The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1920-06-18


informed public sentiment be relied
on the secure their acceptance.
The tribunal, however, should re-
fuse to accept jurisdiction except for
the purpose of investigation, as long
as the public service be interrupted
For public utilities we favor the type
of tribunal provided for in the trans
portation act of 1920.
COmpulsiOn is Opposed.
In private industries we do not ad-
vocate the principle of compulsory
! arbitration, but we favor impartial
commission and better facilities for
voluntary mediation, Cancellation and
arbitration, supplemented by that
full publicity which will enlist the in
fiuence of an aroused public opinion.
The government should take the ini-
tiative in inviting tribunals or COM
missions for the purpose of voluntary
arbitration and investigation of these
issues.
SOnVICt LABOR Hlt.
We demand the exclusion from in
terstate commerce of the products Of
convict labor.
National Economy.
A Republican Congress reduced the
estimates submitted by the admins
tration for the fiscal year 1920 al
most $3,000,0 100000. and for the fiscal
year 1921 over 81 $50, 100000.
Greater economies could have been
effected had it not been for the stub
born refusal of the administration tn
cooperate with the Congress in an
economy program. The universal de-
mand for legislative budget is "A
recognition of the incontrovertible
fact that leadership and sincere as
sistance on the part of the executive
departments are essential to effective
economy and constructive retrench-
ment.
War Extravaganza Denounced.
The Overman act invested the
President of the United States with
all the authority and power necessary
to restore the Federal government TO
normal peace basis and to reorgan-
ize. retrench and demobilize
The dominant fact that eighteen
months after the armistice the Unit
ed States government is still on "a
wartime basis and the expenditure
program of the executive reflects
wartime economy rather than peace
time economy.
AS an example of the failure to re-
trench which has characterized the
post war policy of the administration
we cite the fact that, not including
the War and Navy departments, the
executive departments and other es-
Establishments at Washington actual
ly record an increase subsequent to
the armistice, of 2,1S4 employees. The
net decrease in payroll costs con-
tained in the 1921 demands submit
ted by the administration is only
per cent under that of 1920 The an
nual expenses of Federal operation
can be reduced hundreds of millions
of dollars without impairing the eff
fciency of the public service.
Rigid Economy Promised.
We pledge ourselves to carefully
planned re-adiustment to peace
time basis and to policy of rigid
economy, to the better coordination
of department activities, to the elm
| ination of unnecessary officials and
employees and to the raising of the
standard of individual efficiency.
The Executive Budget.
We congratulate the Republican
Congress on the enactment of law
prcviding for the establishment of an
executive budget as a necessary in
strument for a sound and business
lika administration of the national
finances, and we condemn the veto Of
the President which defeated this
great financial reform.
Bureau Reorganization.
We advocate a thorough investgr
tion of the present organization of
Federal depal tments and bureaus
with view to securing consolidation
more business likedistribution Of
a more business like distribution Of
tion, delays and overlapping of work
and the establishment of an up-to-
date and efficient administrative or
ganization
Presidents Power.
The President clings tenaciously o
his autocratic war time powers.
His veto of the resolution DECLARING
peace and his refusal to sign the bill
repeating wartime legislation, NJ
longer necessary, evidence his deter
mination not to restore to the nation
and to the states the form of govern
ment provided by the Constitution
This usurpation is intolerable and de-
serves the severest condemnation