Evening Star Newspaper, March 20, 1921, Page 33

SPECIA EDITORIAL PAGE NATIONAL PROBLEMS L ARTICLES Part 2—18 Pages PLAN TO ABATE LO =— ST EDITORIAL SECTION he Sundimy St WASHINGTO! Society News D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 20, 1921 President Establishing Leadership ‘MOTION IN CONGRESS Propositions Being Considered to Cut Down Work and Expedite Its procedure . ] BY WILL P. KE) OW that President Harding. his cabinet and the Congress are committed to early and thorough reorganization of the administrative branch of the government in the interests of econ- omy, efficiency and all-round busi- nesslike method, the question has been raised whether Congress will reorganize itself to do the legislative work most expeditiously and ef- fectively. Leaders in Congress, political econ- omists and governmental research agencies are already giving much thought to the problem of how to put “pro” for “con” in Congress— how to do away with the lost motion and waste of time, and to get con- . centrated work on the more vital * proposals jt The best thought of the country, both in Congress and outside of Con- gress, is pretty well 3greed that the © trouble with Congress is not wholly one of procedure, but equally one of attempting to do more work than is mentally and physically possible The remedy suggested and approved by some of the most prominent men in both House and Senate is something as follows: ¥ st. for Congress to cut down on its work: (a) By delegating Some of it to subsidiary agencies; (b) by getting away from attempts at local government—for example, in the Dis- trict of Columbia and Alaska, and (c) by establishing an administrative + code. Second, by facilitating and ex- pediting procedure. Delegation of Detall. The most fundamental reform being considered is for Congress to get from under the load of legislating in detail—Congress itself attempting to handle matters of myriad details. In the earlier days, when the govern- ment was simpler in organization and activities, it was possible for Congress to do much that is now becoming more and more difficult, as the government grows more complex. It is contended that in some way or another Congress should provide for the delegation of authority to handle details which it now seeks to handle itself through formal legis- lation. In England, for example, large use 1s made of what are known as “orders in council.” Under the British system the order-in-council in all cases has to be laid before the house of commons, and im,certain cases they do not continue in effect beyond that session uniess speciaily approved by the house of ‘commons. We have the beginning of such 3 system in the, executive orders and . proclamations ‘of the President. We. of course, have made a begining also in creating commissions such as the Interstate Commerce Commission, the Federal Water Power Board, the Ship- ping Board, etc. Congress sooner or Iater, and now is a good time to make the break, must be willing to delegate 1o subordinate agencies authority to handle specific matters. England has also developed a highly epecialized. and excellent method for{ handling special or private bills, with the result that the time of the house of commons is consumed to but a{ slight extent in handling such meas- ures. 1t is not contended that the United States should adopt absolutely the British system, but that it should ¢ work out some more effective way for handling bills of this class. One of the ways that has been pro- posed for relieving Congress is to di continue the attempt to act as local ) legislature for the District of Colum- bla. 1f Congress does not want to give local self-government, some torm | of commission government, requiring 211 acts to be transmitted to Congress * with full power to alter, amend or re. peal has been proposed by some who . have given this subject considerable) thought. \ In the same way larger self-gov- erning powers should be given to the|ng foliowing a sitting of the house, territorial government of Alaska, 80 ne records of the transactions of the \ house, styled ‘Votes and Proceedings,’ iis delivered at each member's resi- that Congress would not have to con- cern itself with the details of local affairs in Alaska, any more than with the details of local affairs in Porto Rico. Joint Committeen Suggested. Then the delay caused in securing an agreement between the two houses might be lessened by making larger use of joint committees. An example would be with regard to river and harbors improvements, public works, public buildings, etc. With the joint « committee at work one hearing would suffice rather than » hearings now so frequently held. The third big relief for Congress would be through establishment of an administrative code. Much of the ad- -ministrative or “adjective” law in dis- tinetion from ubstantive” law is scattered through apropriation bilis as riders, and in special clauses. There is need for an administrative code for intelligent legislation and es- pecially with regard to appropri tions, and such a code would be of . the utmost value in connection with the plans for reorganization of the federal service. It would afford great reliet to Congress because so large a part of the work of Congress has to do with the government departments. ‘With such a code In force this work could be done with far greater effi- ciency and expedition. Facilitating Procedure. Now