Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-11-12
DEMANDS 4 Share
IN PEACE MOVES
SENATE WANTS TO TAKE PART
IN ALL THE PRELIMINARY
ARRANGEMENTS.
REyIviNG AN OLD DISPUTE
Strained Relations With the White
Rouse May ResuIt-Revenue Bill
Gives Senators Fine Constitutional
Question to Debate.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

oy An lux w. DUNN.
Washlngton.-There is q possibility
OF strained relations between the
white House and the senate becoming
enhanced by the determination of
many senator's not to have their body
left out of all the preliminary arrange
hehts relating to the establishment
OF peace. The senate claims a right
TO take part in this discussion be-
cause the Constitution says that shy
ana with the advice and consent of
tWo-tmrds of the senate treaties with
foreign governments shall be ratified.
AdVlce and consent is taken to mean
by many senators very literally, and
the theory is advocated that the pres
ldent ought to advise with senators
before he makes treaties.
Ihls is an old-time contention and
one that has bobbed UP frequently in
the past, particularly whenever the
senate undertakes to dip into foreign
relations. Some presidents have gone
SO Tar as to characterize such actions
by the senate as "meddling" in affairs
which did not officially concern them.
very recently strong newspaper sup
porters of the president criticized the
senate severely for attempting to say
anything in regard to peace negotia-
tons, claiming that it was purely an
executive function and that the SEN
ate was going outside its jurisdiction
either TO approve or disapprove any
action the executive might take be-
fore the treaty was actually submitted
to the senate.
Back in the days of the last admin
fstration of Grover Cleveland, that
strong-minded president had a very
able paper prepared on the subject of
the rights of the executive in the mat
ter of the recognition Of new coun-
tries or the belligerency of countries
In war. No one has ever disputed that
paper The president also had very
strong views as to his rights and also
strong objections to "meddling" on the
part of the senate. Mckinley always
got along very well with the senate,
but he had the capacity to get along
with anybody. Roosevelt had his dis
agreements with the senate, not so
much in regard to foreign relations
as to legislative affairs. Along the
lines OF prerogative President Taft
never had any disputes with the SEN
ate But several times during the
present administration there have
been differences between President
Wilson and members of the senate,
not only in regard to foreign affairs,
but also in regard to legislation.
The United States senate has a
sweet mOrSel which it can roll under
its tongue and discuss without limit.
The pending revenue bill contains a
provision to tax salaries and bonds of
states and municipalities. A consti-
tutional question has been raised /:
that is, the point has been made that
congress has no constitutional au-
thority to levy taxes on the income
from state or municipal bonds or
on the salaries of state and municipal
officers. In this is involved the whole
states rights policy; also the reserve
powers of the states, the grants of
powers to the federal government, and
everything else which has been in dis
pute from the formation of the gov
eminent. The lawyers of the senate
dearly like a constitutional question,
and they have already started off on
this question of the constitutional
right Of the government to lay taxes.
AS a general rule. in times of war it
may be asserted that almost any kind
OF tax will be considered constitu-
Ntonal by the Supreme court, which is
rather lenient In the matter of con-
STRUNG war taxation.
In spite Of the power the president
exercises in shaping legislation, he
cannot always have his way In the
matter of speeding up legislation.
Congress wanted to adjourn last May
or June, but Secretary McAdoo said
there must be revenue bill at once
and the president backed up his secre-
down to the treadmill and tried to
grind out a revenue bill But con-
gress, particularly the Democratic
leaders, did not want revenue bill
passed before election. They had po-
litical reasons, for bill raising $751;
000,000,00G of revenue might strike a
great part of the electorate rather un-
favorably, and so they pleaded for de
lay. Notwithstanding, the executive
department urged speedy action, but
here we are right up close to the
election and there Is not prospect OF
the revenue bill becoming a law be
fore the first of January. Leaders of
congress promised to rush through a
revenue law Immediately after cleo
ton If they were allowed to adjourn
They seemed rather determined to
have their way, and although they did
not get an adjournment they have Sc
cured by general consent great deal
Of vacation and recess.
During his long service in congress
Frank W. Mondell of Wyoming has
been a member of the committees on
mines, irrigation, public lands, Indian
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Eco or.:c AIRY Hations.
How TIE Mongo,s, like the Italians,
put up an a-'ly fat for their forces
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