New-York tribune., 1911-01-15
CHE EDAyINWASHINGT

, ed out, too that there might arise some
question, once the Borah amendment had
been adopted. regarding the power of the
Senate to go back OF the certificate OF the
Governor Of a state and investigate an
election, as is now being done in the case
OF Senator Lorimer. 1t is true the Consti
tuition delegates to each house the power to
be "the Judge OF the elections. returns and
qualifications of its own members" but II
is feared that the exercise OF that power
might be limited. or at least hampered, as
a result OF the repeal Of that part of Sec
ton which the Borah amendment, as re-
ported, proposes TO wipe out, and which re-
serves TO the Senate supervisory power over
the manner of holding the elections of its
members. The existence OF rotten bor-
oughs." the occasional, even II rare,
necessity Of probing the elections of
Senators and the somewhat frequent me-
cessity Of probing the election OF members
Of the House, who are, by the way, elected
by popular vote, VIZ make prudent states
men chary of curtaling by constitutional
amendment the power of the Senate to deal
with such emergencies, especially when no
good end is to- be served by such a change
and when the only apparent object is to
remove the Southern states from such
supervision as may at any time be in
voked to check the disfranchisement of
the negro.
PARCELS POST.-The Republican lead
ers believe they can secure favorable action
by the House on the experimental parcels
post bill which was favorably reported to
III 1T -,
cay the same az the one introduced in the
House by Representative Bennett. and he is
confident It will be passed. while Repre-
sentative Weeks, who has been opposed to
a general parcels post bill. will not predict
failure for this measure. The Senate bill
provides that the Postmaster General may
establish a parcels post service on certain
rural free delivery routes 10 be selected
by him. 1t is confidently asserted by the
advocates Of a parcels post that once the
experiment is tried II will prove so salts
factory that II will be rapidly extended,
and they are prepared TO welcome the pas
sage Of the experimental bill for that rea-
son. as also are the President and the
Postmaster General. II is asserted that a
majority of the House Committee on Post
offices and Post Roads favors the bill, de-
spite the fact that the chairman does not
and as hearings were held on this measure
last session, no time need be wasted in
that way now. The Senate leaders predict
the early passage of the bill in the upper
house, but with the reservation that fill
buster would compel the abandonment Of
this OF any other measure
NEW YORK ASSAY OFFICE.-The Sec
retary Of the Treasury has informed the
House that it is imperative that immedi-
ate provision be made for new United
States Assay Office in New York City, and
has asked an emergency appropriation of
$4,000 for that purpose. In letter which
Secretary MacVeagh forwarded to the
House to-day the superintendent of the
Assay Office says: AT the present time I
have Sl9000000 in an old-fashoned vault
which, as an expert remarked to me. no
country bank would keep $4,000 in.
have removed s200O0,0O0 to the Sub-Treasury
for additional safety. feel it necessary
again to call your attention to the dilapi
dated and dangerous condition Of the build
ing, situated in Wall street, on land which
am informed is at present worth from
$50 to $500 a square foot" The photo
srGphs snow that temporary walls at the
rear of the building afford little protection
against the elements. and in the weighing
room blankets are suspended to keep out
the wind. The west wall is pictured as
cracked and bulging. supported by snoring
against the Sub-Treasury. Secretary Mac
Veagh asks authority to proceed immedi-
ately with the plans for remodellinG or re-
building the Assay Office, at cost not
exceeding s27oOoo. The communication
states that 12O1 deposits. valued at &c.,
10000, were handled at the New York
office last year, in addition to a9s special
assays. G. g. II