with regard to the second big “pro” for “con” in Congress—tacili- tating procedure. Here again are two principal suggestions, that have been discussed on the floor and talked over in conferences—(1) changing the size of the quorum and (2) giving advance . notice of when Iimportant business ‘will eome up. , WPuxst—The euggestion has been \J NEDY. | | the chamber of deputies’ building and the duplicated | | bers Palmerston, Bright and Disraeli. made by Representative R. Walton Moore of Virginia, and supported by House leaders, to reduce the size of the quorum in the committee of the whole from 100 to 50 members. Dur- ing the last Congress the suggestion of the absence of a quorum in the committee of the whole led to the roll being called approximately seventy times. This is an appreciable handi- cap to the legislative work. It is, of course, understood that the quorum of the Mouse itself, which is a majority of the members, is fixed by the Constitution. But the quorum of the committee of the whole, which is simply an agency of the House, is determined by the House itself and can be made whatever it pleases. The committee of the whole transacts no Ibusinesn finally, but reports its ac- tion to the House for final approval or disapproval. Nevertheless, most of the important measures are consid- ered in the committee of the whole and this stresses the importance of having the work of the committee fa- cilitated by avoiding unnecessary roll calls. Prior to 1891 the quorum in the committee of the whole was the same as that of the House, but that year it was reduced to 100. This reform seems wholly desirable, according to the best judgment of those who have given it the greatest thought. As a matter of fact it is not and cannot be expected that every member will be interested in every measure that comes before Congress. Each member necessarily and quite properly specializes more or less. We can get as .intelligent and as good legislation from the relatively small number who are interested in any proposal as from the larger number. The fact that fifty might be required for a quorum would not prohibit any or all other members from partici- pating. So there is no limit proposed on, the right of any member to take part in any legislation he wishes. The British house of commons with more than 700 members requires only forty to make a quosum—and that is one of the oldest and most experienced of legislative bodies in existence, which was taken as a model in many re- spects by the framers of the Consti- tution of the United States. Advance Notice of Legislation. , §econd.s The proposal that some system should be developed of giv- ing notice at least one day in ad- vance of matters that would be taken }uP in the House has won many sup- porters. Foreign legislative bodies have got- ten away from our uncertain prac- tice. and have made provision for advance notice. It would seem to be highly desirable that our system should do the same, those who have been consulting upon the matter are agreed. This would apply particu- larly to giving notice of special rules emanating from the rules commit- tee. At the extra ion of the Six- ty-sixth Congress 170 pablic bills and Joint resolutions were brought forward on the motions of committees, or under the call of committees, without pre- vious official notice. In addition to these 170 measures. 22 measures were considered under special rules, and all of them with a single exception were taken up forthwith upon the adoption of the rule without previous notice. Foreign Practice. In the French chamber of deputies the practice is that “the chairman, before dcclaring the session adjourn- ed, consults the chamber as_ to the day, time and subjects fof debate at its next session. The order of the day, so determined, is posted up in published in the official gazette. In the English house of commons, according to Erskin, “on the morn- dence together with the notice paper of the house, which contains the ap- pointed business for the next day of sitting, both private and public.” As the house meets late in the afternoon the notice paper reaches the members in sufficient time to inform them of the business that is to be transacted that day. Realizing the necessity for giving notice, the house of commons in 1861 appointed a committee to revise its rules which included among its mem- ! Commenting on that committee’s re- port Redlich says: “The report lays { down as the chiet end of all reform the establishment of certainty day by day as to the business to be trans- acted; that for dispatch, for the con- venience of members and for deco- rum of procedure, certainty is to be regarded as a primary object; that the ideal working of the parlia- mentary machinery should not only provide for the House and each mem- ber knowing at the beginning of each session what Is to take place, but should also enable them to rely upon the carrying out of the program laid down.” U. S. Slovaks Build Factory. The American Slovaks’ Woodwork- ing Corporation, a Chicago concern, with branches in Pittsburgh, Scran- ton and several other American cities, has just completed a foreign factory building in Nove Mesto, Slovakia, at a total cost of 15,000,000 Czechoslo- vak crowns. All the machinery was sent from America. Of the $250,000 capital of the corporation, $175,000 is owned by Americans of Slovak and Czech stock. Rkl ' BY N. 0. MESSENGER. RESIDENT HARDING