The Washington herald., 1918-10-05


The Overman reconstruction bill ex-
presses the attitude of the President,
so far as naming OF commission is
concerned.
It is, or at least will turn out to be,
the Democratic party's reconstruction
measure. while the Weeks bill will
turn out to be a measure quite gen.
orally supported by the Republicans.
The Overman bill provides for a
commission to be appointed by the
President, while the Weeks bill pro-
vides for a commission of Congress
sional naming.
Very likely the plans will not be
submitted to the public for approval
or disapproval, but that will make no
difference. The Presidents plans are
quite likely to prevail. and to such an
extent that the Weeks bill will be en-
tirely lost sight of by Congress.
The likely battle on this legislation
will be doubly interesting II II should
happen that the voters change the
complexion of either House before the
legislation is finally passed. That is.
il the legislation can be delayed until
the Republicans gain control, the
chances of its passage in the form the
President wants it would be decidedly
poor.
If the makeup of Congress changes,
however, there would unquestionably
be a crescendo movement in the Con-
Gressional music and the speeding-up
process would be meant to cover all
legislation which the Pl esident wanted
to get even before the Republicans
had chance to intercept it. Later
the Republicans might not be able to
repeal any Of it.
We had a man insist to us last week
that the way is stony for him who
would start a new packing house in
this country. He had not tried to take
this step. but he had looked around
his native state of Texas with a view
to taking such action and his inves-
LEGATIONS led him TO Washington 10
look into It further.
He found, he said. that influences
opposed to such new institutions
seemed TO be found in many places
some OF them in places where he did
not believe they existed. And he de-
cided, as nc looked affectionately at
the big bank account he carried. not
to entrust it to the uncertainties OF
such q business.
Likely there are phases OF the situa-
ton which will come up in vigorous
style in Congress and elsewhere until
the packing situation is really made
known to the country. The surface
has already been more than scratched.
Of course. but there is a deeper vein
which apparently has remained undis-
covered. although efforts to find it
have been made by some of the pub
lies best servants.
When it is discovered the people will
hear about it-and will know what to
do to protect themselves against fur
ther operations.
Conspiracies to defraud the govern
ment at this time should have the
attention of the Department Of Jus
tiCe without falkland we believe the
efforts OF the department in this re-
spect are such that they will earn
the highest praise from the people OF
the nation.
Only. we hate to see our irredoubt-
able friend, the New York Sun, going
to the bad by insisting. as it did in
yesterdays story, that the district
attorneys office had been so per-
sistentIy aggressive that the RoSen-
wasser deal had been unearthed by
its officers without aid from any of
Mr. GreCory's attaches.
The truth is. the district attor-
ney's office in New York was rather
backward about handling some of
the clothing and raincoat frauds
there: so much so. in fact. that a
special assistant had to be appointed
to handle the work.
And then the evidence was only
turned over to the New York district
attorney after the Department of
Justice had worked It up to point
where it was sufficient, and more
than sufficient, upon which to base
case.
We hope the Sun will Keep the rec
ord straight The oveTworked. some
times abused. Department OF Justice
deserves credit for this. and we hope
the Sun will amend its first motion
ny making the usual retraction and
admitting frankly that Mr.. Gregory S
good man Friday, Mr.. Thompson. of
Colorado, had a hand in the AFFAIR.
Boom prices are not a proper meas
ure of value for real estate taken
over for war purposes, according to
the report of a naval board charged
with the duty of appraising land in
and near the jamestown Exposition
site in Norfolk County, Va. recent
ly taken over by the President for
a naval operating base under tho
war emergency act of June IL, 1917
Several suits have been filed in the
Court of Claims by owners of this
land. This act. like many of the
emergency measures, provides that
in case of disagreement the govern
ment shall pay rs per cent OF the
amount determined as a just com.
pensation and gives the owner the
right to sue for such additional sun
as will make the price right.
The board reviewed the history Of
the property for a quarter of a cen
tury and found that at various
times parts OF 1t have been pro.
NOTED as seaside resorts. amusement
parks, and residence sections, ant
that during such times as well as
during the exposition boom parts oi
it were sold at high valuations. Lit.
tie permanent success ATTENDED any
of these ventures. however. and 6
great many of the proposed develop
ments exist only on paper. according
to the board.
A great many Of the old exposition
buildings are still there. some in rather
advanced stages of decay and Others
in useful condition. The extended re.
port of the board indicates that Il
went thoroughly into tax assessment
rates, physical valuation of buildings
and sale values of nearby property
in making its award. and such pre-.
sumptive claimants as could be located
were invited to submit evidence. OF
the go such parties only twenty
eight have refused to accept the
amount awarded and three hav,
ala n,,it- q, +hn Gn,,r+ af H1ni..an