Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-21
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bullet.n)

koPSC1dl lO 1ue bulleLAAJ F~ Washington, D. C., October 20. =
 realizing the end of the extra session
 is in sight and many important ex
 ecutive functions must be performed
 in the near future, will call on the
 physicians and other closely associated
 with the presidents illness to Inform,
 the legislative branch of the govern
 ment as to his condition, ands to state
 when, in their opinion, he will be able
 to resume his official duties. Congress
 needs to know the fact and not be led
 by rumors 4nd speculation. It is
 understood conferences have already
 been held as to the wisdom of introduc= ing such resolution. White house
 bulletins continue to make the date
 of his absolute rest and inaction as
 flor protracted period" It is offici- ally stated that no bills will be present ed to him at present even for the sim
 pie matter of his signature, but that such bills will be allowed to become law under the ten days provision whereby such bills become effective at the end of that time unless vetoed by the president. The president has the sympathy of every one in his illness and no one wants to agitate him or in- trude on the quiet and rest he so much needs, but at the same time matters
 of the greatest na ational and interna
 tional importance loom large on the horizon and there are fewer weeks in which to accomplish their completion than can be counted on the fingers of one hand. During that time the peace treaty will be acted on, undoubtedly with stout reserva tions tied fast to its ratification clause. It must be ratified by both the executive and the senate; all bills which pass congress within the last ten days of the session must receive executive signatures or they die with the session, so executive action by the president. his legiti- mate substitute in office is imperative unless much of the work of the extra session is to be lost.
 Under the eonsttution the vice pres.aent is authorized to act during the disability of the president but 1t does not state who is to declare that such disability exists. During the more than a century which has passed since the Constitution war written no instance has occurred by which a pre- 4 cedent has been established. An long
 illness of a president has occurred when congress was not in session and the need ofAxecutive action less press ing. But with tremendous problems now before congress and the world, inactien cannot continue much longer. In fact since Dec. 4th. 1918 when President Wilson made his first trip to France there has been practically no executive functions of routine nature performed. Thousands of of flee holders are working under terms
  position of secretary of commerce be- comes vacant on November 1st, by the resignation of Secretary Redfeld and commerce is an important factor in reconstruction work So executive ac- tion in the immediate future is not merely a matter of signing bills passed by congress but includes matters of the greatest national importance and also those which will involve the world powers as we'll Taken all in l, iS j1yeIx- "a the most important in American his tory since the Constitution was signed. Both congress and the executive have great functions to perform which can not he delegated to others than those who hold it by Consi tutional authority. l xhich in the case of the executive l means either the president himself or the vice president acting during his /, acknowledged disa ability. On the presi 1 dents rdtoVe-y he would automatical- ly resume full authority. Under these congress will probably i take some steps to gain official infor- nation as to the true condition of the 1 president. unless something more de- l finite is told them than rest for a protracted period Otherwise much l of the work of the session might be blocked and national and international 1 complications result
 Perhaps nothing better illustrates 1 what happens without executive au
 
 testimony of the board of sugar equali- l zation before the senate committee in | YeStigating the cause of the shortage | The board was reluctant to throw the | blame on the president but it's testi- | nony was largely in the form of cor -eSpondence between it and the presi- l lent and told the whole story. It de- l Feloped that the board. which is a war 1 time organization capitalized at $5,- | ,06.000, with the president as the only | tafsl- hn1 d hi of ecutiye, was organized to purchase | sugar crops, see that they were prop | srly distributed and keep the country | rec as possible from sugar profiteer- ng. The president instructed the | board to make no purchases without | ais authority. Then he went to France Ind became 50 engroSsed in the league hat in spite of frequent requests for bower te purchase, and warnings that without such purchases the sugar amine of 1920 would be much worse | han that of 1919, the president failed 0 take notice of their appeals. Prior 1 0 his trip across the country they gain made desperate efforts to secure to purchase the Cuban crop l nut no answer was made to their ap- ,eal. AS result our option expired |. md Great f3rltaIn scJoped up a large ] portion of it for herself and France Tapan got what she needed from fore gn crops, Italy did the same and the l = rows smaller and smaller as the avs go by. This appears in both the raj and written testimony of mem ers of the board of equalization. In he meantime Secretary of War Baker as sold to France at a low price 27.- G9, 900 pounds of sugar saved by great ] acrifice for the use of the American rnly, but which was not used before he boys came home. And at this aomeHt ne one but the president has utherity to order the purchase of the eeessary foreign crops, if it is not % late to get them.
 Some startling testimony was given : ut by members of the senate eom- aittee on labor and education after hey got back from ther visit to Pitts uEg and other strike districts. Amang ther things it developed that in one aeality visited they found 23.a60 per- ens only 3.600 of whom spoke Eng sh- They found that the strikers were lmast invariably aliens without the nowiedge of eur language, and as