Evening Star Newspaper, May 22, 1921, Page 43

EDITORIAL PAGE NATIONAL PROBLEMS SPECIAL ARTICLES "DEMAND IN SENATE FOR OPEN SESSIONS Day May Come When Public Will Hear All Treaties and Nominations ! nomination of Col. George Harvey to yof St James be considered in open | .} Senate so that all treatles and nomi- nations should be considered in open session, unless by a two-thirds vote “the Senate should decide to close the doors. This resolution has been re- ferred to the Senate rules committee, ‘where is is likely to die a.lingering death, it is said. The action refer- ring the resolution was taken on a motioh of Senator Lodge, the repub- lican leader, who has been strongly opposed to the proposed change in the rules, though he favored the con- sideration of the Versailles and Co- lombian treaties in the open. The vote on reference was 42 to 26, the( opponents of open sessions on nomi- nations winning the first brush in the present Congre: - 4m @ecret session and also of nomi- i son of Mississippl recently stirred refused, but in the end the vote on the nomination was made public, and, ¢ after Col. Harvey’s confirmation, Sen- i ator Harrison delivered a vitriolic Dbassador. this move with the introduction of & say, that the contest will be abandon- ed. Senator Kenyon of Iowa, repub- | lican, probably will offer another res- olution designed to open up all ses- sions of the Senate, executive and legislative, unless two-thirds of the senators present should vote to do otherwise. It was he who about five years ago, during the Wilson admin- which at that time was killed by ref- where the opposition to the proposed change is strong. olution to which it would appear that the sup- Discussed. BY G. GOULD LINCOLN. UBLIC business transacted in a | mixed blessing. public way—not behind closed | Prepared to have his affairs aired on the doors—is the demand which is { 00T of the Senate. Some of those Who being made by a group of|have sought nomination so actively in a | the past may be less anxious to get into the arena, it has been suggested. On the other hand, the advocates 1 of open sessions say that the nominat- |ing power will be more careful what nominations are sent to the Senate If it is known that they will be subject to attack in the open Sen- Senators, including republicans amn demourats, particularly with refer- ence to the business of the Senate. Their efforts are directed especially to the consideration of all treaties ‘with foreign nations and all nomina- tions sent to the Senate by the Presi- dent in open executive session. ‘The fight for less secrecy in the conduct of public business is not new. It has been going on for years outside the Senate as well as in it. And always the tendency has been toward opening the doors to the pub- ate. meetings of the Senate and of Senate committees and House committees today than there were a few years ago. But the Senate rules still pro- vide for the consideration of treaties lams, nations. Jee Broken om Treaties. The ice was broken, so far as woted to consider the treaty with Co- | tion. lombia and the Verrsailles treaty in open executive session. The predic- tion is made now that never again ered behind closed doors. It still remains, however, for the Senate to open its doors When nom- inations for public office are before it for consideration. Senator Harri- {ond the the Senate by a demand that the be American ambassador to the court executive session. The demand was attack in the Senate upon the am- Demand for Open Sessions. The Mississippi senator followed up lution changing the rules of the But this does not mean, senators Istration, offered such a resolution, erence to the committee on rules, Then the vote stood 31 to 30 in favor of referring the res- the committee. From porters of open sessions have lost ground. Got Five Republican Votes. The fact that the resolution so re- cently sent to the rules committee was offered by Mr. Harrison, a democrat, must be taken into consideration, how- ever. The majority party In power in the Senate usually looks askance upon any move of importance made by the minority or any of its members. A re- publican resolution for open sessions, | probably would have more support. The | vote on the Harrison resolution was not - can senators voted for it—Senators Borah of Idako, Jobnson of California, Kenyon of Iowa, La Follette of Wis- consin and Norris of Nebraska. Three democrats were recorded against the to be considered by no means an un- “that at one time, democratic administration, the ap- pointment of a man to high position in the diplomatio service was opposed in the Senate upon the grounds that he had accepted ‘hush money’ from certain interests in the orient. I treaties are concerned, when, during [ was one of those who believed the the last two Congresses, the Senate)charge and who defeated his nomina- I found out years afterward that the charge was not true and that I had made a mistake. I remem- ber another case, under a republican will sn important treaty be consid- |administration, where thers was voiced upon this floor a charge against a man that he had been extremely loose. charge was not true, and in the sec- charge was true. case the nomination was defeated and in the other it was not. But when senators are considering the compe- tency and honesty and worthiness of ai appointee, why should thers