The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-06-08
THE RECORD OF CONGRESS

THE RECORD OF CONGRESS
 The session of congress which has just come to an end operated under the double handicap of having no working majority and of prefacing presiden- tial campaign the prospective outcome of which presents no reassuring fea- lures to the party in power. All the legislation of moment enacted by the congress owed much to the legislative activity of the minority party. The chief statute, that providig for tax re- duction, is almost altogether a Demo cratic product in it's final schedules. To be sure, the Democrats could not have passed it had they not had support from the oppos;: $ ranks, but the details were principally of Democratic creation. Un- d,ubtedly, had the Democrats been in the majority the. statute would have pre- sented features of tax reform as well as of reduction. It is significant that President Coolidge, in his statement sub- mitted with the signing of the tax meas u4Cp pOAASCO Oub tudL OIG Cl1cCL WAS merely reduction and not reform. Inas- much as this was also the effect of the Mellon plan, which in addition lacked the general relief later injected by the Democrats, the presidents view may be interpreted as belatedly critical of the Mellon plan as well. e7
 The session was marked likewise by an evident and conspicuous lack of har- mony between the White House and the party leaders, especially in the senate. The overriding of the bonus veto was merely symptom of a general diver gence of sentiment and sympathy. Had it not been for this divergence the veto would not have been overridden on the even of a presidential campaign in which the incumbent was slated to head the party ticket. The split in the Repub- lican ranks was not only as between pro- gressives and regulars, but also between the Old Guard and the middle group which appeared in closest touch with the president. As representative of the Old Guard, Senator Lodge departed from the administration on the question of a world court, proposing a monstrosity of his own creation as substitute, not only for the Harding plan, but also for the plan already in successful operation and supported by the adherence of more than forty nations of earth. The pre- sumption of Lodge is inexplicable. He pays for it somewhat by being obliged to take back seat at the Cleveland con- vention and by being in an eclipse unique in the experience of recognized party leaders of the senate.
 While the cause of the chaotic situa- tion among the administration leaders may in part be laid at the door of the progressives and irregular Republicans, yet some responsibility attaches else where. In the first place, there is no doubt that Lodge and his following are to degree impeded by their past record of opposition to the League of Nations and participation in world affairs. Be- cause of some feeling that they must be consistent in their inconsistency, these men, the little group of wilful men" have found it impossible to align them selves closely with the rest of the party, with the president or with one another on any definite program. They find urgent necessity for too much evasion and side stepping to follow any policy consist ently. MT. Coolidge is likewise in a measure provocative of the stand-offish- ness of congress-; for he has adopted a dogmatic, schoolmaster attitude which insures the defeat of his views almost from the first. After all, the executive is only one of three equal and independ- ent divisions of our government. The executive cannot command congress, nor can he show open contempt for con- gressional opinion. Doubtless MT. Cool idge is now aware of that inhibition.
 The congress, therefore, goes down in history as one that enacted some good laws in spite of itself. But it cannot escape a due measure of censure for hav- ing failed many evident and productive opportunities to legislate in the public behalf. That is to some extent because some other consideration than states manship and regard for the public wei fare were uppermost in the minds of many. Perhaps, however, with all it's weaknesses and handicaps, every enact ment may be regarded as a net gain. With such situation as prevailed the wonder is that any laws at all were passed, especially in the senate.
 A REFORM MUST COME