The Colorado statesman., 1921-03-12

the president
II is probable that In fixing nine
months MS the required time for proper
consideration of tnrlir legislation, Mr'
Fordney Is taking into consideration
the various views OF what constitutes
proper tariff that are held by men
In his own party, which In the next
congress will have a huge majority III
both houses. Except for the time
taken In opposite debate. Mr.. FORD
ney probably gives but little consid-
Grafton to the forthcoming antagonism
of the Democrats In congress to such
tariff bill as his committee VIII pre-
sent, but the chairman Is obliged 10
take sharp notice Of the opposition
of some of the men within his own
party ranks.
When the chairman says that nine
months are required TO enact tariH
legislation which from his viewpoint
would be adequate, he includes III the
allotted time the days and weeks that
are given over to hearings prior to the
framing of the bill in committee.
Longer Time May Be Required.
Mr.. Fordney has some reason Tor
his statment that nine months are
required for tariff legislation. Tariu
bills In the past have consumed that
length of time before they finally
found their way to enactment. Some
members of congress, Democrats as
well rs Republicans, are declaring 10
day that, considering the fact that IL
took nine months to put some OF the
tariff bills of the past through
probably will take mt least eleven
months and perhaps year to put the
bills of the present through.
The whole world is upset econom-
ically today. The members of CON
gress, however wise they may be III
other matters, do not know any better
than men outside of congress Just
what the labor conditions In Europe
are TO be in six months from hoW'
Neither do they know what Is TO nap
pen to Germany in the Industrial heiu,
nor do they know whether England
and France will be heavy bidders for
trade in our markets.
1t. of course must go without say
ing that the coming tariff Legislation
will be highly protective in its pro-
visions. Chairman Fordney of the
WAYS and means committee is known
in the house as 1.-THE highest protec-
zionist of them all" His own views
will necessarily be modified by the
views of his colleagues, but in gen
eral way it can be said under the very
nature of things, party and political,
that the coming tariff legislation will
keep the protection mark high.
Lands Case Arouses Interest.
What action will be taken by con
gress in the matter of Judge Kenesaw
Mountain Landis' impeachment by
Representative Benjamin +. Welty of
Ohio is unknown at this writing. but
in general ii seems to be the belief
in Washington that impeachment pro-
ceedings will not be carried through.
This Lands case has aroused great
deal of interest in the country and es-
pecially marked interest in congress
sional circles. The writer of this asked
the chairman of the senate committee
on judiciary some time ago whether
any protest had been filed against the
middle western federal jurists action
in taking on the job of baseball arbi-
ter In connection with his labor as
federal judge. The answer was that
no protest had been filed and that SO
far as the case itself was concerned,
the belief was that it wds wholly one
of 'good taste or bad taste"
Inquiry also was made by the writer
IL Of
was said for reasons of personal inter-
est the law in the matter had been
looked up, and it was found that there
was no legal obstacle to prevent Judge
Landis from acting. in the two capaci-
ties il he so chose. This seems to be
the situation so far az the legal end of
1t Is concerned.
The department of justice has moth
ing to do with this case. When fed
eral judge does anything which seem
ingly makes him liable to impeach-
ment, the matter is one for congress
to take up. 1t was for this reason that
the study made of the case by the de-
partment of justice was prompted by
personal interest and curiosity.
Effective, impeachment proceedings
against an official of the government
must originate in the house of repre-
sentatives. To put the thing in gen
.eral way, the case is prepared in the
house, committee of Impeachment"
is appointed and the case is taken TO
the senate of the United States, which
sits as jury with a member of the
Supreme court presiding. Impeach-
ment proceedings have been entered
against two federal judges within the
last few years. One of these judges
was removed from office and the other
was acquitted.