Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-10
WRATH Of FARMER
FACED AS CONGRESS
WINDS Up AFFAIRS
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Especial Leased Wire to The Journal)
(C0pyright 1924.)

winds up the most extraordinary
session of q generation without even
the joy of dissatisfaction, let alone
the plaudits of an approving cleo
torate.
To Judge fairly what has been
done requires an understanding Of
the almost insurmountable obstacle
presented at the outset-namely, the
inability OF the Republican party to
function as a majority because OF
western insurgency and radicalisn.
To those who thought absolutely
nothing would be accomplished, not
even tax revision, the record is q
pleasant surprise. To those who
have become accustomed to q fair
amount of new legislation and
showing, at least, on major issues,
such as agricultural relief, the ses-
sion 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 it's
party membership in both houses.
| First of all, congress adjourns with
| out passing any of the agricultural
bills. The McNary-Haugen bill was
| beaten in the house and lost in the
senate jam. The Norbeck-Burtness
| bill, sponsored by Mr.. Coolidge was
| defeated in the senate. Even the
more or less innoculous bills to CO.
| ordinate the activity of the co-opera.
| 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.
Conservatives EIated
This is not mandatory. 1t is!sim-
ply congressional opinion. The in
| terstate commerce commission has
a number of undecided cases involv.
ing farm products. Confronted as
it is with the provision OF the trans
portation act which requires that
|
a 5 1-2 per cent return on their in.
vestment, the commission is held
within limits, and cannot reduce
rates to a point which is unprofita.
BILE to the railroads. So some Of the
sponsors Of the Smith-Hope resolu.
ton think a readjustment can be
made whereby the rates on other
products are raised and the rates
IN forr,, 1orodIotS roS11oo1
That's the real hope back of the
| resolution.
AS for railroad legislation, a score
OF bills providing for a return to the
states Of certain rate-making pow.
ers, failed to get to first base in this
session, and the much-mooted earn
ing clause of the transportation act
which the westerners wanted repeal
ed was not even reported from com.
mittee. So the agricultural group
suffered a real defeat which is max.
| ing the conservatives happy. In.
deed, the number of bills that were
prevented from passing by conserv'
alive influence is amazingly large
and to that extent the sins Of omis-
sion are regarded as virtues by the
| interests most affected by the
threats of drastic changes.
| Congress did revise the tax law.
Some members openly feared to at
| tempt revision because of the flood
| of radical amendments anticipated,
| but the law is an Improvement over
| the old. and the way is paved for
| correction OF defects at the Decem-
| Der session.
The granting OF the bonus Is po-
litical achievement in which Presi-
| dent Coolidge does not share, but it
does represent the answer to a de-
mand from one large element in the
electorate. The immigration bill is
another. Naturally the i'll will en-
gendered in Japan is regretted even
in congress, but both houses were
determined to do by law what they
felt was right, and the administra-
ton now is trying to make the best
OF the situation by expressions OF
sorrow to Japan. No treaty will be
| attempted for the present, and the
hope is that time will heal the sores
Of ill feeling.
Adjournment Best Bet
Perhaps the most important ac-
ton of congress, viewed from the
political angle, is that 1t adjourned
in time for the two conventions.
The Republican majority failed to
support the leadership of President
Coolidge on several important is
sues and the insurgents were pre-
pairing to continue in coalition with
the Democrats the tactics of en-
barrassment.
The opponents of the administra'
ton will use the early adjournment
as proof of the failure OF congress
and will attempt TO provoke re-
sentiment vote. The McNary- Haugen
bill, for instance, was not loved by
some Of it's champions, but on the
stump there will be many gestures
of deep feeling that 1t was not
passed.
The adjournment and lack Of ac-
tivity furnish many talking points
just as the breaks with President
Coolidge accentuate an incapacity
in government 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
meas passed. Even the report
on the world court slumbers in the
senate with no chance OF action I'M
| til 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 medium OF guidance
and some indication Of whether Cal
vim Coolidge or congress has an
alyzed correctly the trend of public
| thought.