go over the entire country sensational things that would cover with shame his wife or his children? There is no common sense in it."" Scores “Seamatorial Courtesy.” But while Senator Williams attack- ed the proposal for open sessions to consider nominations, he vigorously criticised the practice, denominated “senatorial courtesy,” under ‘which the Senate refuses to confirm an ap- pointment to office in a senator’s state if the senator arises on the floor and declares the appointee is “personally obnoxious” to him. “Before I would rise in secret ses- sion of the Senate to vent my private spleen or to voice my private enmity to or to express my sense of another's personal enmity to me, and defeat his nomination in that way, without be- ing able and willing to give some public reason for his defeat, I would resign my seat in this august body.” said Senator Williams. Yet “senatorial courtesy” has been responsible for the defeat of not an inconsiderable number of nominations in the past, and probably will con- It!nllo to cause the defeat of various ]nomln‘llofll in the future, unless this unwritten rule is finally abandoned. | The proponents of open executive ses~ sions insist that if all the Senate proceedings were open this rule would never be invoked; that a sena- tor would not in open session “vent his private spleen.” “Senatorial courtesy,” so called, is |manifested in other ways. For in- stance, if a senator—a sitting member of the Senate—is nominated for an executive or judicial office, the Sen- ate, without delay and usually in open executive session, confirms the nomwi- nation. There is no effort made to determine the qualifications for the position to which he is named It goes through as a matter of course. the only appointment made by former President Wilson during the last session of Congress, when the republicans of the Senate ‘held up all his nominations, which was confirmed was that of former Senator Nugent of Idaho, democrat, to be a member of the Federal Trade ‘Commission. ¥ REPORT ON TARIFF. The House ways and means com- strictly along party lines. Five republi- | mittee reported a joint resolution under which new schedules in the permanent tartft bill would be made affecti mediately upon measure, if the committee held that an emergency for such steps required it. Practically A nominee must be Groundless Charges Brought. Senator Willlams, who took issue with his colleague, Senator Harrison, over the advisability of holding open executive sessions to consider nom- lic 1n all matters connected With the | i;0tiong said that frequently charges public. ‘There are far more OPeD {41 brought against a nominee that | are proven to be without foundation. “I remember,” sald Senator Wil- under & In one case the In one im- introduction of that resolution, Senators Overman and Sim- mons of North Carolina and Smith of South Carolina, while Senator John Sharp Williams of Mississippl, though he voted against the reference of ‘the resolution to the committee, declaring that it should be disposed of by the Sen- | ate. spoke in opposition to it. ‘When the Senate organized in the first w—.rormenntfndx-hhddl all of its sessions, legisiative as well as executive, behind closed doors. But this @id not last long. The American people could not stomach such proceedings, and | a majority of the senators themselves ‘were apposed to them. Fairaess Open to Question. The falrness of considering nomina- tions for office in open session is a mat- ter of vigorous controversy. The advo- cates of open session insist that when & man is named for a public office he should be willing to have his qualifica- tions discussed just as freely as if he were up for an elective office, when he would be forced to make a campaign and to reply to all charges and criti- cisms that might be made against him. The opponents of the open session, on the other hand, comtend that it would not be fair, becsuse the nominee would Dot be able to answer these charges on the ficor of the Senate, and fm all prob- abflity would not have time to answer them outside of the Senate before the Senate acted upon the nomination. If the seasions for the consideration _‘ofl*’“ public-eCive may come SOVErmor. = Govemor Turns Author And Stirs Up Trble GOV. HUGH M. DORSEY Of Georgia, Negro in Georgia™ has caused consid- erable feeling in the state and ' of mominstions should be opgned UD.|guited fn threats to impeach the whose book on “The re- EDITORIAL SECTION he Sundiy Stad, WASHINGTON, D. C., SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 22, 1921 Harding Administration Sees Knotty Problems Rapidly Approach Solution| BY N. 0. MESSENGER. RESIDENT HARDING and his cabinet are beginning to see daylight break over some of the big problems of the nation which loomed so dark and gloomy when the new administration took hold, two and a half months ago. Optimism and a cheerful out- look for the future constitute the order of the day at the White House and about the great executive departments just now. This cheerful spirit is engendered among those who are directing governmental affairs by the reports which come to headquarters of the progress being made in the handling of many of the subjects which are immediately in hand. Likewise, from the news reaching Wash- ington from the country at large of a steady, it slow, improvement in many lines of indus- trial