last week found himself in the position of a man hitching up a tandem team trying to decide which horte he should place in the lead and which in the shafts, or whether it were better they should go in double harness. He was placed in this attitude by the contention in Congress over the question whether tax reform or permanent tariff revision should occupy attention first, at the approaching cxtraordinary session of Congress. At the outset the President sidestepped the de- cision which the conflicting sentiment in Congress put up to him. He said he would take his time and also take counsel before expressing his choice. Some of the sticklers for the constitutional rights of the House in revenue raising legislation were inclined to raise a protest against resting the de- cision with the President. They wanted the House to decide and hew to the line. But the elder statesmen deprecated such in- sistenco on the ground that “it is not done, you know, that way.” They pointed out that the ad- ministration, and the party as well, had a stake in the game. Serious political results might ensue from the course finally decided upon, for weal or for woe to the party, and tho subject was at least worth prayerful consideration. * ¥ %k Xk In the meantime the President finds he has an- other horse to put to the team, on his own account—international policies. Here is coming former Premier Viviani of France, on an avowed mission of felicitation to the new administration, but unquestionably with a portfolio full of highly important international policies to discuss. It is interesting to note how the visit of this old world statesman is viewed by senators. The group in the Senate. Who are irreconcilably opposed to any kind -of an international agreement savoring of a league of nations sniff with alarm, smelling trouble from afar. They fear he has some plausi- ble scheme to present which may intrigue the fancy of the administratfon and necessitate their lining up for another fight to the death in the Senate. The mild leaguers, that is to say those who still hope for some kind of sensible and rational world-wide plan to prevent war, are all expect- ancy that the French statesman may have in his bag just such a scheme, which will enable them finally to overcome the irreconcilables, who thus far have whipped them to a frazzle and who boast that they have the President with them. * Xk k ¥ <t The difficulty under which both factions in the Senate labor is that they cannot initiate anything along this line. The President is the treaty maker and the Senate hasn't a look in until the document comes to it with the executive approval and pride of authorship, which deprecates the crossing of a The irreconcilables find their consolation in the spoken words of the President in his inaugural address, setting forth the declaration “We do not mean to%be entangled.” They regard that as a plain statement with but one possible construc- tion, and entirely favorable to their position. But does the other side give up hope on the strensth of this? They do not. They point to the repub- lican platform pledge, which declared, “The repub- lican party stands for agrcement amoni the na- tions to preserve the peace of the world.” And they take further comfort from the fact that Sec- retary Hughes, a mild leaguer, is at the Presi- dent’s right hand in all foreign deliberations, and in the report that Elihu Root, a reservationist leaguer, is to be “of counsel.” * ¥ X X “See Daugherty” is the slogan which the pa- tronage seekers hear dinned in their ears when- ever they find themselves in a tight place. It is unmistakably apparent, as was anticipated in the beginning, that the Attorney General is the smoother out of patronage wrinkles for the new administration, and that whenever the appointing power finds itself in a tight place Mr. Daugherty is called into the chair of dccision. Politicians do not criticise this condition, since they well realize that Mr. Daugherty was close to Candidate Harding throughout tho campaign, and is thoroughly acquainted with every worker's record. Moreover, he has the complete confidence of the President, both as to his ability and his loyalty to the republican party as well as to the administration of which he is so valuable a part. And in addition to all that, Mr. Daugherty has “a way with him,” which is mighty conducive to harmonizing conflicting patronage interests. And vet he is as positive as can be when he once makes up his mind on the rights of a case and lets his cards lie as they fall. ¥ % % ¥ One of the most acute cases which have thus far come to him was a mix-up in Missouri, where factional republican politics is, and has been for several years, in a very ugly condition. The President had appointed the United States attor- ney for the western district of Missouri without consulting Senator Spencer, the republican United States senator, who claimed an equity in the dis- tribution of patronage. Senator Spencer went promptly to the President and was assured by him that no slight was intended; that there had been a misunderstanding as to Senator Spencer’s in- terest In the case. Senator Spencer accepted the explanation and digclaimed intention of making a feud with the President over the incident, buw insisted on thumbs down for the appointee. The Senate, in the meantime, adjourned without con- firming the nomination, which thereupon lapsed and left