Norwich bulletin., 1920-06-09
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS

Washington, June THE long herald |
ed budget bill is dead. 1t was expected |
to save the country hundreds of millions |
of dollars each year by cutting off eX-
travagant appropriations. 1t was passed |
by congress but the president killed 1t by
his veto on the ground that it trod too
heavily on his executive toes, although
he did not express it in exactly those
words. 1 think he said9it "infringed on
executive perogative" But it means the
same thing That was the day before
adjournment, so congress took it back
and rushed reconsideration and it was
passed by the house, with what the presi-
dent considered its Objectionable features
eliminated. 1t was then sent over to the
senate, only to be Killed Their by demo-
cratic filibuster led by Senator Pomerene
of Ohio, who held the floor till the closing
hour, making one of the most bitter
Stump speeches on record. He flung d
most remarkable variety Of mud and
slime at every republican candidate thus
far mentioned for the presidency. His
brush was thickly coated with tar and
BY the time he got through with the
speech-if you believed what he saba
southern black and tan" delegation
would have looked like blends compared
with republican candidates for the presi-
dency That the budget system would
est the Ohio senator in the least. if he
must forego the opportunity to besmirch
candidates on the eve of the Chicago corr
vention and then sent cut his speech free
to hundreds of thousands of voters
throughout the country over his congress
sionaf frank So the failure to pass a
great piece Of economic legislation rests
| sauarely the shoulders of President
Wilson and the democratic side of the
I l. -
the filibuster.
Pfesfdent Wilson's condition is such
that it was found impossible to bring him
Isto the capitol the day of Adjournment to
sign bills passed at the last minute. as is
| the custom. A delegation of senators
went to the White House to ascertain, as
is also the custom. if the president had
any further business to lay before them
but they could. not see him. and deliveeed
the message through his secretary, Mr..
| Turnulty. The reply from the president
was brought back TO them by Mr.. Turn
i ufty, then they returned to the capitol
and made their report that no further
business was desired by the president at
/ that time. Any bills which the president
| failed to sign now die automatically by
| what is known as a pocket veto" That
/ IS they must be signed before the rap of
! the vice presidents gavel and his an
nouncement that the session is at end
| brings the session to q formal close. Dur
! ms a session bills become a law if not
! sffheE within ten GAYS Tut they die with
i adjournment unless signed by the presi-
dent
! The senste inquiry into campaign ex-
| penses of presidential candidates stopped
/ Just short 81 hitting the democratic as
pirants, for beginning with republicans.
! adjournment cut shoTt the hearings after
| Chewing republican candidates to a bulb
afd before democratic candidates We're
| reached, 1t is scant comfort to reHubli-
can campaign managers that the hear
! ings may be resumed at a later date
Some tinse aga bill passed the house
tt reorganizc the force in the patent of
fee and 10 augment the salaries of the
experts on the force so that the business
Of tie Office might he Conducted more ac-
curateIy and e,nedtionslv Under The
! .,res5n NJ saI5rY basis tire Best hief are
constantly being drafted into private en-
ploytnent, ard the service is much de-
rlordlizgtl This Reorganization is VERY
much TO the interest of Connecticut anG
all New England manufacturers who are
at al interested in PATENTS. ana Pepre
i sentative Merritt was somewhat active IL
, helping 10 rass the bill. by request of thu
i chairman making a speech in its favor
when it was before the house Mr. Mer
j rftt WAS pleased to note a shore time agc
that the s@nate committee had reported
the bill out f,tvora;,ly but shortly aftel
WAS very 1nUeh surprised to find that the
| senate had tackled on to that measure ar
unrNlated bill which rave the fedora
J trade c5Tnr-7is3i6n power ito accent as
signment CT, or license or other rights O.
mowers under, to develop. to issue or re
fuse to iss,fe licenses under to encoura e
r the Industrial rise and application of. am
! otherwise administar Inventions
Enatents, ard I2atent rights which saft
commission deems it 10 tie advantage o
the public to be so ;iecerted''
TT seems clear that this would set Ii
,, the federal trade commission as an OWE
and e.;ploiter of patents. and under tn
/ broad terms of the bill it would maize tn
United States compete in exploiting it
!, own patent grants IS against privat
persons who develop them at their oy7
t expense" said Nj Merritt 1t a1pearet
to Mr.. Merritt that this was broad an
dangerous power ard would not only y
MAR to private manufacturers hi
would also tend to upset the entire baten
e system Of the United States He is there
fore enGeavoring to prevent the passag
OF the amendment through the senate o
r the grounds above stated and on the fun
theT ground that such legislation ougl
to be considered on its merits and ne
| tackled on as a rider to another bill.
by chance it should PASS the senate. it
i believed that. in view Of the new legisls
: ton. the DILL would have to be referre
hack to the house committee. and a COT
ference at the present time could be pre-
| vented.
: The closing CT congress has left Wasf
v ington like q deserted village. All roat
| led to Chicago, and before congress al
iourned there were not q bakers dozen
Il leaders left in town. BY a gentleman
i. agreement it had been arranged that Il
~ roll call should be demanded or uuoru1
asked for after the special cars w1lic
were to take the delegates. party leader
and newspapermen to Chicago left hel
i early Saturday afternoon. Night session
lasting till daylight had preceded the az
| journment and the business had bee
= cleared up Just as intended excepting II
e budget bill. The great stir over so
diers' bonus may as well have been le
out of the house program and thus save
s. much personal recrimination and man
,e party splits, for, just as predicted in TT
Bulletin many weeks ago. it did not g
before the senate. It is probable ne
lie and much more workable bill for soldi,
ef relief will be put before congress at ii
December session.
One of the last measures tending
If benefit New England which came IN W:
m the Walsh resolution AUTHORIZING the il
terstate commerce commission to invest
gate the high price and scarcity of Goa
Stl Senator Walsh is hopeful it will lead
l. an embargo on coal shipments to foreie