Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 June 1920 — INDICTS OWN PARTY’S RECORD [ARTICLE]

INDICTS OWN PARTY’S RECORD

It. would be difficult to imagine a more scathing indictment of the present Republican-controlled Congress than that uttered by one of its own leaders, Representative James R. Mann of Illinois, former Republican floor leader ini the House. Speaking on the floor of the House recently, Mr. Mann said: “Congress has been, in almost continuous session for almost a year. The Republican side has a reasonably large majority. If we say to the country, as we will say if this rule passes, that the Republican majority in a year’s time has been unable to bring in legislation and perfect it where it is subject to amendment, it acknowledges its impotency and its incapacity. It will be called to the attention of your constituents on every stiynp that the Republican, party has not enacted much reconstructive legislation, and it will be told in addition that the Republicanmajority of the House was afraid to enact legislation under the ordinary rules and was incapacitated from following the ordinary practice-,”

Mr. Mann was denouncing the rule prohibiting amendments to and limiting debate on the bonus bill intended to raisee a billion and a half dollars. The “steering committee” had ordered the bill O. K.’d by it to be passed, or no bill at all, and both Democrats-and Republicans denounced the rule because it forbade them the opportunity of even offering amendments to remove objectionable taxation features. Minority members desired to amend the bill to raise the bonus money by taxing war profits, but the “steering commitee” had ordered the tax passed to the consumer. The rule having been adopted, we have Mr. Mann’s word for it that the Republican party “acknowledges its impotency and incapacity.”