and commercial endeavor. President Harding shares the bellef of those who talk over the situation around the cabinet table, that the bottom of hard conditions has been reached, and that with regard to govern- mental problems and domestic questions the up-grade has approached, and that it ought to be a steady climb from now on. * X k % President Harding is especially pleased with the way things are going in Congress. He likes the way the House and Senate have gone at the big questions confronting them and the speed with which they have cleared up many of them. He is getting along famously with Congress, although he finds honest difference of opinion at times with projects suggested. These yield to treatment, after his own diplomatic and conciliatory way, and no acute issue has yet been allowed to develop between the execu- tive and the legislative branches. “Let’'s see if we can't work it out satisfac- torfly to both sides,” might be taken as a para- phased statement of his suggestion when he takes up a question over which there are dif- ferences of opinion between him and Senate and House leaders, near-leaders and would-be lead- ers, of one faction or another. * k k% The way the disarmament question ‘was handled was a good éxample. When Senator Borah first proposed his amendment to the naval appropriation bill providing for the calling by the President of the United States of a confer- ence of the powers on disarmament, the execu- tive was not altogether pleased. He felt that the President should be allowed to take the initiative in this, unhampered by suggestion 1n its firal form, will contain the appropriations for continuing the naval program of this gov- ernment pending some possible future agree- ment for disarmament. * ¥ ¥ X It s the belief of leaders in Congress that no amount of talk and criticism would change the determination of a majority of the House and Senate to keep the Nayy in fit condition pending the solution of world problems, any one of which may change from smoldering embers into a bright flame of war at a moment’s notice. At the same time, all realize the monstrosity of the ever-increasing armament bills of the world and the necessity for the exercise of com- mon sense. But the desire of the men in the House and Senate, and in the administration out of Con- gress, who are responsible for governmental policies is to “get by” for the present with the program already entered upon and leave to the future the determination of academic questions, being assured for the time being that they are “keeping their powder dry” against eventuali- ties. * ¥ ¥ % President Harding is pleased with the way the Congress called by him in extraordinary ses- sion has moved for the relief of the agricultural industry, by pushing the emergency tariff legis- lation. It is another question upon which men differ, whether it is to be effective or nct. The main thing is the farmers believe it will; they urged the legislation as one plan for their re- habilitation, and thé President is glad to see it given a trial. In tHe meantime other agencies are work- ing for the betterment of the farmers’ condi- tion. The War Finance Corporation has taken a new lease on life and is providing means for exports of farm and other products to Europe with credits to finance the handling of the goods. The President is not interfering by way of suggestions, further than those made in his first address to Congress, with the details of tariff legislation, but he is keeping in close touch ‘with House and Senate leaders as to what is being accomplished. He has a marked capacity for absorbing information withdut offering ade vice, and the leaders who visit him are im- pressed with his knowledge of affairs at the Capitol. * X x *x President Harding is confident that the reso- lution declaring peace with Germany, when it takes final form, will be agreeabld to the dif- fering schools of thought on that proposition to be taken by this country toward perfecting an association of nations in accordance with the administration’s announced desire to recogniz the existing sentiment of the people of the United States favoring such an enterprise. Across the mystery of what Secretary Hughes is thinking about or doing flashes from time to time enlightening evidences of one line of policy which is being steadfastly adhered to; that is, to keep clear of mixing in European questions which are strictly European, and with which' the United States cannot have any kind of traffic. This is pleasing not only to the irrec- oncilable opponents of the league of nationms, but is gratifying to those who still hope for a world association, but who never forget for an instant the traditional policy of the United States toward old world disputes. Secretary Hughes has avoided every pitfall and trap which has thus far been laid to en- tangle the United States. To be sure, the fowler has laid his snare in the sight of the expected prey, so that it is easily discernible beneath all specious coverings. The Secretary of State of this republic is a wary personage, and he is adhering closely to distinctive and ‘well defined lines of policy lald down by past generations of statesmen and heartily approved by the present-day school. * % % % Death has presented to President Harding a problem which but for the sudden passing over of Chieff Justice White was