Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-03-25
SATURDAY EVENING. MARCH rs. lsa2.
EVENTS OF A WEEK.

AAS sASAAA VI ARoAS ~ AlSNAooIOI - Liz IOdA
power treaty was ended on Friday by the conclusive
vote of 81 to ~ in favor of ratification. This places
control OF the treaty again in the hands of the execu-
tive, and there remain only the formal acceptances
OF the other powers and the exchange of ratifica-
lions in accordance with the usual custom. The
vote in favor OF the treaty was fully as large as any
OF its advocates seemed to expect, and there is nat
urally great satisfaction in administration circles.
This treaty is the first to be submitted of those
originating m the arms conference and relating di-
.rectly to the work of that conference. The zap treaty
with japan was a separate matter, although involv-
ing some of the same considerations that entered
into other treaties. The four-power treaty was re-
garded as the one which gave vitality to the whole
group. 1t created the conditions which made the
limitation of armament and the regulations for it's
use possible. Without it the other treaties would
never have reached the stage of acceptance, and
even if they had been accepted it is quite certain
that without the treaty providing for the mainte-
nance OF peace in the Pacific their duration would
have been p~roblematca1.
During the entire course of the debate not a
single real argument was made against the rat6ca-
ton of this treaty. The discussion has been a most
discreditable exhibition in which, lacking other ma
!terial, the opponents of ratification have hurled
iepithets and personal accusations, accusing the men
who negotiated the treaty alternately as incompe-
tents and traitors, and, in the charge that secret
agreements with foreign powers had been made and
were withheld from the country involving not only
the conference delegates but the president, without
whose guilty knowledge such agreements could not
have been made.
While the senate was preparing for its vote on
this treaty, to be followed presently by the other
conference treaties in order, the house passed the
bonus bill by a vote of 1913 to 70, the passage of the
bill by an overwhelming majority had been fore
cast, hence the result has occasioned no surprise.
While the action of the house was taken for granted.
the future course of the measure is in doubt. The
bill as it stands is directly contrary to the recon-
mendation of the president, who, in his communica-
ton to congress on the subject, warned against the
passage of aIbonus bill without providing the reve-
hue out OF which to make payment. In that mes
sage the president suggested some form of sales tax
tas a desirable means for raising the needed money,
and he suggested further that if congress was not
| ready to levy such a tax, bonus legislation should
BE postponed.
The president has since said that he had seen
no reason to change his mind on the subject, and
there are many who feel confident that if the bill
reaches him in his form he will veto it. Others
hold that If the senate should follow the house the
president would sign the bill, giving to the country
to understand that the responsibility rests on con
,gress. There seems to be small chance that the bill
amendment. Among the possibilities are that the
bill will linger indefinitely in the hands of the
finance committee; that the senate will attach a
sales tax provision to it; and that provision will be
made for the diversion of bonds representing for
elgn indebtedness to the financing of the bonus.
/! Whatever the ultimate fate of the bill may be it is
quite certain that there will be no action on it for
some time. Pressing for attention are the remain
ing conference treaties and a number of urgent ap-
preparation bills, army and navy bills, and the tariff
bill upon which the senate has not yet acted.
+ + = 4
Sentiment in favor Of limitation of armament
and in favor of economy are being marshalled in
support OF the movement for the reduction of army
ord xoa1y,y- ~e~- So -~.-L e.. ~ +. ~
authorities deem wise or safe. The present pros
pect is for action cutting the size of the army to
$4,000 men and OF the navy to $1,000. Authorities
on these two subjects maintain that it is impossible
to reduce the army below 125,O0o and the navy be-
low $4,000 without serious impairment of the eff
siency of each, but it seems quite probable that
these reductions will be authorized by congress.
45SM - +
The American refusal to participate in the
Genoa conference has lessened interest in that gath.
ering to some extent, but as the time for the meet
ing approaches there is speculation on the course
that it will take. The Russian Soviet government
Isl hoping for both economic and political advantage
on account OF this meeting, and this feature alone
commands attention. Premier Poincare of France
has never been enthusiastic for the conference
will not attend in person, the reason advanced beine
that as President Minerand will be absent at tina
Isl time on a mission relating to French possession.
sbeypnd the Mediterranean, the premier should re
s. rRsin Az home.
S Premier Lloyd George Of Great Britain, who's,
reeiigTation was by many believed quite certain Il
sexof(rre id the immediate future, has announced his in
seIafiop of attending the 6enas conference, and tn,
H&&ifaiH q Vie hasis tor III appeal fnf continued sup
OK 1ta coalition administration N Is regardee
EpyebsAast haf sometime before TIE conference III,
SIfl&0Sn1ie NH Tier and rereiye A vote Of confidence
~ wreck BIZ admiaistsation