The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1917-09-28
UNDER THE DOME
BY THE OBSERVER.

Elementary document, signed by ev-
cry member of both houses, IL posi-
bic, could, with good effect, be hand
cd down to the American people.
Americas cause. It is generally con-
ceded. is stronger in this country than
at any time since we entered the
war But that is not saying that il
Is satisfactory at yet in all particu-
lars. There are many things to be
desired. and many Congressional lead
ers believe that IL Congress could
agree to some strong document, such
as the Declaration of Independence
some of EN- wonder II IL would be
possible to get out such a document
1t would meet the demands Of the
hour and go farther toward uniting
the American people and toward de-
veloping enthusiasm for the cause
than any single step yet taken.
The question asked at the head
of this story is not a challenge so
much as IL is a query. One Con-
gresham VINO read il took IT Tor
the former. and instantly said he
knew of men in the Lower House
who would be glad to accept II.
Others who discussed in the light
of a question, however, declared
that in their belief there are sew
eral men in either House, but par
ticularly in the Senate, who are
fitted by their training and expert
ence and by their thorough sym
pathy with Americas cause, 10
write such an instrument as the
times warrant. Some think that
President Wilson should dictate the
language OF the document and that
Congress should be asked only 10
approve it by passing il as an act
of theirs. Others insist that
bona fide Congressional document
should be evolved, and that II
should be put through under much
the same circumstances that at
tended the adoption Of the Declare
ton of Independence by the Conti-
mental Congress Of Revolutionary
days.
The gravest admission secured
from members who have discussed
the matter, however. is that 1t is
not believed any instrument could
secure unanimous signature in the
present Congress-not even II the
gravity of Americas cause is gem
orally acknowledged, and IL such a
document could be shown conclu-
sively to be needed to cement the
American people together for
victorious onslaught upon the i'm
perial German government.
D,ssension would nullify the effect
OF such a document IL Is realized,
particularly il that dissensiop became
as marked and as fundamental as
some of the dissension written into
history since the commencement OF the
present session. 1t would in turn
cause dissension In the ranks Of the
he VNlfN =.
mate form Of the document, no matter
how obviously it covered up the marks
Of the dissension during the debate
on it, would not bring the desired res
ponse from the people.
Thus far. during the war, there has
not come from Congress A single vital
document. aside from the very precise
and very formal declaration OF war.
The time is here, many members
think for Congress TO devote itself
TO this purpose. The legislation which
1t has passed has been necessary, and
It has been attended to with dispatch.
But there has been no deliberate and
inspiring document formulated by the
members of Congress and expressing
their hopes and their fears to the
American people-a document which
in the present emergency with Ger
many would do for our country II
is believed what the Declaration Of
independence did for it in its infancy.
Expenditure Committee.
The confident belief of numer-
Gus members of both the House
and Senate is that the appointment
of a war expenditures committee
will be strongly urged upon them
by their constituents, when they
return home for the soon-to-be re-
cess.
Some of those who entertain this
belief think that it would be wise
to provide for the committee be-
fore they go home. They fear
their constituents will criticise
them severely IL they don't do so.
It is now taken for granted. how
ever, that no effort will be made
to take this step at the present
session. The opposition OF the
President to the plan, together
with the fear of some of the Re
publican leaders that to support il
would be regarded as offensive
partisan tactics, will preclude any
such action. 1t is thought.
Senator Martins note of protest,
uttered during the vote on the ur-
gent deficiency measure, indicated
that even some of the administra-
ton leaders are beginning to wor-
ry about the effect on the country
at large OF having no such COM
mittee to check war expenditures.
The Senator did not utter this
warning Inadvertently. Many other
administration adherents have been
thinking the matter over seriously,
and some of them have been talk
ing about it with the utmost con-
Germ. though in a guarded way.
There is unquestionably a senti-
ment growing which. with the
impetus of home sentiment. is eX-
pected to bring about this step
when Congress meets in regular
session in December.
1920 Politics.
Political sharps on the hill simply
cannot refrain from discussing presi-
Dental possibilities for 1890.
Naturally a man of Secretary Nc
Adoos activity is in the public eye
in this connection and so the hill
dopesters insist that he is in line for
consideration when the democratic
convention meets to choose its stand
ard bearer.
One Senator who is long on fore
casts, and who hits above 800
when It comes to accuracy Of pre-
diction, insists, however. that the
Secretary of the Treasury has some
thing else in view.
Hes merely setting up the pins
so it will be easy for the Democrats
to renominate President Wilson,
that's ALL" this Senator said. watch
and see IL Wilson doesn't fracture
the third term precedent"
No one in the group OF Senators
who heard the statement deigned TO
predict what would be T. RS feel
ing, however, IL Wilson were elected
in the face Of the refusal OF the