not to have been expected for many months to come—the selection of a Chief Justice of the United States. It is one of the most important appointments which any President is called upon to make, and in the past some Presidents have gone through their entire terms of office without be- ing called upon to exercise the duty of filling the post. A strong personality in- the chair of the Chief Justice is the demand of the people. Per- sonal integrity combined with a high order of legal ability berobes the Chief Justice of the United States with a garment of respect that amounts almost to sanctity. The nomination of a man to the office is tantamount to his con- firmation. There have been instances of the Senate, mainly for political reasons, refusing to confirm an associate justtice, but when the executive finally determines upon a Chief Justice his word is considered as final in per- fecting the appointment. It s a curious whimsy of fate that attaches to the present situation. The prospective ap- pointee, William H. Taft, for as such is he re- n Society News | - SERVICE MEN HAVE ° INNINGS THIS WEEK Several Measures for Their Benefit Are Scheduled for Consideration in Congress. BY WILL P. KENNEDY. EGISLATION for the benefit of the former service men is com- ing to the fore this week. There are two distinct meas- ures, considered of major importance by the administration, that will be expedited: 1. The hospitalization program to which President Harding directed his personal physician, Brig. Gen C. E. Sawyer, to give particular attention. 2. The Sweet bill for consolidation of the three principal government agencles concerned with the care of former service men. In addition to this the so-called “goldiers’ bonus” bill and other legis- lation urged by the American Legion will be advanced. The House committee on public buildings and grounds has approved the hospitalization bill fathered by Chairman Langley, who intends to ¥ to get it passed by the House under unanimous consent early this week. He says that he has found no opposition to it and believes that all of the members will unite in rushing that he ahould be hurried. from the legislative branch. He did not feel tor Borah talked with him and it developed that they were not in disagreement upon principles or essentials. Senator Borah felt that he would be acting with- in his own rights if he discussed the question freely in the Senate, and the President had ne inclination to repress the Senate in free discus- sion. So, suddenly, there came a change of policy. The administration ceased to oppose the disarmament resolution.and accepted ft. ‘The result will be the elimination of a great deal of talk in the Semate and the speedier passage of the naval appropriation bill, which, in the House and Senate. He and Secretary of State Hughes will work out & form, in co-opera- tion with Chairman Porter of the House com- mittee on foreign affairs and Chairman Lodge of the Senate committes, which will not con- flict with the policy of the State Department, now engaged upon broader phases of foreign policy than this mere technical declaration of an existing fact which is a “going concern.” x X % % Speculation 1s unbounded as to what Secre- tary of State Hughes {s working on for the dls- position of the Versailles treaty and the steps garded, was responsible for the elevation of Mr. White to the office, and now he, in all human probabflity, is to succeed him. Mr. Taft, when President, pald the highest tribute of respect for this great office by ap- pointing to it a man of opposite political faith, disregarding the wishes of pasfans who con- tended that without recognizing political consid- eration a republican to flll the office could be found. Chief Justice White's course in office ’ Justified the sttitude of President Taft, and he ‘will go down into history as one of they greatest of Chief Justices. (Copyright, 1921, by The Washington Star.) Holds Debate on the Colombian Treaty BY THOMAS R. MARSHALL. RESIDENT HARDING aid well to resubmit the Co- lombian treaty and the Sen- ate did well to vote for rat- ification. but the acrimonious de- bate should have been curtailed, and it would have been better had many of the unsupported charges not been made. This reveals the weakness of open sessions of the Senate dur- ing treaty debates. ThoworM be- comes the audience, and delicate relations Detween nations ere apt to be strained, if not severed. Of course, it is a lovely thing to do the business of the government in the open, and I doubt that we shall return to closed doors now that the precedent of considering treaties in open executive sessions of the Senate has been established, but I sometimes doubt the wisdom of the changed policy. All treaty discussions by the Senate since the government was founded had been secret until the Versailles treaty, most important of all, came up for consideration. It could not combat the theory of “open cove- nants openly arrived at,” so the doors were flung wide. They prob- ably will remain open as they did during the Colombian discussion, as the Senate is governed quite as much by precedence as by its own rules. *x %% The whole world, including Co- lombia, now knows the charges and counter charges made in the heat of debate. The one thing not known is just what motive gov- erned the Senate in voting $25,- 000,000 to the republic of Colombia @8 an indemnity for the loss of the territory now occupied by the re- public of Panama and the Canal Zone. How can the motive be definitely established when the statements of those who contend- od that the indemnity was but the honest payment, long deferred, of a debt which this government owed the republio of Colombia and that the transaction was but the friend- “ly adjustment of a much disputed question were opposed by charges that the demand for indemnity was blackmail, that its payment would be an insult to the dead and a reflection on the memory of ‘Theodore Roosevelt; that the offer to pay was an attempt to pur- chase friendly relations? 