits and cannot reduce rates
to a point which is Improbable to
the railroads.
Hope for Readjustment.
So some of the sponsors of the
Smith-Ho resolution think read
justment can be made whereby the
rates on other products are raised
and the rates on farm products re-
duced. That's the real hope back of
the resolution.
AS for railway legislation, a score of
bills providing for a return to the states
of certain rate-making powers failed to
get to first base in this session. and the
much-mooted earning clause of the
transportation act which the westerners
wanted repealed was not even reported
from committee. So the agricultural
group suffered a real defeat, which is
making the conservatives happy. In
deed, the number of bills that were pre-
vented from passing by conservative in
f1uence is amazingly large, and to that
extent the sins of omission are regarded
as virtues by the interests most affect
ed by the threats of drastic change.
Tax Law Step Forward.
Congress did revise the tax law. Some
members openly feared to attempt re-
vision because of the flood of radical
amendments anticipated, but the new
law is an Improvement over the old, and
the way is paved for correction of de-
fects at the December session
The granting of the bonus is a
political achievement in which Presi-
dent Coolidge does not share, but II
does represent the answer to a de-
mand from one large element in the
electorate. The immigration bill is
another. Naturally the illwiil en-
gendered In Japan is regretted even in
termined TO do by law what they felt
was unuuestioned right and the ad-
ministration now Is trying to make
the best of the situation by express
sions Of sorrow to Japan. No treaty
will be attempted for the present and
sore of ill-feeling.
Perhaps the most important ac-
tion of Congress, viewed from the
political angle, is that it adjourned In
time for the two conventions. The
Republican majority failed to sup
port the leadership Of President Cool
idge on several important issues and
the insurgents were preparing to con-
tinue in coalition with the Democrats
the tactics Of embarrassment.
The opponents of the administra--
ton will use the early adjournment
as proof of the failure of Congress
and will attempt to provoke a re-
sentiment vote.
Wait on Popular Voice.
The McNary- HaugeR bill, for in
stance. was not loved by some of its
champions, but on the stump there
will be many gestures of deep feel
ing that it was not passed. The ad-
journment and lack of activity fur
nishes many talking points, just as
the breaks with President Coolidge
accentuate an incapacity in govern
ment which the outs" are always
anxious to pin on the "ins"
The scenes Of the windup are tame
there Is no hope of getting any big
measures passed. Even the report on
the world court slumbers in the Sem
ate, with no chance Of action until
December, when the fight will be re-
opened. Congress has postponed IT'S
major problems for consideration
after the electorate has spoken in
November, hoping to CLEAN from the
verdict at the polls some modicum
Of guidance and some indication of
whether Calvin Coolidge or Congress
has analyzed correctly the trend Of
public thought.