Norwich bulletin., 1918-12-03
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
(spccial to The BuIle.in.l

 a plan for the cancellation of war contracts by the payment of an agreed upon rate between agents of the gov- ernmeut and the contractors, than the comptroller of the treasury threw bomb into those we'll laid plans by saying that no so-called contracts would. be recognized if they had been made by telephone, telegraph or sign ed by persons other thar the contrac- tors themselves The comptroller re- gaFds all such agreements as not le- gal contracts. Moreover he says that signatures by proxy arc not valid III his eyes. There are thousands of such contracts for uncOmpleted work and are said to involve hundreds of mil lions of dollars. Such contracts were made in good faith both by the gov- ernment and the contractors in order to speed up production of war pro- ducts, and it is not at at likely they will be thrown into the discard. even though it may take special congress sional legislation to obtain money from the treasury to meet. the situa- tion. Contracts such as tlieee. made in good faith by properly authorized of- ficials may not stand tho acid test or the comptroller of the treasury, but 1t is notable t:sat the war department has not withdrawn it's statement re- garding proposed payment of these contracts, ard it is safe to say the contractors will not sufft- loss. The war department has plans embracing system of boards of adjustment which will confer with the contractors and report their recommendations to still higher board of contract ad- justment. which will make a final rec q lov, fr what amount shall be paid contractors for unfinished contracts. This will necessitate an inventory ard detailed report from ell contractors of raw ma teriai on hand. finished and unfinish- ed products and an estimate of the expense they have already incurred. It is understood one of the adjustment boards will be located at Bridgeport. The plan suggested was tC pay 75 per cent. of the minimum due agreed u.- on Immediately, the remainder to fol- low.
 It seems to be pretty well under. stood at the war departmGnt that but few Of the great plants now under government control will be restored to private management until the entire policy of post war productions of arms and munitions is determined. The ordnance department h;ts made it known that it deems 1t essential that hereafter, it shah have a certain amount of control of such plants, but the details are not decided upon. What steps will be taken regarding other branches of manufacture such as cot ton. wool apl the mora staple pro- duets in general use, is still matter of, conjecture.
 The wave of indignation which is sweeping over the country concern ing the presidents long absence from Washington during the il lemendous problems which must be faced, is cen tralizing in Washington. It is second only to the indignation expressed by democrats and republicans alike fal l condemnation of the attitude the pres ident assumed in naming himself as head of the peace delegation and his | failure to recognize the senate in any manner, when on it deyclves the en- 4ire responsibility of raiifving thu peace treaty. Not only has the presi- | dent ignored the senate in representa- l ton on the commission. but he has al. so entirely ignored the ran7n1ittee or 1 foreign relations to wh;ch the treaty must first be submitted before going tt l the whole senate for action There i. | keen resentment of this articn, share, alike by leaders of both parties. I is quite likely to result in the send | ing to France of a comr;ittee of Sen l ators to see for themselves and repor to their colleagues, the true situation | rather than be left entirely at thu
 mercy of what may filter through ca
 blea and the hands Of George Creel. O whoever acts as official reported fo I al fas.r
 the first time in the history of tn, | United States that the senate has beer l thus ignored in membership at a peac l conference or the committee on for eign relations left entirely out of tn confidence of a president in the con l sideration of peace que,ticns. Tn
 sentiment here can be judged from | comment made Saturday hv Senate | Johnson of California who said
 There is no God but God. and Me 1 homet is His prophet We cannot bu l admire the courage of the president Ii
 saying to 10o.000.00o people ' am tn
 only American fit to sit at the peac l table. Acting Floor Leader Gillet
 said Tt illustrates the love of powe and opposition and counsel which ha
 been the presidents marked character l istic Secretary Lansing is the only on
 on the list who should properly b
 there. He and MT. White and Ger
 Bliss are not likely to oppose thei
 chief, Col. House, who iS merely tn
 devoted henchman of the presiden
 and it is lett for the president an I Col. House to determine the polio
 of the delegation and thus make tn
 presidents domination an easy thin,
 It looks to me as if the president ha
 tried to select men whose docility h
 could rely upon. And when I thin
 Of the men whose experience, and kee
 vision and insight would have bee
 of immense value to thus country.
 deeply regret they have been so care
 fully eliminated. The democrats ey
 press themselves still more foreefull
 knowing that it will be q bad part
 blow. The feeling is intensely bitte
 in both parties, and the fact that tt } democrats feel strong measure !, responsibility for the action of the
 chosen leader adds to their embal
 assment.
 |, There's War romance under tt caves of the great grey capitol, whel
 New York's 6aring aviator-Congress
 man Major LaGuardia has just rt
 sumed his congressional cuties aft,
 a year in active service overseas. IT major will be married within a fe
 days to pretty fair haired Italia , girl whom he describes as his "W; , Baby,' and the only evidence ths
 he captured q foreign prize. The ma Jor's' war captive is slender. fair ar
 attractive. She speaks English with decided foreign accent and Feems pri pared to like everything America
 including hird-ma husband >ar } congressional life. And the romano s began when they met in war vol p overseas. Her name is Thea Alem
 gotti and the major found her Trieste.
 When Mrs. Wilson sails away on Il
 presidential trip to Europe this wee -