1If Colombia and the other repub- lics of Central and South America are to regard the $25,000,000 as a gift, our government would far better have kept its cash and re- strained its oratory. There is no justification in law, morals or di- plomacy for the payment of the indemnity ualess it be to make a wrong right, or as nearly right as money is capable of doing. * % %% For eight years I, perhaps, main- tained as friendly relsations with the ambassadors and ministers from the Central and South Amer- ican republics as any man in ‘Washington outside the Btate De- partment. I do not pretend to know anything about the confer- ences which took place between representatives of the department and the South American represent- atiyes, because there is a point ‘Where the white Jight that beats upon the public squars does mot reach and should not reach. Then, too, agreements frequently are ar- rived at by little intimate expres- sions of feeling and emotion which have no part in formal diplomatic correspondence, but which show the heart interest of the negotiators. With none of these things had I aught to do. But I had not been long in Washington until I de- tected—or thought I detected— that the cordial generous feeling manifested toward me by the dip- Jomatic representatives from Eu- rope was not manifested to the same degree by the representatives from our sister republics to the south. Naturally I wondered at this, and as I had always been an advocate of absolutely frank and friendly relations between the va- rious peoples of the western hemi- sphere as the beginning of a gen- eral good understanding among all the nations of the world, I took especial pains to cultivate social relations with the Seuth American representatives. * 8 As we became more and more in- timate I grew satisfled that these distinguished gentlemen had not been lboking asikance at me be- cause of the state of my nativity, and this pleased me, as I am jeal- ous of the honor of the Hoosier state. I may laugh at it myself, but it angers me for any one else to laugh at it. So I became con- vinced by reading between the lines and Mstening between the words that the quiet aloofness which I thought I had detected arose from some general sentiment touching all the people of the United States. I finally reached the conelusion that all South American representa- tives in common with those from Colombia regarding our conduct in the/Panama affair as that of & bul- lying brother, who exercised pow- er because he possessed it. 1 am not unmindful of the con- stant reiteration from our official sources that the clause in our treaty with New Granada, which reads that ¢he Tnfted States guar- antees the rights of sovereignty and property which New Granada Possesses over the territory, means that the purpose of this stipulation Wwas to guarantee the Isthmus against seizure or invasion by a foreign power only. Bit on this subject, I have a Letin-American mind L I have observed that when seif- interest runs amuck of e contract keeping of which is-net to our in- terest and which we cannot be compelled to keep. we save our horor by construing it to it our desires. I think Latin America construed this contract as I con- strue it: A plain and indisputable agreement to maintain the Isth- mus of Panama as & part of the republic of New ‘Granada, now Colombia. I think the republics looked upon “the exercise of inter- mational emfoent domain” as I looked upon it, namely, that the old classifications of larceny, grand and petit, had been added to by the creation of & new class which might well be dominated super- “excellent larceny. I am well aware that maeny persons just as con- sclentious Americans as 1 claim to be do not agree with me, and with them I have no quarrel. But I cannot sense any justification for the payment of the money we have voted save as e means to right a wrong. If we did not make payment for this purpose, but to buy friendship, we have wasted our money, and those who opposed payment were right. The coin of the realm may buy unwilling serv- ice, temperary peace and outward friendship, but it cannot buy gen- uine and adbiding confidence. *x % % The Panama incident was an ir- ritant in our relations with Cen- tral and South America, because representatives of those countries looked upon it as an illustration of what they believed to be jingo construction of the Monroe doc- trine. Open statements that we ‘were going to the Canal Zone and the sooner we started the quicker ‘we would get there led them all to believe that we were exercising overlordship of the western hemi- sphere; that we would not permit European powers, peaceably or forcibly, to take possession of American soil, but that