The National tribune., 1910-05-05

Chief Engineer Davis and others who
have been responsible for the conduct
of the numerous Government irriga-
ton projects. The Secretary told the
joint Congressional committee that
some of the irrigation projects were I'M
doubtedly bad. but that the Government
was now under a moral obligation to
settlers to continue most of these pro-
jects. He demonstrated that one pro-
ject. that at Garden City, Kan, was
devoted almost entirely to the improve
ment of privately-owned land.
Together with the revival of state
ments that the, Reclamation Service
officials are slated for the Government
guillotine, comes alse the revival of the
story that Secretary Ballinger proposes
TO resign soon after the joint Congress
sional Committee has made its report
Thus he would relieve the Administra-
ton of some embarrassment and thus
he would follow his own inClinations
which are against continuing in public
life. Indeed, he accepted the Cabinet
portfolio with some reluctance.
1t Is taken for granted that the Ver-
dict of the majority of the joint COM
mittee will be in favor of Secretary
Ballinger, and that it will declare his
administration has been competent and
for the best interests of the country
Apparently. while seven Republicans
will vote that way, four Democrats and
one inSurgent Republican on the joint
committee will return some sort of an
unfavorable verdict. The Joint COM
mittee continues to be sadly divided,
and whenever a controversy arises the
members divide on political lines, eX-
cept that Representative Madison, the
fnsurgent of Kansas. stays with the
Democrats. Senator Nelson of Mime
ctr -r1x- md oil
wegian, has been greatly lacking in
tact and diplomacy in conducting the
hearing, and this has contributed iu-
directly to the ill-feeling which has
sprung UP and grown stronger as the
hearings have progressed.
The Attorney General and the Insur-
gents.
Members of the Cabinet, other than
Secretary Ballinger, have figured quite
a little bit of late in Congressional af-
fairs. Attorney-General Wickersham
has drawn upon himself the wrath of
the insurgents of Senate and House by
his Chicago speech of a few weeks
ago, reading them out of the party.
Every few days some insurgent orator
makes the Honorable Attorney General
the target of a speech and rings the
changes upon some inquiry as by what
authority did the Honorable Attorney
General assume to read us out of the
Republican lines.
These efforts to put the insurgents
out of camp had more or less hu-
morous turn one day recently in the
Senate, when the Democrats bore a
hand. Senator Ranyer, of Maryland,
who is quite humorist took the floor
to invite the insurgents into the Demo-
cratic Party for good, and to inquire
whether Senator Beveridge, of Indiana,
one of the foremost insurgents, had
been simply flirting with Democracy
and wether the Senator from Hoosier-
dom lis embracing us for the ecstacv
and transport of the moment, or is he
willing to unite with us in the bonds of
holy political wedlock? I am becom-
ing weary" declared Senator. Rayner,
'of being fondled and caressed only
to be rejected and deserted when the
supreme moment arrives"
And finally, Senator Bailey pitched
in, after Senator DolIiver, of Iowa. had
declined the Democratic invitation, to
warn the insurgents that mo man can
claim the protection of the Flag while
he fIres upon it, and have that claim
allowed
Secretary Meyers Troubles.
Secretary of the Navy Meyer has been
attending upon the Naval Committees
of Senate and House with much alac-
rity. because of a recent decision of the
Attorney This decision holds
that appropriations made for one bu-
reau OF the Navy Department cannot,
under the law, be expended under the
supervision of another bureau Ie seri-
ously endansers the continuation of his
reorganization plan, with which he has
had an aI-Winter struggle in Congress
lie has been beseeching Senate and
House of late to give a few lines of
legislation containing specific authority
to transfer appropriations from one bu-
reau to another, and thereby he will be
able TO use moneys voted for the Bu-
reau of Construction, for instance, for
the Bureau of Steam Engineering.
The entire naval situation, as far as
Congress is concerned, has become ma
terially complicated by the develop
ments of the Winter. Secretary Never
appears to be getting on pretty well
with his reorganization scheme but 1T
is not popular in Congress, and there is
great difficulty in persuading Congress
to give him the necessary authority
There has been, and still is resentment
because the Secretary, acting with the
a approyal of the President, inaugurated
his new plan of navy yard administra-
ton and Independent aids TO advise him
a bout departmental affairs, without
consulting Congress and only few days
peIbiS congress dESemDieu after the
holidays. There is no proof that the
reorganization is not working we'll, but
Congressman who do not like the way
a thing is done can find fault as easily
as other mortals, and they can put OBJ
stacles in the way very readily
Postmaster-General Hitchcock is
promised a very harmonious appropri-
alton bin carrying the funds for the
of his Department during
the next fiscal year. The Senate, thru
Chairman Penrose, Of the Postoffice
Committee, has reported the Postoffice
bill to the Senate without a single
amendment. If it goes thru the Senate
without amendment, it will be sent
forthwith to the President for sigma
ture, and will not have to go to con-
ference. II this ever before happened
with an appropriation bill of any mag
nltude 1t is not within the memory of
legislators now upon Capitol Hill.
The 11th Ohio Ind'pt Battery.
Editor National