The Washington times., 1929-11-06

IOr many mOnGL1S 10 COHuc. NSI
tainly there will be none OF the
type which the Hoover Admins
tration desires.
There was a progressive bloc
in 1909, and also a Progressive
Democratic coalition in the Sen
ate, but it had no such power
as its direct descendant, led by
Senators Borah and Robinson Of
Arkansas, possesses today. This
current coalition is all-controlling
in Congress.
It is generally agreed that the
Administration forces in the Sen
ate are beaten. dlsorganized, and
Soundly whipped; the G. Q. p.
leaders themSelves-Such men as
Senator Watson of Indiana and
Reed Of PennSylvania-are re-
firing from the field in great
disorder and throwing the bur-
den Of legislation upon their op-
ponents. =,
What kind of a tariff bill
will the Progressive-De Democratic
coalition write, If any? So far
as Senator Borah is concerned,
he would like a tariff bill de.
voted exclusively to agricultural
products and a few Ealing indus
tries: but it is not believed that
such q measure can be enacted
by Congress just now. In any
event, the whole question Is to
be thrown, bag and baggage, into
the lap of the regular session
which opens in December.
Philosophers OF the G. o. P.
camp find some crumbs Of CON-
fort in the situation. The pas
sage of a luckless tariff bill de-
stroyed the party 90 years ago;
If there is no tariff bill this year
no open warfare between the
Eastern and Western wings OF
the party. no agricultural revolt
it may save the Hoover Admins
tration O vast amount Of en-
barraSsment, and even ruin.
The unsavory Bingham episode
In the Senate is at an e1dsY The
Senator from Connecticut, who,
Senator Norris declares. is not
yet aware and is far from ad-
mitting that he has done any
wrong, has been cenSured by an
Overwhelming vote.
Even Bingham's friends de-
clined to defend his act in plac-
ing q lobbyist Of the Connecticut
Manufacturers Association on the
Senate payroll and letting him
take part in Finance Committee
discussions on the tariff One OF
them, Senator Reed of Pennsyl-
vania, a hard-boiled regular and
reactionary if ever there was one,
said: "I pity him from the bot
tom of my heart"
Unrepentent to the bitter end
Senator Bingha m announced
smilingly after the vote OF cen
sure had been taken that he had
no intention of resigning from
the Senate or of retiring from
the Finance Committee.
The most encouraging feature
of the episode is the stimulus 1t
will give to the drive on lobbying
and the urge for general Sena-
torial houSecleaning. AS is well
known, there are many quaint
little Senatorial practices which
would not look well in print, such
as having wives, sons, and daugh-
ters on the Federal payroll as
clerks, etc. In his bitterness Sen
ator Bingham accused Senator
Blaine Of Wisconsin Of having
used a Capitol policeman as his
personal chauffeur during the
summer months. This, however,
was denied.
Perhaps this general Senatorial
houSecleaning will include more
auStere and respectful attitude to-
ward the prohibition enforcement
act. AS is well known, the Cap
itol is one of the wettest spots
Id Washington, if not in the en-
tire nation. Now, however, with
the notorious bootlegger, "the
man with the green hat" nabbed
at the doors Of the Senate Office
Building, and Senator Brookhart
tearing away the veil of secrecy
that has surrounded numerous
Congressional high jinkS, there
may be dry wave" on Capitol
Hill, for the time being at least.
The sentiment of the people of
Washington appears to be that
people who live in glass houses
shouldn't throw stones" In other
words, while Congress keeps
pounding away at the local citi-
zenry to be more mindful of their
duty to obey the dry law, it ought
at least to make a pretenSe or a
gesture toward observing the doc.
trine which it breaches.
While Wall Street is slowly re-
covering from the terrific jolt it
received last week, when the worst
stock panic that has been seen in
a generation, struck it amidships,
reaSSuring word of the SoundnesS
of business conditions comes from
those best qualified to know
such men as Henry Ford, DR..
Julius Klein, Assistant Secretary
of Commerce. and others.
The price Of Ford cars was re-
duced o trifle to stimulate sales.
DR.. Klein made an express denial
Of rumors that inventories of vari-
Gus industries showed q condition
of congestion or of slackening
consumption on the part of the
public. The Income Tax Bureau
announced that So new million
aires spranS into being during the