Evening star., 1920-12-24
DEMAND SWEEPING
CHANGES BY COP.
Senator FreIinghuysen Urges
Return to "Constitu.
tionaI Government"


A sweeping "reconstructive' pro-
gram for the next administration. to
effect a return to constitutional gov-
ernment" and to place the public add
efficient" basis, was advocated in an
address in the Senate yesterday, by Sem
ator Frelinghuysen, republican, of New
Jersey. If the republican administra-
ton fails to do the things the people
expect of it, the senator declared.
they will turn on us as they have on
the democrat tic party" -
As immediate steps in the direction
OF cutting down government expendi-
lures Senator Frelinghuysen advocat-
cd reduction to pre-war basis of the
number OF government employees: aboli-
ton Of the bureau Of war risk insurance
and transference Of Its functions ito
the pension Office, and establishment Of
public works and public welfare de.
partments to eliminate duplication OF
work in governmental bureaus and to
increase efficiency.
Have Dropped Insurance.
Declaring that 80 per cent of the e4-
service men who took out insurance
policies with the government have
dropped them. the senator said the
government could not conduct IAN in
surance business at loss" and that
1t was a fair conclusion that the war
risk insurance bureau was a failure"
One OF the evidences Of waste and
extravagance is provided by what is
known as the reclaSsif fication commission,
which has had for its noble purpose the
rearrange1nent on a more equitable basis
OF the salaries Of government clerks"
said Mr.. Frelinghuysen. ''On this COM
representatives Of his own party IN Com
xrees-Mr. Keating Of Colorado and Mr.
Ham1in Of Mfssouri-and one repub-
lican, Mr.. Cooper Of Wisconsin, who has
since been reelected These estimable
gentlemen spent 5000 of the peoples
tion, which has failed in Chicago and
every other municipality where tried.
NO great business enterprise would think
OF establishing a wooden standard Of
and remuneration for every
place in its employ. Yet from the re-
ciassincation. commission We have q
voluminous report. which has all tho
appearance Of presenting the details Of
q Chinese civil service.
mo member Of either branch Of Con-
gress has more sympathy for the just
grievances Of the uuderpaid government
in charge Of the sale Of our public tim
berlAnds and with many millions Of dol
lars intrusted to his hands, receiving
$1,SQ0 per annum, and when I see the
assistant chief Of the division Of hQek-
keeping and warrants in the TreaGary
Of government accounts.
gathered through years Of faithful serv-
ice. receiving $2,s8o year, l know that
something is wrong. Whatever rear
plan that win make for increased eff
cheney and more business activity in
the departments. Certainly something
should be done to remedy hagrant in
eQualities and inadeQuacies in govern
ment salaries
Pointing to the nations progress
in world trade and commerce. as q
result Of the opportunities presented
by the war. Senator Frelinghuysen
declared these economic advantages
could not be held unless we repeal
unwise tariff laws and rescind un-
wholesome fiscal practices Ameri-
can industry must be protected and
fostered by 4 scientific tariff law"
he said. along with scientific
method OF securing foreign trade
The senator declared he vas in
tarin legislation to protect the farmer
from falling crop prices. but said
that other producefDe also were auf-
fering from price declines and that
the farmer must not ask that his
articles he has to buy be brought
down." He was opposed generally,
he said. to keeping up 'ictitious
prices created during a saturnalia Of
inf3ation."
IaDoss1ble to Act Alsne.
Discussing the question Of n,ainte.
nance Of naval forces As affecting the
tax burden Of all nations. the New
Jersey senator declared 1t was inn
possible for this country to act alone
in the matter of disarmament, and
that he was in favor OF proposals to
Great Britain and Japan that their
naval forces and ours be disarmed
pro rata"
Turning to government finances,
Senator Frelinghuysen advocated ex.
tension OF the present sinking fund
to cover the nations float.
ing Indebtedness as well as It's bond.
ed war debt.
I'VE should remedy our entire pres.
ent fiscal arrangements" he said, "by
takiAg the tax from small incomes.
removing the excess-profits tax and
income surtaxes, and at the same
time gain moro revenue from a pro-
tective tarfR and by Q tax on manu-
facturers sales. For rendering less
our entire fiscal affairs
the enactment Of q budget system Is
vital
Asserting . need for increased eff.
cheney in the government depart
meufs, Senator Frelinghuysen said
the Department of Labor should be
"reorxani4ed and socialism elimi-
~ated," and the Department Of Com
,erce "made an aggressive. reliable
I'D efficient instrumentality for the
Of trade, and not an ad-
1unct Of the consular service"