Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1919 — A LAGGARD CONGRESS INDEED [ARTICLE]

A LAGGARD CONGRESS INDEED

Republican Paper Scores Its Party for Dilly-Dallying Policy. The Indianapolis News (Rep.) in a lengthy editorial in Monday evening’s paper, scored the Republican congress severely for its do nothing policy, saying: Congress was called together last May in extraordinary session because it was supposed that there was much work to (be done that could not wait for the session in December. Indeed, the president was severely criticised for not calling congress together in March, immediately after the close of the regular session. There were, it seemed, matters that it was absolutely necessary to tend to. Yet, after almost six months, congress is able to show nothing done of a constructive character. , Shortly after it met, the house of representatives actually talked of adjourning because It could find nothing to do. The appropriation bills were, of course, passed, but beyond that the record is practically a blank. Congress was promptly informed that the railroads were to be returned to their owners at the end of the present calendar year- That is only a little more than two months away. Though there have been hearings, no railroad bill has yet been reported to either house, though it is known that some legislation is necessary. It does not seem probable that there can be any before the end of the year, though the country is hopeful. Confessedly the immigration problem is one of the first importance. It was announced in the disipatchea last week that 10,000,000 Germans and Austrians and hordes of Bolshevik! were preparing to descend on) us as soon as peace was declared. Yet, though there has been an abundance of time, no immigration policy has been agreed on. The only thing that can be done, and it is not certain that even this course will be taken, is to extend the wartime restrictions for a year. Nor does it seem likely that anything of iftniportance will be done even at the regular session, which meets >.in December. Senator Penrose, chairman of the senate finance committee, favors the postponement of all reconstruction legislation, as far as it affects finances, till 1921. We do not believe that the people desire any general tariff legislation, and that it would be a mistake to attempt it under present conditions. But there are questions -that certainly ought not 'to be passed over. It is generally agreed flhat there must be some safeguarding of pur

tww Industries that sprang up during the war against German con> petUion, Some policy in regard to shlp.ping ought to be agreed on. Yet all such matters are, it Senator Penrose has his way, to go over till after we have elected a president next year. So, what we were led to believe was to be a construct!'/ congress, has thus far constructed practicaly nothing The mistake probably was irv thinking that any congress that met on the eve of a presidential campaign could be constructive.