davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1922-07-02

| confined to sewing machines. while
the other has to do only with gov
ernment purchase of rail equipment,
SO the field is very limited
Need Is Apparent.
1t may be long time before laws
governing conditions sales-which
provide that the title remain with
the seller until the product is nearly
paid for--are adopted in South Amer
lean republics. But the need there
for purchases on the dollar down and
dollar a week" principle are as great
if not greater than in the United
States. Virtually all of the business
in farm machinery in this country is
transacted on a partial payment basis
There are hundreds of farmers today
who would not own the reaper or the
moving machine or planter so necessary
in the conduct of their business if they
were not allowed to pay for it in small
installments. In South America agri-
culture will play a large part in the
development of many of the repub-
lies, and agriculture cannot be con-
Quoted successfully lacking the
proper tools and implements. There
is "a vast market, therefore, for
American agricultural machinery in
South America. but under present
conditions its purchase by hundreds
of farmers who need it is impossible
because of the comparatively large
outlay of capital necessary at the
start. Agricultural machinery is
only one of the products which those
familiar with the situation believe
would be brought nearer the reach
of the ultimate consumer by an In
stallment payment plan.
Not Pressing the Matter.
The American section of the COM
! mission has simply started the ball
rolling in the right direction. BY an
infinite amount of labor and with
painstaking care. the American laws
governing conditional sales have been
translated with suitable explanations
for the use Of the other sections of
the commission. There has been
nothing in the form of a suggestion
that the other sections take the mat
ter up, for such falls without the
province of the United States section
But working in this manner the inter-
American high commission has
brought about the passage of stand
ard laws on other subjects among a
number of the American republics.
and there is no reason why the pres
ent movement should not be success
full after suitable length of time.
Anything that sayors of stand
ardization" makes Mr.. Hoover smile
with bliss. and the present plan of
the United States section carries his
full Endorsement.
Evening star., 1922-07-02
Seats in Congress for the Cabinet
Not Popular Idea ON Capitol Hill

, cabinet proposal for seats or the floor
can be found than Representative
Simeon D. Fess, just retired as chair
| man of the republican congressional
committee. which won an unprec-
edented republican control in both
| branches of Congress. and who has
been a lifelong student of govern
ment and the Constitution. He
points out that in a despotism all
/, three functions are exercised by the
| executive. In pure democracy alt
are exercised by the people. In
constitutional monarchy, like Eng
land, there is no such thing as an
| unconstitutional law.
The power that makes the law is the
only power that can set it aside.
Through gradual evolution the
executive in England has lost power
to the legislative. Long ago the king
became a mere figurehead. as he is
today. Through a series of years the
lords gradually lost power. while the
commons as gradually gained power
until today neither king nor lords
has much influence in legislation. In
other words. independent coordinate
powers exercising the three functions
| of government are no longer in vogue.
but have generally been absorbed by
| the commons.
Through a series of years there has
| developed the system of a RESPONSE
BILE ministry by which the commons
may be prorogued and it's decision re-
vised by referendum to the people
Three Are Kept Indepepdent.
Unlike any other country, the very
genius of the American system is
jealous respect for the strict inde-
pendence of the three coordinate de-
partments. Representative Fess en-
phasizes They are separate in char
acter of duty, in actual organizatio
and in practical administration. The
legislative department does not inter-
fere with the executive in his func-
tion to enforce the laws made by Con-
sTess in cooperation with the Presi-
dent in his signing or vetoing the
same. The executive does neither .di-
rect nor interfere with the proper
luHCllOH III WdhiHS the
laws which he Is to enforce, save his
signature and veto power. which may
be overridden by the lawmaking body.
The Constitution does authorize, il
not direct. him to give from time to
time information upon which legis-
lation is to be based.
The Supreme Court does not inter-
fere with either the legislative or
executive in the exercise of the func-
tions of each. 1t does not even give
in advance opinions on the constitu-
tionality of proposed legislation. Its
function Is that of an Independent CO.
OF dinate department of the govern
ment to interpret the laws of Con-
gress. This was its function from its
very inception From time to time
fugitive /. assaults have been made
upon the independence OF the judici-
ary as an element of danger. This is
contrary to the one feature which
distinguishes the American system
from all others and is believed to be
the basis of our respect for law which
is the sheet anchor of our liberties.
Evening star., 1922-07-02

