The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-06-27


BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, June 27.-tSpecial J.
The struggle between the executive and
legislative departments Of the govern
ment goes on much as 1t did during the
administration of President Roosevelt
aud to some extent during Mr.. Taft'e
term. It seems to be impossible to Sc.
cure perfect harmony between those
who make the laws and those who ad
minister the laws.
Perhaps this IL due TO the fact that
those who administer the laws have
fallen into the habit OF drafting the
laws which they are 10 administer and
asking the legislative branch OF the
government to ratify them. At least
the fact stands out prominently that
ono Of the great troubles OF the pres
ent time Is the objections which men
In ongress have TO the bills sent to
them by the executive branch which
they are asked TO enact into law.
Wa Drives Them
So much opposition has developed 10
the same measures that II has become
apparent that only war necessity can
drive them through. That these bills
would fail under any other circum-
stances has been conceded generally.
Even some of the provisions which the
administration has wanted and insist
oil upon have beer voted OF the
bills, such as the censorship In the es-
pi0nage bill and several features OF the
bin to control transportation.
Only war necessity could drive
through the food control bin, and that
IL yet n long way from final enactment.
II Is likely to undergo quite a number
OF changes before IL IL finally passed.
Plain Talk From smoot.
Senator Smoot OF Utah il the most
punctual man I'm the senate, and, even
though he is a member OF several i'm
portant committees, he generally Is
found In the chamber when the senate
Is In session. One day there was criti
cism from a senator who Is frequently
absent for long periods, the senator
claiming hat there should be more
speed In passing legislation. And Smoot
made this comment:
1T becomes %nauseating at times to
see efforts made ON the part Of sena-
tors who attend the sessions of the
senate n day perhaps In two weeks
and proclaim to the country that the
senate Is not attending TO the business
before It."
Wants to Think For Almsslf.
Often 1t is said In the house that the
crude legislation Will be whipped into
shape I'm the senate This suggestion
rather irritated Congressman Howard
of Georgia. who one day remarked:
II want to do n little thinking for
myself, and ! do not propose that the
body at the other end OF the capitol
shall do IL for me. i want to do a lit
tie voting for my constituents In this
body, which is responsible for legisla.
ton here"
Not Candidates For Re- election.
OF the men In the senate whose sue
cessors must be elected next year Eve
have announced that they would not
be candidates for reelection. They
are: Borah OF Idaho, Fall OF New Mex
leo, Nelson Of Minnesota and Warren
of Wyoming, Republicans, and Till
man OF South Carolina. Democrat.
Lewis of Illinois has not yet deter
mined his course, nor Norris OF Ne
braska, although both have In pri-
waite conversation indicated that they
might not seek reelection. AS to
the others. 1t Is supposed that they
will be candidates for the seats they
now hold. IL is quite possible that ON
account of continued Ill health Sem
ator Gof Of West Virginia will not be
a candidate mex year.
Length of the Session
Congress could adjourn in a MONTH"
was the remark of one Of the observ-
ers Of congressional procedure. He
might just as well have said a week,
for he would only have been a few
weeks further u Of the way. Con-
gress could close up business rapidly,
but 1t will not do so. There is a lot
Of talk In the various bills still pend
ing, and no one can tell when the ses-
sion will be brought to a close.
For Fireworks
Those who have heard Chairman
Simmons Of the finance committee I'm
= hot exchange with Senator Penrose,
the ranking Republican member OF that
committee, might have assumed that
they were bitter personal as well as
political enemies. But that hot debate
was mostly fireworks. They are good
personal friends and work together
with considerable harmony when they
get down to business In the committee.
Felt at Home
An old fellow from the cattle country
who attended the Confederate reunion
said he felt perfectly at home In Wash
inytnn s1TbQm anfnmnhfla fbinoc