The Washington herald., 1918-05-09

Congressman Slemp Is a joker
or else he has really very little con-
ception of what there is to the ed
itorial side OF a newspaper.
A aforementioned but possibly
highly-considered piece of legisla-
tion proposed by the member states
as its object that no daily news
paper shall be admitted to the
privileges of second class matter
unless such newspaper can estab-
lish to the satisfaction of a COM
mittee to be appointed by the
speaker of the House and the Presl-
dent of the Senate that il has had
a consistent editorial policy for at
least thirty consecutive days dur
ing any calendar year"
Congressman Slemp, of course.
would make the very men Judges
of the situation who are prejudiced
perhaps, but who, above all things,
find the task not at all in harmony
with their conception of govern
ment, and not at all in harmony
with constitution which they are
sworn to uphold.
This member simply wants to
evade the inevitable laws OF news
paperdom and of humanity itself.
Else he would not put such a pro-
posal under the head of joint
resolution and submit it to the Seri-
Gus Considera tiOn of members of
both Houses of Congress.
Congressman Lobeck. after grant
ing the importance of the agricul-
tural industry. seeks to establish a
bureau of farm colonization. in a
bill he has introduced, and then
would provide governmental funds
for settlers on our waste land TO
make some effort to reclaim it.
The purpose is to put to use
every acre of land worth while in
the country-and to help the peo-
pie of modest means to go onto
such land and take care of it in a
proper manner Governmental su-
pervision is provided. under a rather
elaborate system. and apparently
abundant protection to the govern
ment is afforded in the measure
There are enough strong points to
the measure to make it worth while
for Congress to give it attention
The system may not work out praC-
tically as it does in theory but mod
tanned which would allow it to be
adjusted to meet every demand.
1t might prove. IN fact, very
cause of that, if for no other rea
to give it careful scrutiny at this
very session.
Some OF the troubles reflected In
the management OF the Nationa
| Guard of the various States by a
bureau of the War Department are
turning up in force just now. Off
| GERS who have held command fol
some time past in the guard, and who
| were inducted into the Federal serv-
| ice last August. are being decapitated
with some recklessness by the eff.
cheney boards-so the officers anC
their friends charge-while the army
| officials say the step is merely get.
| ting rid Of men who are not qualified
to longer hold their positions.
The mere statement of the regular
army officers can not settle the mat
| ter, however. There is much more tC
| 1t than can be dismissed with n wave
Of the hand. The National Guard ID
| the one organization. not professiona
fighters, which has been upholdine
our military affairs for these many
years. The officers who have beer
| affiliated with it have been loyal anC
have worked hard and have done
| much to commend them to theiI
country. To dismiss them now with
out giving them every chance to make
good and without dealing with then
| fairly. is to bring on a system which
will inculcate distrust and ineffl
| cheney in subsequent organization:
for years to. come.
There are, so far as we know, nc
officers not qualified. who are max
ing an effort to remain with the
guard. but there are many Officers
who believe they are being railroad
ed" out Of the service who should be
given every opportunity to show wna
they are worth to the service.
II the States of the Union woulC
ardopt a uniform tax system-whict
should be easy in view of the fact
that certain well-recognized tax prin
ciples are looked upon as basic-i
would be distinct step forward II
governmental affairs. Moreover, i
would bring about a steadier condi
ton in relations between the States
and would make 1t possible for con
Germs which do interstate business tt
adjust their matters more Intelligent!
to all of the states. ..
A curious thing about our govern
ment is. however. that the State
have moved more independently II
! The matter Of taxation than in almos