The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1920-03-06
taken by the men who frame the laws

| In the construction program proposed
| by the navy department. An inquiry
into the situation that exists in CON
| gress with respect to military and
naval legislation shows that most of
the congressman have got an impress
sion that there is a distinct reaction
| throughout the country against mill
tary or naval legislation and for this
reason. and this reason alone. they
are diSinclined 10 support any great
forward step of military or naval
| nature.
Nc sooner was the senate bill with
its universal training provision out
in the open than the members of the
| house, regardless of political afiilia-
| tons. began to let it he known that
| they were opposed to universal train
| ing in any form. On the Republican
side the leader Representative Mon
dell of Wyoming, came out flatfOOted
| against the training feature of the
senate bill and his position was sup
ported by the members of the house
committee on order of business. The
effect of this was 10 discourage the
house committee on military affairs
from going ahead with the idea that
il should report a bill providing for
universal training. The Democrats
of the house, with the notion that they
could gain some political advantage
by taking a stand as unit against
universal training, caucuSSed and al
most unanimously voted TO oppose
this training. This action was taken
after President Wilson had written
the caucus a letter asking it not to
take a stand against universal train
ing.
War Department Will Suffer.
The upshOt of il all is that the lead
ers have decided not TO try TO get
through universal training legislation
at this session. They believe the main
features of the WadswOrth bill will
eventually be accepted by the cOun-
try and by congress. but they realize.
so they say, that nothing, perhaps
could be gained by putting that bill
through the senate at this session and
sending it to the house to be slaugh-
tered.
The uprising in congress against
military legislation leaves the war de-
partment in most unsatisfactory
condition. 1t had counted on legis-
latiOn by the end of the fiscal year
providing for the peace military es-
adjustment. Now II will have to go
along in a makeshift way until con-
gress acts. Meantime nearly all the
new branches of the service that were
built up during the war, like aviation.
motor corps, gas and flame, ETC., are
rapidly deteriorating for lack of
funds. Between now and the end of
the fiscal year, June 80. the regular
army appropriation bill will be
passed and 1t is the thought of the
men in congress who are dealing with
the situation to make provision in
that bill for tiding the department
over until permanent policy shall
have been decided on.
Women Seek Equal Chances.
Women, through the woman's bu-
reau of the department of labor,
are moving to Obtain equali-
ty of opportunity in the government
service. Last fall this bureau ar
ranged to make a study of positions
in the government service open by ex-
animation to women as compared
with those closed TO women. The
study was begun in September. On
November 5. ten days after receiving
partial report from the bureau, the
civil service commission passed rul-
ing opening all examinations to both
women and men, leaving it to the dis
erection of the appointing officers to
specify the sex desired when request
ing certificatiOn of eligibles.
On November 10 a bill was intro
duced in the senate by Senator Nc
Lean of Connecticut, amending the
statute now in force which dates back
to 1870 and provides that. at the dis
erection of the head of any department,
women may be appointed to any clerk
ship in the government service. The
amendment provides that in request
iiS icSiotcT VI cilSiDicS lOi dppOiut
ment the nominating and appointing
officials shall not specify sex unless
sex is a physical barrier to the prop
er performance of the duties to be
fulfilled Thus one of the ends de-
sired has already been almost COM
pletely accomplished.
The largest employer of labor In
the country and the employer of the
greatest variety of labor, the United
States government. has as it's employ
ment agent the civil service commits
sion. This commission is responsible
for securing the proper person for al
most every position in the govern
ment service except hose of unskilled
labor in some states, and those filed
by presidential appointment. The ap-
pointment of women to any govern
ment position is still regulated by a
statute written in 1870, which de-
clared that women may in the discre-
ton Of the head Of any department
be appointed to any Of the clerkships
therein authorized by law. From this
statute has sprung the custom Of
opening examinations to both sexes
or closing them to either sex at the
discretion of the head of any depart.
ment. regardless of the fact that nei-
Their rule nor law covers the examina.
tiou itself