Norwich bulletin., 1919-12-30
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Especial to The Bulletin,

gross January fifth, is a question | which official Washington is ponder 1 ing over, with great anxiety. Never i since he assumed the office seven years ago has such a multitude Of important measures awaited his ac- tion. It is now thirteen months since he has given much personal attention to domestic questions however press ing, and for the past three months even foreign affairs have been brush ed aside on account of his illness. As a result a great mass Of pressing pub lie business is waiting his ability to transact it, much of which requires cooperation of congress and the chief executive. Officials here say it is useless to shut ones eyes longer to the critical condition which this eoun- try faces unless the president is able to resume his full official functions within a short period. The bulletins issued from the white house have
 been exceedingly optimistic for many weeks, but the fact remains that scarcely a dozen men in high official , life have as yet even seen the pfesi- dent fewer having had the opportu- nity to discuss important measures with him. and so far as sbe learn ] ed even cabinet officers are not in personol touch with him, all messages I US1ilS CdtI1tO DdCh anu fJS H1OiH- | bers of the family or officials con- nected with the executive offices
 The diplomatic situation referred | to several weeks ago in the Bulletin ! still exists. long line have not yet : been received by the president and are i-thus unable to function their high ! office. The constitution says the president "shall' receive such dip i lomats and the custom and precedents 1 of this country and all foreign coun 1 tries have been such that formal ] recognition by the president is re- I garded as essential before ambassa- 1 dors and ministers take their places at the head of their embassies or le- ] gations. Secretary of State Lansing i is not in touch with the president it being understood that he has not even
 seen him since last summer.
 The railroad bill will be put before 1 him as one of the first measures need 1 ing presidential approval after con-
 gress reconvenes January 9th. Wheth- , CT or not it could be passed over the | presidents veto, should he take such action is matter of doubt. Probably it could not, as that requires a two I thirds vote. But towering above all is the peace treaty. Its fate is ab- | solutely in the hands of the president. Notwithstanding the optimistic state ments made by Senator Hitchcock, the administration spokesman of the senate that the treaty will be accept
 cd with reservations and that the president has not said he will reject reservations. there is a string tied to T that statement, for MT. Hitchcock re- Il fers to reservations made by him self, and not by the majority of the i senate. That is quite a different mat ter. Not only have the foreign reIa tions committee big majority of followers but Senator Underwood, as staunch a democrat as ever sat ir the senate, is a reServationist by sec ond choice. He wanted the treaty tt stand in full-finding that impossible i he wants it in the best obtainable forrn-and wants it done quickly. tn. derwood and Hitchcock are out in open rivalry for the democratic lead l ership of the senate-each will com , mand a strong following, and eacf will have a broad Influence on the r treaty vote, whenever it is next taken
 But that it is the president wht
 must decide the matter is acIznow ledged by every one. It must b' : either the treaty with the so l called Lodge reservations, or thei
 
 ification of phraseology. or the Kno2 resolution last filed. Both require tn signature Of the president. So mat CTS which await presidential decision and action are momentous and iron 8 near viewpoint look as if they woult require much closer application am vigorous treatment at the hands 0 : the executive than he has been abl : to give public matters for many Q month. The outcome is watched wit anxiety. Regarding the floor leader : ship at this moment it looks nue1 like a fifty fifty proposition. Hitch !, cock has the advantage of seniority i II senate service. and is now the presi dential spokesman: Underwood is 5. born leader and left behind him in tn f house a splendid record of floor lead = ership. He is unhampered by pledge
 that make him hold fast to the ad = ministratioh policies when they ru = contrary to his personal belief. CT Underwood wins, the republican, 2 must keep their eyes open, for h v knows every move of the game whe u it comes to parliamentary rules an a rights But he has the reputation ( 'f always" playing fair" If he and ser 2 ator Lodge are pited against eac' IS other as floor leaders the sparks wi < dy, in match of keen wits but bot = sides would be assured of statesma . leaders who would scorn an unfai ." move. Hitchcock is fair but lack
 initiative as he has always bee S. guided by administration instruction n. and wishes.
 'l The young prince of Wales sent ho i7 iday gifts back from England to eel
 tain of the white house employee
 flpp Of tha off n bs
 house chauffer who drove the prin, l. around the city. The gift was a stft ,a pin of diamonds and opals in the for
 of a crown and bore the words "It
 Dien". The chauffer's name is Jehl
 son and he also received valuab H. gifts from the king and queen of Be le gum whom he drove around the ci
 in the white house limousine.
 fact the employees of the white hou is seem to have monopolized the hol he day celebration. The cook was ma
 red on Christmas day. but co,
 shortage and sugar shortage go ha1 nv in hand here, after her honey -rnot re she will return to the white hou
 kitchen. The president took her
 France with him, also on his tr
 across the country last fall. The ee was no Christmas tree at the whi uS house this year, but the preside
 had turkey and flxin's in his bed roc
 while Mrs. Wilson and Dr. Grayson q. on tributed gifts to the children livi 'le long the road leading to the Count
 club where the president former
 spent much time at golf, and whe u- the children watched the big limo hy sine dash past them, followed ca re day by their shrill piping cheers.
 The Louisiana senators and co
 gressmen played Santa to congre he by presenting their colleagues wi