New-York tribune., 1911-01-12
6HEDAyIN WA SHLNGTON

ntCtsSdiy nine Years. Inc QufSlIOH N""
referred 10 n special committee. which ulh-
mateiy decided that Senator Gallatin had
not been a citizen for the necessary nine
years and SO reported to the Senate. A
vote was taken on this report a year after
Senator Gallatin had been sworn in. and
II was adopted by vote OF IA to Il, and
the State OF Pennsylvania was informed OF
the vacancy thus declared 10 exist in It's
representation in the Senate. There was
OF course, no charge OF corruption in this
instance, and the question hinged on a
technicality. but II Is said that the prin-
ciple involved was not one OF expulsion
but OF the invalidty of the election OF Gal
latin as a Senator from Pennsylvania. Ex-
pulsion is declared. by those who hold the
view that the Gallatin case affords prece-
dent to be founded necessarily on some act
following the valid election OF member
OF the Senate. whereas a declaration that
such election was invalid. as is asserted in
the case OF Mr.. Lorimer, can be achieved
by simple majority vote. The Constitu-
ton itself provides. Of course. that expul-
sion can be accomplished only by a two
thirds vote of the Senate or the House, as
the case may be.
SHIPPING TDUSTS.-The friends OF the
postal subvention bill contend that the suit
brought recently against the so-calIed AT
lantic Conference" an alleged combina-
ton of foreign steamship companies, will
have an important bearing on the CALM
ger bill. 1t is maintained that there exists
a combination OF steamship lines running
between Europe and South America which
Is quite as detrimental to the trade OF the
United States as the Atlantic Conference
and, indeed. II is contended that several
OF the members OF the Atlantic Conference
are also members of the South American
shipping trust. Because OF the unjust dis
elimination against American shipping
the Department of Justice is seeking some
method OF prosecuting this South Ameri-
can trust although no effective way has
thus FAR been discovered. During the recent
investigation by the Olcott committee OF
the House foreign steamship agent ad-
mitted that the rates on American exports
TO South America were fixed at the dicta-
tion Of a British shipping agent. who
came TO New York from Liverpool once or
twice year for that purpose. Both Presi-
dent Taft and cx-President Roosevelt
bdN' 'fAhtli n tN4bHE SldnD LOT DOStdl SUD-
vention along the lines OF the Gallinger
bill. and that measure is not only so ade-
quately protected against utilization by
trusts and monopolies. but would prove
such a direct blow at trusts from which
American trade is already sufrering. that II
is believed the comparatively few insurgent
Republicans who have heretofore errec-
lively opposed the measure VIII nard!y
care 70 take that stand again. OF course
the most serious obstacle TO the passage
of the bill az this session IS the lack OF
time.
DIPLOMATIC RM.-Representative
Lowden has introduced a bill in the House
which enjoys the cordial support of the
Secretary Of State and which would nro
mote the tenure of the diplomatic and con-
sular officers Of the United States. II pro-
vides that a record OF the efficiency OF all
diplomatic and consular officers be kept:
that all promotions shall be made in ac-
cordance herewith: that the service shall
be divided into classes and the salaries of
secretaryships be fixed, according to class
at from S,2oc 10 5000 year. 1t further
provides that the board on efficiency shall
also conduct the examinations Of appl-
cants for appointment There is probably
little chance OF this measure becoming a
law al this session. chiefly because the
Democrats are stoutly opposed 10 anything
in the nature of Civil Service reform. They
are hoping against hope, perhaps, that the
time when they will have the distribution
Of patronage is not far distant and they
want no more restrictions OH such dlstri-
button than they can help.
PRESIDENT GRATIFIED - President
Taft was pleased TO receive yesterday a
set OF resolutions adopted by the New York
Board of Trade and transportation cor
daily ndorsing the policy OF fortifying the
Panama Canal and urging that Congress
make the necessary provision therefor. Mr..
Taft IS convinced Of the great Importance
of this step, believing absolutely In the
right OF the United States 10 fortify tho
canal, and has little patience with the at
titude of those who insist on some scheme
of naturalization in preference thereto.
Consequently. >every act OF responsible
body which will tend 10 impress upon Con-
cress the Importance Of making the neces-
sary appropriation at this session Is most
welcome. G.. G.. II.