The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-07-21
WILL
. last TWO
MONTHS
Foreign Affairs Provides the Spice
for the Drab Routine of Pass
ing Antitrust Bills and Con
servation Measures President
Sharpening Up His Spurs to
Hasten Legislative Mays.
By Ernest q. walker.


| WASHINGTON, July 6.-The tumult
of July days at Washington Is largely
Of foreign affairs. There is small inter-
est to the observer in humdrum efforts
to get Antitrust Bills in shape for the
senate to take a look ut them. But il
is another matter when one glanees to
the region of the Mediterranean, for ex-
ample. The navy uepartment IL just
selling two battleships, the Idaho and
the Mississippi, to Greece, all of which
will give the ancient and historic king
dom such balance Of power that Tur
key will probably be good and not 70
ment another war. Meanwhile fine
new superdreadnough for the Ameri-
can Navy will rise from the Grecian
proceeds.
Near TO Greece and Turkey and to
Balkan activities and hostilities is the
little country of Albania Washington
Is much exercised for the moment that
George Fred Williams of Mnssaehu-
sets, minister to Greece and Montene-
gro, made n visit TO Epirus, by permits
sion Of the state department, and
launched a vigorous propaganda against
the attempts of Germany aud other
powers TO force an unacceptable govern
ment upon the people. Outwardly Mr.
Williams has gotten in badly with All.
thorities AZ Washington. They have
had to disavow his acts and the Presi-
dent has called for Mr.. Williams res
ignation. 1t is reported, however, that
he resigned before he promulgated his
Albanian views. On the other hand,
there IS no great grief officially that
! Mr. Williams has come TO the relief Of
, oppressed AlbaniRns, His diplomatic
A.. n
, Is bringing their cause effectively to
|, the attention of the world. Already the
family Of the German Prince OF Weld
! has left Albania, which is supposed 20
indicate his abandonment Of tho throne.
/ Nicaraguan Question.
! Meanwhile the senate COMMITTEES on
e foreign relations is really having high
. old time Investigating Nicaragua, IN
b connection with the proposed treaty.
People around the Capitol are talking
yet about Senators Root, Of New York.
{ and William Alden Smith, Of Michigan.
all but coming to blows, because Mr..
Root did not regard Mr.. Smiths meth
ODDS of whanging the Nicaraguan treaty
quite within proprieties. Whatever
happens TO trusts and nnti-trusts, for
leign relations will continue to figure
: fprominently in the work OF congress for
Y the remainder Of its session.
D Must Pass Bills.
Somebody must get momentum into
|. the antitrust program. II has an been
/ fully settled that tho bills must pass.
e President Wilson has slowly, but suro-
!. ly, brought things to a climax ia which
q that is fully apparent. The Democrats
Il caucus of the senate in which il was
agreed to pass the Antitrust Bills, at
Il least, cleared away all doubts ON that
}, score. But now il remains to get tho
Q tools in hand and tackle the job, Much
i, had been done previously. Committees
d had had spurts Of working hard, till
n they seemed to have become discour-
= aged. Senator Newlands alone went
/, through = with his Federal Trade Com
4 mission Bill and now is pleading daily
t with the senate to fix time for vote.
g -l Ready With the Spurs. =
> The President can be depended upon
I TO apply the spurs in due season. But
Y there are perplexities in the antitrust
! legislation. Debate on the federal trade
Z commission has been over wide range.
Some of the ablest senators la par,
Q tieipated. Points Of yilw have been
emphasized from various angles. The
] debate has had behrino espff ally on
: the Clayton Anti-trust Il II. which deals
y with numerous kindred subjects. There
!, was conviction that a little respte in
! committee work on the Clayton Rill
! would result in no great delay as 20
y final conclusions. Probably it win not.
Efforts are TO be made to amend the
!, Trade Commission Bill with some
= chance of success. There is NO telling
y whether the senate may not put upon
o that bin certain provisions which are
now in the Clayton Bill.
= The judiciary committee halts over
Very important phases of the Clayton
: measure. Grave matters Of public poll
. icy are involved. such ms labor union
Il exemptions. Ii is conceded that these
! exemptions are to be granted, but the
Qualifications ave of serio9s mament
within a few days, however, matters
will be taking shape. Once a day for
y q vote is fixed on the Ncwlands trade
commissions, rari progress may be ex-
peeted on another stage in perfeeting
g. the other antitrust bills.
" Two Months Work Ahead.
Il, As it is settled that congress must
" remain in session for quite a couple
Of months, pressure may be expected to
advance the conservation program. The
, house will be getting through with some
i of those bills this week, notably tho
a Waterpower Bill, The senate will have
e intervals Of non-aetiyity as 70 Anti
y trust Bills and will undoubtedly DO
10 urged to dispose OF these other meas
50 bres, which, once enacted, would re-
y move uncertainty for n wash nmonnt
Of development work. Millions would
70 go into waterpower construction soon,
RS IL agreement could be reached about
y the term Of franchises, A lot Of cap
20 ital would be invested in coal lands OF
u, Alaska, in oil leasing and the like, and
b would thus promote the coming Of good
times, IL only congress wopld enact the