New Britain herald., 1921-09-02
SINISTER CONDITION
 DECRIED BY SENATOR
Asks Judges to Awaken Public . Interest in Legislation

Cincinnati. O.. Sept. 2.-Mcmbers of the American Bar Association were called upon by former Senator Charles S. Thomas. of Colorado, in an address he delivered before tho Association hore today to arouse public opinion to what he described as sinister con- ditionS" in thc/ Vethods Of federal Legislation. Ho appealed to the lawyers to combat a riot Of waste and pro- figacy' which he said. d.~"has long dts graced tho country's affairs"
 He urged tho association to show tho people how they had departed from tho principles of impartial enforce ment of laws and equality of rights and to warn them of the dangers of paternalism and that the government must perish when converted into T colossal agency for the bcstowal of privileges and the distribution of it's revenues to those securing it's control and welding it's authority"
 MT. Thomas is a democrat whose term in the Senate expired last March. The former Senator criticized the development of Federal at the ex- pense of state authority and enumsr ated many ways in which the legisla- tive encroachments of the Federal government has invaded state authori- ty. He declared that If the range of political authority be ultimately cover ed into tho central system. the pupils may fully justify the assertion that it is impossible for a democracy to govern an empire"
 Federal aid for numerous projects such as improvement of rivers and harbors. he declared. is now to bo ...I. nF to tho ox-service men and women of tho recent war. subordinntion of the resources and administration of the Federal reserve banks to tho exi- gencies Of speculation, agriculture and labor and by tho proposed creation of national corporation capitalized from the Treasury for the purchase and storage of surplus commodities unable to Ind an immediate market.
 Revenue. he said. is raised as ex- tensiveiy as possible by levies imposed upon specific interests frankly de- signed to impress the voter with the conviction that the public burden is placed up other shoulders than his. Taxes. he added. arc dictated by political exigences and controlled by political considerations.
 Statutes especially favoring groups or classes of people had become feI- turo of congressional action, he con- tinued. The groups seeking this legis- lation had multiplied throughout the years until they embraced all kinds of men except taxpayers. There were. he asserted, about 250 of them with head dquarters in washington with ac- tive and vigilant Hobbies. They draft bills. secure their introduction. distri- l butc them at public expense and bom- | bard committees and Congress for | their speedy enactment They have members of both houses card -indexed. | Their aim. he said. is to obtain dis criminatory legislation and their | heaviest guns arc turned on tho | treasury whose former defenders had | become either corrupted or chloro- formed.
 The speaker asserted that numerous leagues and associations had been formed since tho war to obtain pas sage of joint resolutions In Congress favoring the creation of new princi- palities within tho dominions of na- tions in whose domestic affairs the United States had no legal or moral concern. Passage of these resolutions. he declared. committed the nation to a policy involving 1t in grave respon- abilities. Tot. he know of no senator or representative who had challenged
 
 MT. Thomas advised the citizen concerned for his country to study the | measures on the calendar of this Con- | gresa and acquaint himself with the | programs of these swarming organi- | zntions which seemingly are enlisted | in a struggle of every class for itself. | and the devil takes the indmost."
 We therefore confront the evolu- | ton of a political system wherein rival | parties eagerly contend for the | mastery Of their government by | bartering its integrity and it's resources | for the suffrages of the people" said | MT. Thomas.
 Our fixed charges for administra- ton. exclusive of sinking fund re- auiroments and interest on the na- tional debt have reached appalling | dimensions. They are too vast for | comprehension in terms Of money. | They compromise not les. than four | billions of dollars. while Congress with | each passing week adds something 10 | tho burden.
 The threatened bonus will add hundreds Of millions to tho sum total. Tho recent dspassionate and un- answerable appeals of overwhelming tides of expenditure have encountered violent and unmeasured denunciations. | their purposes unauestioned. their motives assailed. They have succeeded | in postponing but not in preventing | tho riot of waste and profiigacy. which has SO long disgraced the coun- try's affairs
 MT. Thomas characterized the budg- et bill as "a budget lame in name