The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-03-21

The "pernicious activity" of office
holders is a subject of increasing In
terest. Several million people are
deeply interested in it already. Sew
eral millions more are likely to be
soon. For these reasons, among
others, it is probably the most vitality
interesting Of all the topics of the
day in Congress.
II was introduced as a topic by
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge of Mas
So ;husetts, who defined and denounc-
ed it, but did not give :. TIE name
Of "permciCus activity" That is one
of the debts the country owes Grover
Cleveland. He supposed that the
first thing to do in making any coun-
try safe for democracy was to check
the "pernicious activity" of office
holders, interfe- ing with the people
in their right of what is now called
"self-determination" Tor, translating
into the English language, in their
right to attend to their own business
and not be 'bossed" unnecessarily by
anybody for any purpose whatever).
Cleveland had large, unaristocratic
hands, with strong thumbs. These
may have suggested a metaphor to
him. He promised to Flip out"
every Fede al officeholder whom he
found engaged in "pernicious activ-
itv" or offensive partisanshi in
terfering with self-government.
Perhaps Senator Lodge might like
to see this done now in the case of
several pernicious officials who are
trying to be more patriotic than any,
body and everybody else. In ac-
counting for the intensity of their
activity, he said: at seems to me
that it is a result of nothing but
their desire to do something" He
wished to know why they should
harass, annoy, and anger people.
"They NEEDLE with everything and
make people intensely angry" he
said when the need of the best re-
suits in winning the war demanded
the use of reason in uniting and har-
monizing the people.
As the American people. on their
record, had proven themselves fair
ly enterprising and fairly able to at
tend to their own affairs, he could
not see why they should not be al
lowed to do so. why go through
all this sort of thing and make all
this trouble?" he asked. This sort
of thing" happened to be a "ques-
tionnaire" sent out from a bureau,
threatening $1,000 fine and two
years Imprisonment for disobedi-
ence. 1t happened TO apply in this
case to coal, but there seems to be
no visible limitation on the sort Of
activity which undertakes to prove
the superexcellent superiority of of
fetal patriotism by beginning with
a flourish of ''the Big Stick"
The House Committee on Inter
state Commerce is now considering
suggestions from practical men for
carrying out an ideal plan Of or
ganizing "hydro-electric" systems
on the Atlantic coast, communica-
ting with each other, so that with
the Washington district in the CEN
ter, and with the Carolina and New
York districts to the south and
North, all coast cities may be con-
nected and supplied with power and
light from the water. One of the
practical men is Mr.. John A. Brit
ton, of California, vice president
and general manager of the Pacific
Gas and Electric Company. It is de-
scribed as being one of three or
four great companies, now controll-
ing hydro-electric development on
the Pacific coast. AS he was sup
posed to represent more than 5000
miles of connecting wire, capable of
carrying hydro-electric energy, Mr..
Britton was listened to with close
attention as he gave the committee
the history Of this development on
the Pacific coast. He approved
fifty-year leases as attractive TO in
vestors, and thought the bill the
committee is now considering on the
whole more attractive to investment
capital than any previously consid-
ered-including the Shield bill al
ready passed by the Senate.
There are more beef cattle. more
sheep. and more hogs officially re-
ported in the country for 1918 than
for 1917. This is the most important
point in the evidence given yester-
day by Mr.. Joseph P. Cotton, head
of the meat division Of the Food Ad-
ministration, before the Senate Com
mittee on Agriculture. He did not
explain what Senator Gore called the
great mystery" of existing condi-
tons in the food market when this
almost unprecedented statistical sup
ply Of meats is visible He said,
after giving the figures in millions.
that the statistical animals became
food animals only as they were &C
tIally marketed and slaughtered.
He agrees with the committee in the
Of allowing the price to be
from the consumers
In the Senate, Senator Wadsworth
Of New York feared the presence Of
"the consumer in the saddle" And