The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1918-07-25

Is still major general with little or no
prospect Of making any reputation In
this great war.
When the resolution In regard to the
short-line railroads was being consid-
cred In the senate Senator penrose
said to Senator Smith Of South Caro-
lima. who had charge of the bill: III
II is not violating any state secret.
am curious to know whether the word
Ing Of this resolution was made In the
| treasury department" There was give
andtake bndinage between the sena-
tors. and Smith claimed that tnc COM
mittee on Interstate commerce was re-
sponsible for the resolution. Penrose
said he was In hopes that II was
framed in the treasury department as
he desired to spare the feelings of his
fellow senator's, because" he went on.
II have seldom come across legisla-
tive document more filled with obscuri-
ties, antiquities. and incomprehensi-
BILE sentences" Penrose said that he
felt deep regret In passing such reslec-
tons upon his colleagues In the senate.
"It has done no harm" blan,lly re-
piled Smith.
The president said. "Politics Is ad-
concerned politics has been pretty well
adjourned on all war measures. Any
way there have been few surface out
breaks Of the political rash. and that
holds good for both parties. But poll.
tics has convened on the census bill.
BY no stretch Of the Most elastic con-
gressional imagination could that bill
be construed ms war measure and II
contains provisions that were made-to-
order for political mud-throwlng The
Republicans, headed by Minority Lead
or Gillett and Congressman Walsh OF
ssnchusetts. have made life more or
less miserable for Congressman Helm
Of Kentucky. who has charge of the
bill, hut Helm no doubt finds consoln-
ton In the fact that the bill Is going
through little Mt u time. just Us II
was written. despite Republican efforts
to place It on a politics adjourned"
basis with war legislation.
There was mention, In n debate the
other day. Of the Virgin Islands. Con-
gresham Mondell Of Wyoming saying
that the sundry civil bill provided ap-
preparations from Alaska to the Virgin
Islands. For n moment people who
heard him had 10 stop and think. and
inquire about these Virgin Islands. The
war has so overshndowed everything
that we havc almost forgotten We pur-
cha sed the Danish West Indian islands
for $2J.OOO.OOO n short time ago. and
It may be long while before we know
exactly whnt we want to do with
them.
President Wilson. being rather free
with his vetoes even when they
held up lnrse government supply
bills. demonstrated that president
can do what It Is claimed by some
he should have the constitutional
right to do that Is. veto items he
disapproves in appropriation bills. OF
course there Is no possibility OF CIV
Ing the president any such right, rs II
would mean that he could make IN ap-
preparation bill practically to suit him
self. However. the veto power affords
him an opportunity to prevent the en-
actment Of legislation In nppropria.
ton bills which he does not approve.
II both houses Of congress would live
up to the rules they make for appro-
prtation bills there would have been
no need of the presidential vetoes OF
supply bills. The pneumatic tube
proposition In the post Office appro-
priation bill was legislation. just a.
was the Borland amendment making
the government clerks work m extra
hour.
There wns one feature Of the veto
Of she Boriand amendment which par
ucnlnrly interested men on account OF
Its showing tho position Of the presi.
dent on the labor question. II has
been shown from the beginning Of the
wnr that the president hns been very
anxious to propitinte and concillnte
labor ut NIL times. Opposition TO the
Borland amendment by organized Ia.
Dor no doubt made an Impression up
on the president.
There Is n probability that the Bor-
land amendment will figure TO some
extent In the coming political cam
pnign. Congressman Borland OF Kan
sas City. for whom the amendment
was named has built up n reputation
In congress almost exclusively on nc
count of his persistent activity direct.
ed against the District Of Columbia In
one form or another. Sometimes II