Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-20
People May Not Be Tolerant.

So far as the country is concerned.
II watched rather tolerantly and good
naturally how the democrats put up
shotgun bills to Mr.. Taft. knowing
full we'll he would veto them. The last
half Of the Taft administration saw
very little legislation of value be-
cause of the difference in political
complexion between Congress and the
executive branch of the government.
The big question today is whether the
country is going to be as tolerant and
good natured II the republicans at
tempt the same thing.
Already the word has gone out from
the republicans that a revision of the
tariff need not be expected by manu-
facturers, because President Wilson
would certainly veto such a measure.
Whether or not the republicans
themselves would try to revise the
tariff while economic conditions the
world over are SO disturbed, and
whether their hesitation in this re-
spect is really dictated by caution
rather than fear of the presidential
veto, cannot, of course, be discovered
but the party leaders evidently have
already assured the manufacturing
elements in the republican party that
not much can be done in the immedi-
ate future.
Congress. however. is going to turn
its attention to domestic problems
other than the tariff Taxation, rail-
roads. telegraph and telephones,
shipping programs and appropria-
lions for postwar expenses of all
kinds will keep the House busy while
the Senate has its troubles with the
ratification Of the peace treaty.
Treaty Difficult to Amend.
Naturally there is much talk and
many threats about amending the
peace treaty and extracting the league
Of nations provisions from the big
document. To listen to some senators
one would suppose this was merely
matter of asking the Senate to strike
out all language after certain para
graphs-a sort of legislative process
SO familiar in the framing of domestic
laws.
But international law making and
treaty making is different PROPOSE
ton. Once the American mission in
Paris puts it's signature on the peace
treaty and all the parties signify their
adherence in the same way, it may
take six month to a year to get it
amended. President Wilson and the
American mission will return to the
United States leaving the regularly
accredited ambassadors in the various
countries which are signatory to the
peace treaty. Every amendment made
by the Senate means that the docu
ment must be returned to the Presi-
dent or the Secretary of State and ne
gotiations by cable become necessary
to obtain an agreement with every
one of the parties to the treaty. Judg
ing by experience with other treaties
where only the United States and an
other country was involved. it would
be optimistic TO guess that every one
Of the powers, big and little. could be
gotten to agree to the American point
of view in six months time.
Inasmuch as the European coun-
tries plan to resume trade Immediate
~ on the signing of the peace treaty.
America will find herself with large
surplus of products on hand and many
factories and commercial establish
rients anxious to do an export and
import business with Europe, but un-
able to do SO until the trading with
the-enemy act is fully nullified by
proclamation Of peace.