Mr. Madison, the nominee, in statu quo— which being interpreted means without his job. Then they took it to Daugherty. His ante- room one afternoon looked like a meeting of the county cpmmittees to boot. Every factionist from Missouri, pretty nearly, had apparently rushed on to Washington. But they did not phase Mr. Daugherty. He got out his trusty smoothing jrons and started in on the wrinkles, intent upon scoring his usual record of sending everybody away, happy and convinced that he had “won out* The probable solution will be the naming of Mr. Madison for some “equally as good” job, when the Senate reconvenes. * % k X The politicians and the cabinet associates of Postmaster General Hays are following with great interest the experiment of that official in restor- ing the morale of the postal service. “T don’t envy him his task,” was the comment among politicians when Mr. Hays was appointed. The general public impression, whether well founded or not, is that the postal service is the most disorganized of all the great public func- tions. There has been more complaint about it in the last two years than any other branch of the government. Postmaster General Hays believes he has found the secret of lifting up the morale. He is of opinion that man has been regarded as a com- modity in the post office and dealt with accord- ingly. He has set out to put heart and humanity in it. He believes that treatment which he pro- poses to accord men and women will result in their putting their heart into the work. * ¥ % ¥ 'The coming session of Congress, April 11, starts the gossips talking about legislation. First off the bat will be some routine work necessitated by, the failure of important bills at the last session. Naval armament and the size of the Army will be two subjects to be thrashed out again and long debate is apprchended. By the time Congress meets a definite pian for emergency tariff and the choice between tax re- form and a permanent tariff will have been made. The expericnce of the last session showed over- whelming sentiment, including democratic favor, for an emergency tariff and legislation is ex- pected to be passed promptly. This tifie it will be of a nature intended to be approved by the President, and not to ride up to a veto, so that expectation of putting up the bars against the Tlood of European imports is warranted. The next thing, then, will be the actual experi- ence of how far the tariff affects the cost of liv- ing—which will be very valuable to the majority as a guide for the permanent tariff. * % % % There will be some political hay-making during the summer as the extraordinary session procceds. The democrats are apparently getting ready to make the tariff an issue. “Go to it,” say the republicans, “but remember how you were split at the last session.” t or the dotting of an i. Industrial Engineers and Labor Leaders Unite in Studying Problems of Personnel Missouri republican state committee and a few (Copyrl, ght, 1921, by The Washington Star.) ORMATION of the Personnel Research Federation, as a national clearing house, linking 250 scientific. en- gineering, labor, management and educational bodies, was announced yesterday by the Engineering Foundation. e The new organization was launched under the auspices of the l Natiomal Research Council and the foundation, of which Charles F. Rand of New York is president, and which is an instrument of the United Engineering Society for the advancement of science. Robert M. Yerkes, representing the National Research Council, has been elected chairman of the fed- eration, and Samuel Gompers, rep- resenting the American Federa- tion of Labor, vice chairman, Rob- ert W. Bruere, who represents the Bureau of Industrial Research, was chosen treasurer, and Alfred D. Flinn, representing Engineering Foundation, secretary. Beardsley Ruml, assistant to the president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, was selected as acting di- rector. * *x % % The federation, Mr. Flinn an- nounced, will collect research in- formation about men and women in industry and commerce, will en- courage research through indi- ‘viduals and organizations, and will co-ordinate research activities on a nation-wide scale. “The aims of the new organiza- May Be Placed in Charge Of Big U. S. Print Shop MILO SHANK, Newspaper editor former employe of the government printing office, who is a leading candidate for ap- pointment as public printer. The New York and Kentucky delegutions in Cengress are understood to be back of him, tion,” said the announcement, “are increased efficiency of ail the per- sonnel elements of industry—em- ployer, manager, worker—and im- proved safety, health, comfort and relationships. “The immediate purposes of the federation will b To learn what organizations are studying one or more problems relating to per- sonnel and the scope of their en- deavors; to determine whether these endeavors can be harmon- ized, duplication ¥minimized, ne- glected phases of the problems con- sidered and advanced work under- taken.” * ¥ ¥ X One of the leaders in the move- ment is Dr. James R. Angell, new president of Yale, and past chair- man of the national research coun- cil. The kinds of problems which should receive attention from the new federation are outlined by Dr. Angell as follows, in a statement glven out by Engineering Founda- tion: “Certain of the hygienic problems of modern industry