The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1917-08-02
THE JOINT
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEE

Va6Il1Alk tOIA, July O4s-Auc INSpuUAA-
can Publicity Association, through its
President, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr.,
today gave out the following state
ment at it's Headquarters.
President Wilson's objection to the
creation of a joint congressional COM
mittee on war expenditures, with a
majority Of that committee composed
of members of his own party, is based
on the false assumption that this is
his war, that he is responsible for its
efficient management, and that he
alone is infallible. With equal reason
a President Of a corporation, as SOC
as elected, might say we will abolish
our Constitution an dBy-Laws and dis
qualify all the Board Of Directors as
soon as they have delegated to me all
their powers and voted me the right
to expend all the assets Of the corpor-
alton.
president Wilson is undoubtedly
correct in the assertion that creation
Of such a committee could be inter-
preted only. as a lack Of confidence in
the executive. The fact is that our
system Of government, providing as it
does for three coordinate branches, is
in itself, an expression of lack of con
fidence in the executive acting alone.
Throughout the world today, there is
lack of confidence in dictators.
"The creation of a joint congress
sional committee on war expenditures
is not necessarily an expression of
lack of confidence in the Presidents
integrity, but it indicates lack Of con-
fidence in the ability of any one man
to conduct the affairs Of a great gov
eminent such as this when involved in
the greatest war in history. It is AK
tomato that Capitalization of power
in an individual can only result in OPP
erations commensurate with the indi-
vd6ars integrity, ability and exper-
fence. The record of the Wilson adj
m%inistration to date fully justifies
lack of confidence. In time of war, as
in time of peace, his administration
has been partisan, sectional, vacillat.
ing and inefficient. To put more ships
on the seas is the pressing need of the
hour. Although the act creating the
shipping board was passed last Sep.
TENDER, that board, selected by the
President after three months delay
has been wasting It's energies by strife
acong it's cembers. At the outset OF
our participation in the war, the Pres.
ident delayed urgent legislation by
pressing his demand for a needless
hrottling Of the press. Inexperienc.
ed if not incompetent men are retain.
ed in his cabinet. Partisan service
figures more than experience in thu
most recent Of important appoint
ments. .
"But it is needless to enumerate in,
stances pertinent to the issue of lacl
of confidence. Congress gets it's ex
istence, it's powers and it's responsi
bilities from the same constitution
that created the Office of President.
Members of the Senate and Hous,
are the only officers chosen by direc
vote of the people. They are charge,
with the responsibility of raising ar
mics, providing revenue, and author
izing expenditures. It is not onl.
their right but their duty to see tina
funds are effectively spent in accord
ance with law.
Creation of. the joint committee in
wolves vastly more than the question
Of confidence in the President. 1t in
wolves the very fundamentals of de
mocracy. The war is a direct out
growth Of centralized power in exec
utives. If the legislative body of Ger
many had passed and exercised TIL
legislative powers Of a republic, Their
would have been no war. H2
Assertion of divine right and as