The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1918-05-29
GOSSIP FROM WASHINGTON


Washington, May 2S.-Special cor
misunderstanding at the calendar
of business of the Senate one is I'M
dressed with the number of bills pend
ing for the amendment of the Federal
Reserve Act. Senator Owen OF Okla
homa, democratic chairman of the
Banking and Currency Committee, re-
Gently reported Ia such bills in one
day, and they will doubtless be pass
ed in the near future. One republican
senator declares that the Federal Re
serve Act already has been amended
22 times since its passage three years
ago, despite the fact that the country
was assured at the time that the
measure was a model of banking legis-
lation. Most of its provisions that
have stood the test of time were taken
from the Aldrich-Vreeland Act, u re-
publican measure, then on the statute
books, and which the Reserve Act re-
pealed. The amendments that have
been since adopted and proposed test
ify to the inability Of the party in
mower to formulate legislation that
will conform to conditions as they
arise.
Joint Committee in War.
The suggestion that the Senate's
committee on military affairs may find
itself a committee on the eonhuct oil
the war has started discussion OF that
entire subject once more; and the his
torians are bringing out additional
precedents to fortify the position which
Senator Weeks and Representative
Madden took nearly year ago.
In 1871 Congress had a committee
which Investigated the disasterous ex-
pedition which Gen. st. Clair had led
against the Indians of the Northwes,
and in 1913 a similar committee made
inquiry into "the multiplied failure
of the arms of the United States IN
the War OF 1912. The Civil War com
mittee on the conduct of the war mas
already been frequently cited.
1t thus appears that Congressional
committees are entirely representative
agencies of the United States in war
time; and that President Wilson is the
first Chief Executive who has sought
to becloud the purpose and motive oil
Congress in attempting to assert It's
prerogatives. 1t also appears that the
earlier committees of this kind have
had an established usefulness. ot the
Civil War committee, which the Presl-
dent has set up as n sort OF horripie
example, even biassed critic admits
that it infused energy into the war
ferreted out abuse, and brought down
heavy hand upon government IN
efficiency" That is exactly what If
desired now-and if Congressiona
committee can produce such results it'
members will deserve halo.
Southern Conservation
The new draft law, withholding
credits from the States for their vol
unteers in the nations military ser
vice. works admirably for the si'
Southern States of Alabama, Louisi
ana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Florida
Geargia and South Carolina. Thes'
States will have to furnish exactl!
2As4 less draftees under the new law
than under the old. The new law wa'
enacted chiefly because President vii
son changed his mind regarding th'
equity of crediting the States Will
their volunteers, and, by letter rea'
at the psychological moment in thu
House. succeeded in having the la"
changed. We have no doubt that th'
Southern States which have benefited
are duly grateful to him; but the feel
ing of the Northern States which mus
suffer is probably somewhat different