The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-08-30
Washington Letter.

cenC OF all motor VehlcleS produced In
the, United States in 1917 were pur-
chased by farmers. That figure indi-
Gates what large percentage of auto
mobiles are used for utility; in fact it
has been estimated by Good Roads and
Touring Committees that only one
tenth of all passenger automobiles
can be said to be for pleasure riding.
The American Automobile Association
is busy collecting data on the subject
OF what they term taxation of high
ways transportation" as applied to
the proposed levy on automobiles and
gasoline. The information secured has
been laid before the members of the
Finance Committee of the Senate to
which the revenue bill will come after
it is through the House.
Representative Sydney Anderson of
Minnesota scouts the position taken by
several of his colleagues that the pend
ing water power bill requires license
before power can be developed on
small, non-navigable streams. There
is nothing in the bill that requires any
body to apply for a license. Accord
ing to Mr.. Anderson's Interpretation
OF the measure any man can proceed to
the development of power on small
streams. He simply takes his chances
that some day the Government may
make requirement with respect to
those waters. Mr.. Anderson is men,
Der of the water power committee, and
has paid special attention to the bill
the House is considering. AS a con-
seqeence his views on the legislation
are closely followed by other members.
1t is well-recognized elementary
principal that it is the duty of the ma
jority to maintain quorum and that
the minority has no responsibility in
this respect. The failure, therefore,
of the Senate to man a quorum on
Aug. 18th, when, the new draft law, the
expeditions passage of which is so
Urgent, was to be taken up, is charge
able to the Democratic party in control
of the Senate and its organization.
Will the voters please remember this
when the fall elections are being held,
and, when the Democrats are urging
their continuance in control of Con-
gress on the plea that they will most
efficiently support the war program?
The denomination of Congressman
Huddleston of Alamaba, after the
President had asked for his defeat
need not be taken as an endorsement
of. what Huddleston stands for. 1t is
more likely rebuke to the President
for trying to control an election. This
is still a republican form of govern
ment, with three separate and distinct
branches, the most important Of which
is the legislative. The people recog-
rize this and they will tolerate no ex-
ecutive dictation in election of Sena-
tors and Representatives. To estab-
lish the precedent of defeating man
because he meets the displeasure of
the President would be to make sub.
servient tools of considerable num-
Der of members of Congress. This,
of course, the people of the country do
not want done. They want men, no
rubber stamps, in Congress. Hudjles--
ton voted wrong good many times,
but it is no worse to be wrong than to
be mere non-entity, purpet, an
echo, rubber stamp, messenger, or
any other kind of lackey fol some-
body else. A man who has changed
his mind as often as Woodrow Wilson
has, is in no position to condemn any
man for not agreeing with him. And
the people know it. President Wilson
will get the unlimited support of the
country, regardless of party, when he
is standing fer the best interests of
the nation, but the people are more
interested in standing by the govern
ment than they are in standing by the
President.
Senator. Jones, of New Mexico, sue
ceeded in getting quarters of an
inch of publicity in the Washington
Post recently, which he will be at lib
erty to clip and send to breathless
constituency. 1t mentions resolution
by him rendering the thanks
of Congress to the men of the army
and navy for their fighting abroad.
The men Over There will be more
thankful to the Democratic Congress
ii it will cease holding up urgent leg
islation, such as the new draft law,
which is being seriously delayed by
dilatoriness in responding
to the country's needs. II Senator
Jones wants to get into the limelight
for more than an instant flicker, he
might introduce. a resolution declar-
ing it to be the sense of this Adminis- |
tration that there shall be no COM
promise with kaiserism, and none with
Germany, until she is beaten to her
knees. That will do something to take
the taste out of our mouths following
the assertion that 1--WE have no quarrel
with the German people" It will IN
volve swiping war plank from the
but inasmuch as, the
Democrats have been doing that right
along it may escape notice. The