exemplify cases in which a thoroughly scientific study of causes and effects is pos- sible with convincing conclusions regarding practice which will safe- guard the health and vigor of all concerned. Not a few highly im- portant results have already been attained in this field. “The effects upon industrial productivity on the one hand and physical vitality on the other, of good and bad ventilation, of good and bad light, of high tempera- tures, of irritant fumes, of dust and other similar features are, theoretically, at least, within the fleld of scientific analysis, and the ascertainment of demonstrable fact. Similarly, and in a different Zone of inquiry, it should be pos- sible to secure thoroughly reliable data regarding the dominant causes of unrest in our industries, of excessive turnover and the like. Many other instances of the same kind will suggest themselves to all ‘who have experience in the indus- trial fleld.” * * % The establishment of the Per- sonnel Research Federation fol- lowed a preliminary conference held in Washington on November 12, 1920, under the auspices of the National Research Council and En- gineering Foundation, which is raising a fund of many millions to promote industrial research. The conference resulted in an inter- change of ideas among representa- tives of national organizations of scientists, - engineers, labor, capi- tal, managers, educators, econo- mists and sociologists. This inter- change surrounded the question of the practicability of bringing about co-operation among the many bod- ies conducting research relating to men and women in industry and commerce from management to unskilled labor, invelving such topics as the relations of persons doing different parts of the work I l and the influence of working con- ditions upon the health, output and happiness of the workers. * % X Kk In response to a request from the preliminary conference, the bureau of labor statistics of the Depart- ment of Labor undertook to comg pile a catalogue of organizations in the United States giving atten- tion to personnel problems. This investigation, just being completed for the bureau by Dr. David Thompson, has revealed that there are 250 such organizations. Organization of the federation, it was maid yesterday, is another example of greater participation by the engineer in the solution of economic and industrial problems. ‘The American Engineering Coun- cil of the Federated American En- gineering Societies, of which Her- bert Hoover is president, is nmow conducting a national assay of waste. L. W. Wallace, executive secretary of the council, by whom the assay is being directed, said yesterday that the fleld workers would complete their investiga- tions of industries about April 1. * % k% 1918, Engineering it was stated yester- day, “undertook a limited study of the adjustment in industry of per- sons of peculiar traits or limited mental capacity. It was under- stood, however,” Mr. Flinn said, “that this was only one problem, and not the most important,.of & large number relating to men and women and their work, since the larger study would go into many fields of science and sociology. “Engineering Foundation, in June, 1919, requested the National Research Council to consider the possibility ‘of organizing research on a suitable scale, chiefly by bringing into co-operation the agencies already in this fleld. Nu- merous organizations and individ- uals were konwn to be studying personnel matters, independently, with a few direct contacts, no co- ordination, no program and little co-operation. How numerous these organizations were was not even suspected at that time. Several important parts of the subject were, nevertheless, receiving little or no attention. “The research council appointed a committee. This committee sought information and advice from many persons and organiza- tions interested in all phases of ‘these questions. It was determined to call a amall, but representative, preliminary conference at which the idea could be discussed in an informal way and some plan worked out for a trial. After a year's investigation, this commit- tee brought about the Washington conference of November, 1920, as the first concrete step in the plan which has just resulted in the es- i tablishment of the Personnel Re- search Federation.” * % x % Yesterday's announcement of the launching of the new federation contained the following outline of its functions and scope: “Collection and dissemination of information through registration of researches contemplated, in Progress, or completed; collection of research information; catalogu- ing and analyz{ng the research in- formatiog; collecting and. analyz- ing of methods or instruction and training for personnel work; pub- lication; publicity. and consuilta- tion and advice, when requested. “Stimulatlon and initiation of research through individuals, or- ‘ganizations and = governmental agencies, by publicity and corre- spondence, personal contact with research agencies; advice and en- couragement in the formation of necessary new agencies; alding governmental agencies to secure appropriations necessary for them adequately to carry on personnel and semployment work; calling special conferences; definition of problems needing investigation. “Co-ordination of research ac- tivities- through regular meetings of representatives of co-operat- ing agencies; regular reports of affiliated agencies on work in progress and completed, and cor- respondence and personal consul- tation.” WOOl Grewer IB Proposed "For Appointment to 1. C. C. FRANK HAGENBARTH ‘The congressional delegations morthwesteirn states him acceptable, ’ o " Of Utah, president of the National|!lons for future peace. the Wool Growers® Association, who iare- | are republicans of all complexions | most important and lively ehteahg sarded as likely to be appointed 16| of thought on this question. 