Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-07-28

the emblem Of liberty, the hope q Of II the W. World. tn0 u AeaSeN'
EVENTS OF A WEEK
The food control bill. which has been the subject
of discussion for many weeks, has been passed by the
senate in amended form, and is now in the hands Of the
conference committee. In the closing days Of con-
sideration in the senate there was attached to it an
amendment providing for the creation Of a committee
of five senator's and five Representatives which should
serve as a committee Of information on war expendi-
lures. Its business would be to ascertain the facts with
reference to the letting OF all contracts and the expendi-
ture OF money in any other way for the purpose or tAe
war, and to report to congress whenever a report was
deemed advisable. This provision Is so unsatisfactory
to the president that he has written to a congressional
leader urging that this amendment be stricken out of
the bill because 1T would cause great embarrassment to
the government in the prosecution of its work, and the
president frankly adds that he would consider the adop-
ton Of the bill with this feature a vote of want Of conf
dence in himself.
Another change from the bill as it was received
from the house is in the prohibition clause. Instead
Of the bone dry house provision the senate clause makes
no mention of malt and vinous beverages, but authorizes
the president to prohibit the manufacture Of distilled
liquors. There are several other changes, but these
have caused the greatest amount of discussion.
The majority of the house members Of the confer
ence committee are in favor of eliminating the commit
tee amendment, and will make a fight for the restora-
ton of the house prohibition section. The opinion is
entertained by some observers that the senate will yield
on the expenditures committee, and that the house will
consent to a less drastic prohibition clause than that
contained in the original house bill.
The national prohibition issue again comes to the
front in the form Of a resolution for a constitutional
amendment prohibiting the manufacture sale, importa-
ton and expectation Of intoxicating beverages in the
United States or any Of it's territories. This resolution
was expected by the prohibition leaders to pass the SEN
ate by a narrow margin over the two-thirds required by
law. A good many members Of both houses desire the
removal Of the prohibition issue from congress and its
transfer to the states which would be done by the adop-
ton of this resolution. In order to become a part of
the constitution this amendment must be ratified by the
legislatures of three-fourths of the states. A new fea-
ture in constitutional amendments has been added in the
provision requiring that affirmative action must be TAX
en- by the required number Of states within six years.
The constitution provides for its own amendment by
the adoption Of a resolution submitting the proposed
amendment by a two-thirds vote of the members of each
house and the ratification of the amendment by the
legislature Of three-fourths Of the states. No time limit
is set for action by the states. Hence it has been held
that an amendment might drag along for years and An
ally be passed by the belated votes of a few tardy states.
IT has even been held that the rejection Of an amend
nnent by a state legislature would not be a bar to its
revival at some later session, and that a proposed
amendment when once submitted by congress remains
always before the states until it has been favorably act
ed on by three-fourths Of them.
It is to avoid anything Of this sort that the three
fourths requirement has been added this time. An in
eresting question arises as to the power of congress to
impose restrictions of this kind. There are 4s states in
the union. The approval of SO Of them is required to
R AA1A q uu1L SuDDOS0
that the pending amendment is ratified by IS states, and
that one, or five, or ten years after it has refused to
ratify one of the 1a states thinks better Of f ana woes in
the affirmative. The point would be raised that the
state had no right to act after the expiration Of the time
Fixed by congress It would be replied that congress
has no authority to FIX a time limit, and there would be
an opportunity for a very pretty law suit.
The week has witnessed shaking up in government
shipping circles. General Goethals resigned his posi-
tion as manager of the Emergency Fleet corporation,
and the president accepted the resignation, at the same
time requesting the resignation of Chairman Denman
OF the Shipping board. Friction between these two men
has delayed the carrying out Of the governments build.
ing program, and II became evident that summary &C.
ton Of some kind was needed. The difficulty seems to
have been chiefly one Of authority. GoethaIs was will.
ing to act only II he had full authority to go ahead aad
use his own Judgment. Denman believed that the board
had the right to supervise plans and construction. The
elimination OF both men seems to have been the bes
vs. way out of the difficulty. Admiral Caps has been ap.
pointed to take charge Of the work OF construction. and
the appointment is before the senate for approval.
Orders have been issued for the North Dakota regi
rnents 10 report to Palo Alto, California. for training
instead Of to Derning, New Mexico. This news was vel
come to the North Dakota men. as the western camp ii
considered decidedly preferable from a climate stand
point. No information has been given out as to thu
ultimate disposition of the North Dakota troops Thert
hsye been guesses that because Of the transfer to ths
western camp It was intended to send the troops to Rus
sia or the Philippines. Following on the heels of thi
speculation comes the specific statement from Washing
tim ttaat Russia does not need soldiers from the Unifee
States. and that none have been requested. The Philip
pine Buggestion has not been oficiaIIy commented on
hut II IS safe to assume that no real information on tn
subject Will be given out until shortly before the troops
are moved. u then.
Tlls week has been one Of calamity for Russia d
The Galiciap front. There, after making d sensations