Norwich bulletin., 1919-02-18
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Special to The rulietinA

II. mere was plenty or SeemlnSly just criticism nd to chat was added many personal opinions of how the army should he conducted which were so extreme that they failed to meet the approval Of the more conservative members of congress. The matter of extreme discipline meted out to delinquents by court martial brought to light cases which ro>iGed the in- dignation Of the entire body to the highest pitch. For instance: the one where a young soldier was sentenced
 to forty years in prison for "sassing
 back at a young lieutenant who de-
 manded him tC not only stcr smoking
 but give up his package of cigarettes
 as well. met a storm of protest. The senate demanded to be informed of the circumstances and loud calls were made for the names of the officers who passed on the case and ordered such a severe sentence. Several instances where pardons were secured when the death penalty was about to be enforc- ed for apparently minor .sflenees were cited, and congress was thoroughly ! aroused ovec the court D1nrtial sys- 1 tenn as it stands and demanded a more l humane system for the future. The on-f~aternizing rule between offtco"~ a- =. .!-, .,7-1-- o.,~ ~,-o ;,, =
 sJ,.ii ! | opinion. Men who have seen ac- tive mil tary service uphold that rule 1 as necessary 10 discipline hut there were others who denounced it as ! worse than Trussiantsm'' The recent 1 order of the secretary of war forbid ! din5 officers tO furnish infCrJ92ation to senators or members of congress came ic for it's f',l share Of comment and ended hy the house outing a string
 to one cf it's appropriations so il would ! not become effective Vntit that order 1 was rescindc2 Some of the men un- ! douhtodly went beyond wise. limits of 1 eriticicisr1 n the excitement Of the moment and made accusations which right justly opplv to,a few 90 sweep i ing, that apparently the entire com 1 mi5sioned personal of the army was 1 included in their comments.
 The fact is the War dera rsroo7t snd l congress have been at iosgerheads for some time. Jn many instances sen- i atora and members aaliin~ fer proper i Information have been $ammari1v ] turned down" by under officers whom i the mon higher up have designated to 1 answer the inquiries. It has not been | regarded as either agreeabln or rroDer | by senators and menbcrs of the m:li- ! f2ry committee Of senate md house.
 that when they WI te the chief oe staff i CT adiutant general f0r information ! regarding matters which must como i before them for consideration in the ] preparation of appropriation bills. to not only refuse the iafcl nation by 1 orders of the secretary of war but l have their letters curtly answered bv | some officer of low rank. On the l other hand the officers resent the at | ttude of congress and it's sweeping l criticism of the war donart nent, and ] it VII take q lot Of healing ointment i 10 cure the wounded feelings of both the war department and congress. 1 Naval approximations have come in i for a fair stare Of opposition but the 1 personel of that department has thus
 far escaped Widespread congressional criticism.
 Congressman Treadway has received 2 letter from Secretary of tue Interior 1 l49nc, assuring him that the depart 'nent will take New EnrianG into con sideration on the question uf aIloting lands to returned soldiers Mir. Tread way sometime ago wroia the secre- taIW urging that available land in New
 England should be utilized for that purpose. Secretary Lane HOW states that DircctCr Davis of the U S. Re- l with New England ner, especially the
 commission appo nted hy the govern or of Massarhusetts t9 look into the matter. The secretary sra+rs that he
 was anxious to include New England
 in the plan.' IL is quite apparent from letters received by members of con- @reSS from that section that New Eng.
 land does Itct desire soldiers set dement's to hc established there but
 are anX ous that available, land neal Villages and towns should l,e put al
 the disposal rf returning soldiers.
 lt is auth0.Ttauvely stated that 1,50i
 farms can he obtained in New Hamn. shire and thar Vermont can furnish
 an equal number In Hampshire coun. tv in Nassa aahusetts thcr2 are 5OOI acres of improved tillaga land said tc i be available and ready D bc worked New England men believe there i
 much lard available in Connection and other New England states whicI can be well utilized for that pur pose. Maine has taken s:eps to in sure the settlement of soldiers on it unoccup.ed land.
 , Tho list oF public buiIdinos recon } mended by the house committee IS un l usually long. as no public building 5 have been erected since the beginnin. Of the war. accept such as were al , ready under way. The bill may pas
 the house, hut whether CT not tn
 senate will find time to consider it be fore the end Of the session on Narrl : 4th is a matter of great dnubt. Tn
 full list of buildings for Connection
 as appearing in the bill which was re
 ported to tho house Saturday after
 noon is: Hartford sS0n coo Water h1TVs
 r $50 GOO may be expended Tor a site
 Manchester n.o00: South Mancheste . s75N0O; Norwalk. s165 GOO; YVinstet . $90000. The above amounts are fo new contracts and the following sum
 were recommended as additions to an s propriations already made but foun t 10 be insufficient for completion c n structures: j'ranford. s DOG; Nysti,
 $9 GOO: Putnam $35. .O0O, Essex. s6000 F also that S5,000 of the unexpende f fund for Sanford may be used i |, en)argins site.
 The president has invited the mem Il bers of the foreign affairs commit c tee Of senate and house to dine wit D him at the White House the evenin Il after his return to Washincton ne7
 week. Thus far members of thoe = 1 committees have been kept entirely i = the dark as to the views and inter l. tions of the president. except as the
 have read of them through the pres - The senate committee on foreign al II fairs must pass on whatever treaty put before congress. Until they hay " acted it cannot be brought to tF = formal attention of the senate. Repuf
 iican Floor Leader Lodge will re II s chairman and MT. Lodge is a staunc Il advcte of protect ng the interests c - the Tinted States and living up to Il e constitution os tho United States. Ser
 ator Brandeece is also an ilfluencij