1t from have premounced dict That None of Importance Ever Will Be Considered Behind Closed Doors. ULD LINCOLN. | coined the phrase “open covenants arrived at” manner in which treaties and conventions with foreign nations should be made, he was laying up trouble—difficulties, more properly speaking—for the Harding adminis- tration, as well as for his own. This does not mean that covenants with foreign nations should not be “openly arrived at.” In fact, it is very de- sirable that they should. But it does son the mean that it is more difficult to bring | about the ratification of these cov- !enants by the United States Senate, for instance. ) The Senate took a leaf out of Mr. Wilson's book and discussed the Ver- sailles treaty in the open. The treaty failed. It might have failed if there had been no open debate. But the chances are far more likely that it would have been ratified if the con- sideration had been behind closed doors, with the publicity to the dis- cussion limited on that account. The Colombian Treaty. The Senate also provided for the consideration of the Colombian treaty with this country in the open. by a special order during the last Con- gress. And now this particular treaty has bobbed up with the promise of the first serious difficulty between the new administration and the Sen- ate. President Harding sent a mes- sage to the Senate recently urging ratification of the pact, and a group of republican senators has organized to prevent ratification if they can. The success or failure of this ef- fort to defeat the Colombian treaty, the opponents say, largely depends upon whether the treaty is considered in open executive session. If the treaty is considered behind closed doors, with the debate more or less of a sealed book, there will be great- er opportunity of its being ratified, they say. On the other hand, with the debate entirely in the open, and the possibility of influencing public opinion in their hands, the senators opposing the pact declare it can be defeated. Arguments Presented. Without going deeply into the con- troversy over the Colombian treaty, it may be said that the opponents of the pact declare that to pay the Co- lombians $25,000,000, as is proposed, to recompense them for their loss of Panama and the Panama Canal Zone, would be no more nor less than to admit that the United States had { been respofisible for the revolution which finally brought about the sep- aration of Panama and Colombia. The supporters of the treaty, on the other hand, insist that it will make for . betjer relations between the United States and Colombia, and for a better feeling between this country and all Latin America. Democratic supporters of the treaty in the past have mot hesitated to charge that the late Theodore Roosevelt, during his administration, was entirely respon- sible for the whole transaction by which Colombia finally found herself deprived of Panama and the Canal Zone. “This attack upon Col. Roosevelt op- ponents of the treaty bitterly re- sent. They desire to answer it in the open Senate, they say. They do not believe either that friendly relations with Latin America can be purchased through paying to Colombia $25,000,- 000 as a sop. Also they charge that oil interests in this country which have obtained oil consessions in Co- lombia are largely responsible for the sudden interest which has developed in the United States in the ratifica- tion of this pact. These, in brief, are the arguments that will be made pro and con the pending treaty. The opponents of the treaty are sincere in their belief that they will be able to defeat the pact if they can have the ear of the pub- lice in this country. Some of the men who are opposing the Colombian treaty are among those who fought the Versailles treaty to a finish in the Senate—Senator William E. Bo- rah of Idaho, Senator Hiram John- son of California and others. They fave had experience in defeating: treaties and they feel they can turn the trick again. 1 Difficulty of Open Ratification. ‘Which all gets back to the difficulty of ratifying treaties with foreign na- tions “in the ope: Of course, one jgreat difficulty any aedministration has to face is that a treaty sub- mitted by it must receive the support of two-thirds of the senators voting But that is a provision of the Consti- tution and until that is amended must stand. But the difficulty over the Colombian be expected when the administration undertakes to make a pact with the allied nations or with the Germans. It is true that the administration may find it possible to sail safely through the desire in this country to bring about an understanding that will pre- be difficult sailing. In place, the democrats who supported definite understanding with other na- openly | Course — wiil discussing | from the world war that President ¢ former President Wil- | HArding may negotiate and send to the Senate—if he does take such a be considered in the open. After the