when we desired to do so, we would make seisure Much of the construc- tion placed upon the Monroe doc- trine was distinctly distasteful to that decent self-respect which every nation, however small, should have for itself. The South American representatives could * * Tended to Defeat Purpose Aimed At not understand the attitude of a Deople who would not enter into a world agreement to guarantee the political and geographical integ- rity of nations from external ag- gression, and yet at the same time insist that they should be given the Job of guarding the political and geographical integrity of.. the western hemisphere, wholly un- accountadle 2o the worl for the exercise ef that power. L ‘The way to cultivate the good ‘Wwill of the rest of America is for the United States to quit tal about it and to prove thltuonu: construction of the Monroe doc- trine is not a selfish one; that it 1s never to be exercised save in a matter of self-preservation, or When requested by a sister re- public when threatened. The re- cent war disclosed the utter futil- ity of permanently imposing a dis- tasteful rule upon a people. There are no monarchies left in Europe with either power or desire to set up their systems of government in America. If the reason of the rule has not brought the rule to an end, let it bring it to a diplomatic ad- justment which will disclose what I am sure is our view—that we ‘want no more territory—only trade and commerce. When this has been done gifts will not be needed to guarantee friendship, trade and mutual good understanding with Latin America. {Copyright, 1921, by Thomas R. Marshall) —_— LOANS BEFORE CABINET. | President and Advisers Discuss In- ternational Financé. International finance, with especial reference to foreign loans made in the financial markets of this country, ‘was the principal subject of discus sion during the session of the cabi- net Friday. The problem of encour- aging exportation so as to cut down foreign loans made in the Unit- ed States and working toward a re- funding of outstanding American lia- bilitier, was considered at great length by the President end his ad- visers. Following the meeting, it was in- dicated that no definite administra- tion policy was decided on, but it was made known that a careful study of the situation would be made, eand some developments might be looked for in the near future. The situation in Alatka, which be- came alarming as a result of the marine workers' strike, which caused @ shortage in supplies in that section, [Jersey. who has been chosen has been considerably relieved, it was made known following the meeting. » it through. Against Divided Jurisdiction. This measure is in substance what the Secretary of the Treasury, Brig Gen. Sawyer, and the special hospital- ization committee, headed by William Charles White, have urged. It omits, however, the proposal that some of the funds should be allottted to the War and Navy departments for the treatment of patients in their hospitals. There was considerable opposition to that among members of Congress, on the grounds that it would constitute divided jurisdiction over hopitaliza- tion work, -which the administration has regarded as the man trouble all along. ‘The Langley bill provides that the President shall be authorized to transfer to the jurisdiction of the Treasury any hospitals that the Army and Navy might have to meet just that situation, so that 1 0 > stressed by President Harding in his address at the opening of Congress, and will be given right of way on the House program. There are twenty- nine sections in the bill, so that it apt to occupy several days in the House. 3 It ipcludes the provisions origi- nally carried by the Wason bill, which failed last session. for decentralization of the relief work for former service men. This would be effected through fourteen regional offices and about fifty suboffices throughout the states. All of these, however, would be un- der the central headquarters here in Washington. The Sweet bill would relieve the service men from payment of pre- miums on insurance policies under certain conditions: (1) If they are in hospitals; (2), If thev are taking vo- cational training; (3). If they are to- tally disabled. It also provides that the aggrava- tion of disease which might have ex- isted prior to entrance into the serv- ice shall be considered compensable. It provides slight penalties in the cases of boys in hospitals for infrac- tion of rules, so that there may be some control over them. Provision for Families. It opens a way for men in hospl tals who are receiving $30 a month and who have no living expenses te meet, to allot a certain portion te their families. It provides, besides this, that the United States can re- tain, at the option of the soldier, & certain portion of this monthly als lowance and pay interest on it at & rate not less than 3% per cent. The Sweet bill has the support ef the American Legion and practically all of the soldier organizations. Other legislation for the benefit of the service men has been held back until after the passage of these two measures. Representative Royal C. Johnson of South Dakota, who is looked upom they might be operated under the same |as the floor representative of the authority as all other hospitals caring | former service men, says that there for former service men. In addition to