Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-08
.EXTOLS CANON|SM
. AND RAPS CONGRESS
COMMITTEE POWER
Present Control Of Legislation a
Grave Menace TO Nation,
Weeks Warns.
KNOCK FOR "BIG STICK"

o. Associated f'sezs 20 Evfry r. erinr.
NewiYoris. Dec. s.--Tho present sys-
tenn Of Organization IN Congress.
whereby control IS divided between
numerous committees, may III car
Iied 10 its logical conclusion" 6isids
The United states into hostile factions
or groups" and leave the country
'powCriess 70 defend or maintain ifs
interests. national or International"
John ". Weeks. Secretary of War.
said today in an address before fhs
convention Of the Association ~ Life
Insurance Presidents.
Contracting tho present situation
with recent admiuistration
characterized by reference 20 big
stick" Mr Weeks said.
1T was not many years ago that
we heard stories about big Rflcf'
which WIS supposed 20 bc usod ia
driving congress into a state of tract
ability and force the enactment -
laws desired by the executive Tho
truth. however. is that while She
executive was mastery MAN -
dominating personality and char9~tcr-
stics. he WAS q party man ard fhoes
in the executive branch of thc go,-
ernment were equally 80 Th~y bc-
lievcd ir government bv pariy ana
that the responsibility under SUCH
government should be- observed cvcu
by those who might doubt the Wisdom.
Of the proposed action.
The result was that tho leaders iu
the Senate and IN tho House consult
Cd the executive and together tho,-
formulated the policies 70 bc followed.
Quite frequently no doubt. the execu-
tive in some Instances urged. and ner-
haps imposed. his sicws on the ccu-
gressional leaders; but invariablV
these men, returned 70 the capitol o.
carry out the decision reached AZ tho
conference and the members Of thsc
party in the senate and House, recor-
nizing the necessity % responsible
action, supported them in their en-
deavors
Then came a reform. or it var
heraldcd. in the conduct Of tho IIouS.
i Of Representatives, The power -
action, which had largely rested with
the speaker and through him with the
committee on rules. was taken away
and divided among committees. The
iresult--and I think il has been clearly
dernonstratet---is that IL Is Impossible
to get the type Of legislative action
which comes from party regularity
and responsibility"
Il can recall said Mr.. Weeks. "in
the days of socaIled 'Cannouisrl .
when Mr. Cannon was called a car. 90
would have been any other man or
strength filling the speakers chan
onder those conditions. thar the
speaker found ways. perhaps leei,i-
mate, under the rules. 10 prevent th..
/ enactment OF a vast amount u per-
sonal and irresponsible legislation.
More than that. ne had the power. and
( be used it. 10 prevent appropriations
intended Tor local purposes which
were not needed and which were not
; for the general good
''The slightest examination OF -n..
increase ir government ierislafiof
during the last fifteen years for tbs
ordinary requirements of the govern
ment viii indicate to what extent this
change in the method Of legislatire
has affected the treasury.
To my mind, the change has had
4 tendency 10 weaken effecti-e 20,
] ernment. has resulted in irresponsible
! legislation. prevented both parties
from carrying out pledges made il
their platforms. and. in time. viii di-
vide the legislative branch of groups.
each group champiouing a specieJ
cause, md we VIII see one group com
bininS with another 10 bring about o.
control Of legislative action in the in
tercst OF a particular faction.
While We may not degenerate 10
the level OF some countries in this re-
spect. carried to its logical conclusion
we may eventually find ourselves d.
vided into hostile factions or groups.
one class piundered by another. and
the country powerless ID defend or
maintain its interests, national or IN
ternat;onai7