Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-10-15

Isasfs So.
EVENING. OCTOBER is. 1921.
EVENTS OF A WEEK.
The unemployment conference has adjourned
alter presenting a general summary OF economic con-
ditions in its report and providing for the continue
ton OF portions OF its work by means Of committees
which are to remain as active bodies. The earlier
declarations of the conference dealt with the more
immediate phases of the unemployment problem.
urging especially on local communities and employ
ing bodies recognition Of their own responsibilities
in relation to the subject. The final recommends
tions deal more generally with the larger and more
permanent features at the subject. In this connection
recommendation are made for the speeding up of
the work of congress in the disposal of taxation
legislation, railroad refunding, etc. Reference is
made to the injurious influence on employment of
the inequalities of defation in the various industries,
and on the importance of bringing about adjust
rnent.
Among the practical steps taken for the lessen
ing OF Unemployment is to be noted the action OF the
100000 for the making of extensions at the numer-
Gus subsidiary plants. This work, to be undertak-
en- Immediately. will put at work several thousand
men. Other large employers of labor have shown
conference that public works agreed upon as neces-
sary be prosecuted with all possible speed is receiv-
ing attention and approval
The federal tax bill has Occupied most of the
attention of the senate during the week. A week
ago a tentative agreement on several of the sched-
ules was reported. but this agreement has not pre-
vented the continuation of a vigorous contest. In
spite OF the scant prospect Of its adoption Senator
Smoot is still vigorously championing his schedule
of amendments, in which the manufacturers sales
tax is the chief item. 1t is this item which has
drawn the most fire. In reply to the argument that
such q tax is a tax to be paid by the consumer Mr..
Srnoot presents the fact that practical
Ia, ii k4-ae ~eA ~~sl wv, IL >o~os,~4 n,,4k
less, the prejudice against a tax which does openly
and directly what every other tax does in some form
is 80 great that there is no chance of the success Of
the amendment.
In between its taxation and other discussions
the senate has found time to pass the Borah bill OK
empting American eoastwise vessels from the pay
ment of Panama canal tolls. 1t is expected that the
bill will die a natural death in the house. In Sup
port OF it the curious argument was advanced by
Mr.. Borah that the obligations of the United States
under the Hay-Pauncefote treaty would be the sub
lect OF arbitration in any case, and in passing the
bill the senate was merely placing on the treaty the
American construction. II did not apoeaf to occur
to him that in dealing with this measure the senate
was performing its part, not in the construction Of .
treaty, but in the enactment of a law, and that this
proposed law is a reputation of what has been the
accepted Interpretation Of a treaty. 1t is a rather
curious fact that while a Democratic congress pass
ed = similar measure, which was later repealed at
the request of a Democratic president by means of
Republican votes, a Republican senate now passes
It. to the obvious embarrassment of a Republican
president. As a matter of fact, however. the bill re-
cciyed only a part of the Republican vote, as party
lines were not followed
The house rules committee has been occupied
with the investigation of the Ku Klux Khan: Sew
cral witnesses, including the imperial wizard, Sim
mons, have been examined. The purpose of the in
vestigation is to determine whether or not there
exists sufficient reason for the enactment Of iegisla-
tior against the existence of such societies., and on
this, naturally, opinions is divided. 1t is to be hoped,
however, that any conclusions reached by the COM
Hlittee or by the department otjustice as to the
legal status OF the organization will not obscure the
menace which exists in the creation of such societies,
secret and oath-bound, which assume to take upon
themselves the regulation of the conduct of other
persons, regardless of the law of the land and the
agencies appointed to carry it into effect.
Preparations continue for the coming armament
conference. There has been a meeting of the Amer
lean delegates to go over preliminaries, and to pre-
pare for the formulation of American views. The
subject Of publicity is receiving a good deal Of at
tenton. Most of those Immediately in contact
with the subject understand, doubtless, that in such
a conference, if it is to achieve anything, there must
be = great deal of private interchange Of opinion
such as would be impossible in a public gathering.
The conclusions Of the conference will naturally be
made public in any event, and it is likely that in de-
ference to popular sentiment in favor OF open negp-
fiafiors the general sessions of the conference will
bs more Or less public. If that decision is made it
will mean, necessarily, that back Of the open ses-
SONS there will be private sessions at which the real
business IS done.
The League Of Nations assembly has reached a
deeision on the Silcsian question, thus performing
wstak has been thus far the most difficult task Of it's
caseer. The boundaries decided on are understood
to place certain Of the territory over which there
fiaS been bitter dispute under the Polish flag, and
tiis arrangement is naturally resented in Germany.
Ex6ernists have been loud in expressing dissatis-
fae3cn, and have uttered loud threats. Back Of
49, cbuliitions there appears to Be enough Of mod
efsSfjons and good sense to warrant the belief that the