Norwich bulletin., 1920-12-21
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
lspecial .to The Runetin.)

valuable asset Of the republican party and even though MT. Harding has not yet even hin ed who will get positions in his official family no one here doubts but what Weeks can have pretty near ly first choice of places if he desires to -or will even consent to enter the cabinet Usually. when it is said man "is being urged to accept a political of- flee it means simply that his friends want to call attention to his availability but in the Weeks case it is exactly the reverse. The qualifications ability, staunch allegiance to party policies and principles, together with his broad questions, put Captain Weeks in the front rank of cabinet possibilities. That his strict integrity and wide experlence both as a legislator and business man fit him for several cabinet positions rec ognized here by men of both polltical parties He was graduated from the na- val academy at Annapolis, and served as captain during the Spanish American war; he is fnancier of note; he was ranking member of the military affairs committee of the senate and would to- day be it's chairman, had he been re- cleo. ed he was high man in the post office committee when parcels post, leg islation and other forward looking steps were taken by congress to inn prove the service; he was a high man on the committee on banking and cur rency when the federal reserve act was framed So he would fit well into the secretaryship of the treasury, the navy, the post office or the war department shourd he enter the Harding cabinet.
 As ranking member of the military committee Weeks fought with determi- nation against the mismanagement, waste and extravaganza which marked the policy of that department in the war. As result he drew down on his head the determined opposition of the admin istration which together with certain factional disturbances in his state re- suited in his defeat for reelection in f91s But he didn't blink an eyelid. He immediately became party leader and this year was the guiding hand in map ping out the policy under which the Harding campaign was managed. So whatever MT. Weeks wants he nndoubt- ediy can have, and the country be ben eftted thereby.
 Senator Lodge likewise is universally acknowledged to be ideal timber for sec retary of state. But it is whispered that Mir Lodge prefers to hold the sen ate leadership and the chairmanship of the senate committee on foreign rela' tions rather than enter the cabinet with it's more restricted scope, all powerful as the secretary of state may be under new international policy. But MT Lodge isn't the sort of man who talks about his personal preferences, so what he will do or will not do is a matter of speculation. It's certain however, that he is at this moment the most influential
 man in the nation concerning interna tional policies and that MT. Harding has been in close and frequent consultation with him from the date of his nomina tion. Nobody doubts MT. Lodges qual i ifcations and complete mastery of inter national law and history. Even mel who differ with him to the point of the most bitter and determined opposition recognize his great statesmanship ant realize he is in class of his own fal ahead of all others. But the sentinen 1 today is that he will remain in the sen l ate.
 i! There have been quiet comments or 1 the desirability of putting Congressman 1 John c. Tilson of New Haven into i position of high rank under the Hard l ing administration. His experience a 1 expert on ordnance as a member of tn
 military affairs committee all througl l the great war his experience as an of l ficer in both the Spanish American Iva and on Nthe border during our recen 1 troubles with Mexico eminently fit hir l for high position in the war depart ment. and it's been whispered that h
 would f1t well into the position of sec retary of war, should that office be be 1 slowed on New England man. Bu whether TiIson gets a cabinet, or a nea
 cabinet office, he is certain to fgur largely in the framing of miIitar l E-,s5 J,S7l ledge and experience in military affair puts him in the front rank of congres! although last session he was promote to a position on the all important con
 mittee on ways and means. If Tilso
 should get an outside appointment (
 importance undoubtedly Merritt of tn
 Fourth district would be rushed to tn
 ways and means in Tison's place, fo
 although a new man here MT Merri has made an unusual impression c congress for ability, and good soun
 judgment which fits him for position
 Of great responsibility.
 "The proposed resolution reminds n of the comment of a distinguished fo
 eigp ambassador upon taking is fir
 drink of grape juice" said Sena tor N
 Lean. Tt looks good and it tast good. but it does not accomplish an, thing" Senator Mclean was talking
 the senate against the proposed resol
 tion under which the certain men a 5 claiming farmers will be aided, b I which MT. Mclean believes will inju
 them and that the legislation "is rit
 culous and in bad faith" The senator , comparison brought shouts of taught z from the usually dignified and staid SC | ators. MT. Mclean has always suppol
 ha halt
 benefit farmers and he means now e discourage such legislation as he | Q lieves will be de rimental to their intt
 ests. In this instance he was spea
 ing on the proposed restraint put h | federal reserve banks regarding loani V money to farmers. MT. Mclean l
 lieves the proposed measure while proI
 ising to aid farmers will really
 nothing for them as no funds will available to meet the proposed loans.
 The immigration bill in the hou
 found the Connecticut members hoidi
 widely divergent views. MT Tilson a C MT. Glynn voted against the measure o the ground that it did not shut out und
 sirables and did not let in desirabl
 MT Merritt favored the bill because
 believes the United States has enou :. immigrants here for the present. ! IL Freeman has not yet returned to Was
 ington' after the six months recess,
 his views are not known.
 U Congressman TIlson of the ways a ' means committee has requested e treasury department to instruct custo
 officials to take samples of German e
 ley imports in order that they may ,- available for the use of the commit : in comparing their quality and va ? with those of sAmerican make, the 'o pertinent has agreed to do so Col. ]
 son made the request of the treas,
 department at the suggestion of ! to Rockwell of New Haven. president