Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-16
THE TRI-WEEKLY EDITORIAL DIGEST
Summary Leading Opinion
The Red TAPE Worm in Washingt0n.

PERHAPS the end could be accomplished
in some measure by making members OF the
cabinet also members of congress for debat-
ing purposes. If that were dOne president
n choosing his cabinet would feel impelled
% get the strongest men he could draw about
him, for it would be upon them that ne
would have to depend for the defense ef lis
administration in congress and for the adj
vocacy Of the measures and policies which
The projected"
But such reform would presuppose
congress willing to inaugurate it, and this
is up to the people, thinks the FORT WAYNE
10 URNAL-GAZETTE (Dem.) "They have
the power to send real constructive forces
to congress, and they too often send sticks;
and whenever an effort is made to rid de-
partment Of dead timber, the hue and cry
is made that the civil service is being attacked
to wicked politicians" The SAN ANTONIO
EXPRESS (Ind. Dem.) has much the same
thought, and says:
"The general public has suspected for
long time that score or so of first-class men
could accomplish more in the way of con-
structive legislation in a few weeks than
congress composed Of several hundred 'prac-
ticaP politicians usually accompishes in a
continuous session of several months II
fact, there has been general impression that
! if a group of business men could be substi-
tuted for the whole aggregation Of political
misfits that make up a portion of the ma
| tiOnal laW-making body, the sessions would
| be very much shorter and the useful work
done very much greater"
The PHILADELPHIA PUBLIC LEDGER
| Ind.) likewise suggests that we try the ex-
pertinent OF putting men trained in practical
| business in charge of the very practical bust
ness of making business efficient" and the
WAS lNGTON POST (Ind) reminds us that
| the late Senator AIdrich "once declared that
| If the executive departments of the govern
ment were conducted on approved business
1Nfs oiTNJnc
could be effected" The POST adds that if
this estimate of years ago was accurate, "a
saving Of at least twice that much would be
possible now"
But many are skeptical Of any practical re-
suits flowing from Mr.. Lanes criticism The
CINCINNATI COMMERCIAL TRIBUNE
| (Rep) thinks red tape is a necessary evil
OF republican form of government" and
the KANSAS CITY STAR (Ind) believes that
even were Mr. Lanes suggestions accepted
| there would remain the feeling that there
is no use worrying over efficiency that Uncle
Sam will foot the bills" The DEROIT FREE
PRESS (Ind.) frankly opposes giving depart
ment heads "any new 1eeway in the expendi-
ture of public moneys" 1t points out that
during the war some Of the department and
bureau heads had the sort of liberty Mr.. Lane
suggests, and the result was the wastage of
| billions of dollars"
Italy and the League
There can be no League of Nations with
out Germany and Russia and there can he
no peace without the League of Nations' de-
clares the CORRIERE DELLA SERA
(M1lan), and this view is upheld by the ECO
Dl BERGAMO. The POPOLO ROMANO adds
that the league cannot exist without the
United States"
An article in the REVISTA POLITICA f
PARLIAMENTARY (Rome), however, ex-
presses the opinion that "the league is mere
ly the successor of the peace conference" and
w Yicf nn1U lO1o 11rh
affairs which the conference did not finish
d. The plan to put Fiume under the control
of the League OF Nations is condemned by
the IDEA RATIONALE (Rome), which says
that while 1.-The supreme council may have
ceased to exist the league hardly exists at
all