precedent set in dealing with the treaty of Versallles and the covenant of the league of na- tions, any attempt to deal with a substitute proposal behind closed oors d cause an uproar not only in the Senate, but throughout the country. Practice of the Semate. It is rather interesting to consider in this connection the course fol- lowed by the Senate in dealing with other important treaties that havc come before it. The treaty of Ver- sailles was the first treaty of great importance with foreign nations that Wwas ever considered in the open Sem ate. And, incidentally, this treaty oc. cupied far more time of the Senate than any other pact that has been brought before it. When the United States made peace with Spain in 1599. the treaty was considered behind closed doors. It is true that there was discussion in the Senate while the doors were open regarding the disposition of the Phil- ippine Islands and what the status of the Filipinos should be. But the treaty itself was discussed and ratj- fied in secret. That treaty was cofi- cluded at Paris December 10, 1898. It was submitted to the Senate January 4, 1899, and the Senate “advised rati- fication,” as the phrase goes, Febru- ary 6, or just about a month after i was received. The injunction of se- crecy as to the text of the treaty was lifted January 11, so that the country knew what the pact was practically at the beginning of iis consideration by the Senate. The treaty of peace following the war with Mexico was concluded Feb- ruary 2, 1848, and was ratified bL) the Senate March 10 of the same year. showing quick actiop. After the war of 1812 with Great Britain peace was made through & pact megotiated at Ghent, and sinc. known as the treaty of Ghent. Tha. treaty was concluded December 24, 1814, and it was ratified by the Sen- ate February 16, 1815. Which was quick work, considering the slower means of communication with Eu- rope in those days. Following the war of the revolution, peace was not then been adopted, and the mat- left to the President and the Senate, Senatorial Prediction. With the opening of the doors of Then there | lications. 1t is a foregone conclusion, however, | being magde to build up & good Amere that the consideration of any treaty, | ican commercial library in the bué convention or agreement resulting reau's new office. the Senate during the debate of the Versaillep trealy, a new era in the procedure of the Senate relating to foreign affairs seems to have arrived. It is freely predicled by senators that never again will a treaty of great importance to this country be con- sidered behind closed doors. Senator Borah of Idaho, a member of the foreign relations committee and a strong advocate of dealing with foreign relations in the open, said recentiy loal he saw no §ood reason for closing the doors upon the discussion of loreign relations— though there might be & few in- stances arise which wouid make it advisable to have the discussion Se- cret. He pointed out that in the consideration of the Versailles treaty the discussion had been wide, that it had been free and open, and without result of imperiling the friendly rela- tions of this country with other na- tions. The principal reason advanced by advocates of discussing treaties in secret has been that the open dis cussion of international relations might result in intlaming the public of this or another country, resulting in difficulties between the United States and other nations. Decrease in Secrecy. Secrecy in governmental affairs has dmoreased greatly in recent years. Formerly practically all of the com- mittee meetings of the Senate and House were behind closed doors; even including hearings. Now the tendency is to open the doors, even when com- mittees are dealing Wwith legislation in hand. The nominations sent to the Senate by the President are still con- sideredein secret. But the reason for such a course has been that charges might be made against appointees which would do them great injury if merely given publicity, even thuugh the charges might not be suttained. The force of this argument has o far prevented open consideration of nominations, though that procedure has its advocates in the Senate today, upon the resolution .of ratification.{PLANS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO GET CHINESE MARKET treaty is a minor matter to what may | Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce Opens Information Branch in Shanghai. The opening of a new office of the/ the Scylla and Charybdis of avoidance bureau of foreign and domestic com- of entangling foreign relations and | merce in Shanghai provides American foreign traders with another source of information, and supplies an addi- vent future wars. But it is likely to | tiodal medium through which Chi- the first | nese buyers can be reached. = American manufacturers, merchants their party chief and the league of |and business organizations are urged nations may be expected to raise|by the National Foreign Trade Couns their voices in protest. if all efforts|cil to place this Shanghai office om should be discarded to bring about a | their malling list for catalogues, journals, and other commercial pub. Shanghal is one in the far east, and every effort made by action of the Contimentai Congress, since the Constitution had ter of dealing with foreign nations SECRET DISCUSSION .. OF TREATIES PASSES on Domestic and Foreign Policies|s...c:p. 3