this, there is provision in the Langley bill authorizing the al- lotment of any part of the hospitaliza- is some doubt as to the form in which the so-called “soldiers’ bonus™ bill will go through. It may come in the ferm ef paid-uop insurance. tion fund to the board of managers of | some other ofthe alternative prop- the National Soldiers’ Home, because it is ultimately the plan to put in these soldiers’ home hospitals all the victims of the world war who have been per- manently disabled. A fund of $18,850 is carried in the Langley bill for hospitalization. This is in addition to the $46,000 appropriated last year. This fund is also available for construction of new hospitals if those in charge of soldier relief work find it is practicable. A program is being worked out which will involve the appropriation of another $14,000,000 or $15,000,000 dur- ing this session of Congress for new hospitals. Sanitarium in Kentucky. Agreement was also reached by the House committee on public buildings and grounds to report favorably the amend- ment for the Dawson Springs Sanitar- fum in Kentucky. An appropriation of $1,500,000 was made in the last session of Congress. It is now found that another $760,000 is necessary in order that the buildings may be of fireproof construction, otherwise some of them ‘would have to be frame construction. An additional amount will also be rec- ommended for the Speedway Hospital tn Chicago. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Clifford, whe has immediate supervision over the hospitalization ‘work, is now in Chicago and will make a report to the committee for Secretary Mellop. ‘This appropriation will prob- ably ba about $400,000. The Sweet bill for co-ordination of the soldier-service agencies has ab- sorbed the principal features of the original measure as drawn by Rep- resentative John J. Rogers of Massa- chusetts. The House committee on interstate and foreign commerce, headed by Representative Samuel Winslow of Massachusetts, which handled the original war risk insur- ance act, has been holding executive sessions on the Sweet bill. Foreeast Favorable Report. It has been forecast by members of the committee that it will be favor- ably reported the first of this week. This is one of the major legislative proposals _of the administration, Picked for High Place In Justice Department| JAMES M. BECK, New York lawyer, residing in New|gin consideration of the Knox and by At- torney General Daugherty to be licitor general of the Department Justice. ositions, rather than in a cash bonus, just at present. Representative Johnson is also fathering a bill, which he intends to press for a vote soon, to retire emer- gency officers the same as the Regu- lar Army officers, on three-fourths pay. The Navy already does this, and he cl it is a discrimination against the emergency Army officer. U. S. Discredited, President Is Told Efforts in South and Central America to discredit the United States were described to President Harding at the White House by Francis B. Loomis o# Ohio, former assistant secre- tary of state, who returned recently to this country from an extensive tour through the countries in question. Extensive propaganda 1is used against the interests of this nation and there is no question of its effect in connection with our commercial relations, Mr. Loomis explained. ‘The administration’s activities in connection with putting through the Colombian treaty have made & pleas- ing impression in many quarters, but not sufficiently 8o to offset the effects of the anti-United Statés propaganda being spread. Much of this propa- ganda, he intimated, was due to aoc- tivities on the part of politiclans in Panama and Santo®Domingo. Mr. Loomis explained that many persons in these two republics are airing. what they consider grievances against the United States; the first- named because of the President’s stand on the White decision regarding the boundary dispute between Panama and Costa Rica, and in the case of Santo Domingo. upon the military oe- cupation. He told the President of the pres- ence in the United States of mis- sions from these two Central Amer- ican countries to give further air- ing ‘to their feelings. According to his opinion the Republic of Panama has no cause for complaint, but. im the case of Santo Domingo. there is Some reason for an homest criticism of this nation’s policy. The latter situation will, in his opinion, soom be adjusted to the satisfaction of all concerned, however. . It is understood ‘that Representa- tive Alanson B. Houghton of Nem York is being seriously considered by President Harding for appointment to one of the important diplomatig posts. Mr. Houghton, who is & mil- lionaire glass manufacturer in Corn- ing, N. Y., is one of the ranking mem-~ bers of the House foreign relations committee. REVISES PEACE MEASURE. Chairman Porter of the House for- eign affairs committee, has slightly revised his peace resolution in order to more clearly safeguard the Amerix can government's rights over enemy property seized during the war. The revisions were suggested by Thomas ‘W. Miller, alien property custodian. A vote in the House on the peace question, Mr. Porter said, proably will not come before the week after next, The forein affairs committee will be- Porter resolutions the first of thg t of| week to determine which shall be re- ported, — b e