employment
T Newspaper mail is being given spe-
cial attention and delays are being
checked up: the circulation of the
press has been improved; bureaus of
information and telephones have been
established at post Offices; construc-
tive criticism has been invited; post
masters have been urged to partici-
pate in civic affairs for the improve
, ment of the postal service. and meet
ings Of employees and postmasters in
conventions have been encouraged as
means of promoting personal con-
tact and interchange of ideas with
reference to service matters The as
sembly of postmasters for exchange
OF views is regarded as of so much
Importance that an order will soon
| issue from the Postma ster General
permitting them to do so on govern
ment time
The department sent representatives
to the postal convention at Buenos
Aires last September, which resulted
in greater facilities for commercial
development between the United
States and South American countries
One of the results will be, the estab-
i lishment of two-cent letter postage
with South American countries when
the treaties have been ratified.
Huge Sum Saved
On Stamped Envelopes.
Last year negotiations with the
stamp envelope contractors resulted
| in the cancellation of their existing
four-year contracts and new agree
! ment for the balance of the terms. 4
saving of S6.276.194SO was effected
through the assistance. of course of
our solicitor. Two hundred and fifty
! thousand dollars have been saved in
the purchase of supplies. and by bet
ter supervision of appropriations for
operating the service we have saved
$15.000.000 for the fiscal year just
closing.
One indication of this readjustment
of business is to be found in the pos
tai receipts. which began last No
For the succeeding months the gain
over tHe corresponding period OF the
previous year has been around per
cent until May. when it jumped to IA
per cent. The United States Stamped
Envelope Agency On June ., 1922,
reached the high-water mark in pro-
duction. when the output was 1856
900 envelopes. For six consecutive
weeks just previous to that date an
average of 100000 envelopes were
produced each day This shows that
the business man. who uses the
greater number of these envelopes, is
preparing to share in the tremendous
business revival.
The postal business of the United
States has doubled in the past ten
years. Very few new post office
buildings have been erected during
the past eight years. and they most
in the south. where the minimum in
crease in business has occurred. Our
parcel post has increased from per
cent to 64 per cent of our total busi-
ness since 1913.
Evening star., 1922-07-02

Representative Fess calls attention
that ANY movement to break down
an independent judiciary to make i
subservient to any interest would he
| tantamount to its abolition. SO far as
| its function in our system of govern
ment goes
Encroachments by Executives.
He recalls that for years there has
been a tendency to extend executive
function over the Legislative. In war
time this is inevitable and need not
be looked upon as significant But
this tendency has not been confined
| to time of war. Cleveland took
| longer steps than any of his prede-
cessors in peace time. This was fol-
| lowed by Roosevelt. who did not hest
| tate to use what was commonly
| known as the big stick But no
man ever approached the extent to
which Wilson went even before the
| opening of the world war. 1t was
| principle with him and not merely
incidental" according to Representa-
tive Fess.
ii
listen" sign of danger ahead for those
| of the republican leadership who are
giving the proposal for cabinet seats
in Congress the recognition of
cabinet consideration. He points out
that this attempted executive control
of the Legislative branch, popular
with much of the press of the coun-
7 ;a11 he
went so far that, it became a domin-
ant thought of the country and was
the leading plank in the republican
national platform in 1920. as follows:
1--WE undertake to end executive
autocracy and restore to the people
their constitutional government"
Confusing to Party Leaders.
Then Representative Fess whose
counsel is sought and given unusua
weight in party matters-says: in
the light of this pledge and the un-
controverted verdict by the people.
we read with some confusion state
, ment from a cabinet member refer
ring to the President taking charge
of the direction of legislation"
He explains that it has ever been
the practice for the executive to give
information, by messages written or
spoken, or by letters to chairmen of
committees. or in conferences with
leaders, on matters of legislation.
| Even this practice. especially in
writing letters on legislation at the
behest of cabinet member or bu-
reau chief to a member of the legis-
lative branch, is losing its prior force.
The official recognition of the sug-
gestion of cabinet members that they
be given seats in the two chambers
will doubtless receive further atten-
tion. 1t will be considered in the
light of the present tendencies"
AS indicating the reluctance of
Congress to change the fundamental
principles of this government. Rep
reseptative Fess says: 1T is a perth
nent question to ask how far from
the moorings of our founding prin-
ciples can we safely sail? AS Lincoln
once said: We should accept new
! views when they are true views
That should be our guide in our con-
sideration of the new proposals for
further extending executive influence
oyer the legislative function"
Evening star., 1922-07-02
ATTN America May Get US. Products
Needed and Pay on lnstallment Plan

| interesting in that it is the first
step toward obtaining the interest
and cooperation of Latin American
republics in a plan which it is be-
lieved would prove as successful in
wholesale foreign trade as it has
proved itself to be in the domestic
retail business of this country. The
American section of the commission
is simply bringing the matter to the
attention Of foreign governments by
showing them the methods used here
and pointing to its success as an in
dication of it's value.
Operate Against Exporters.
There are three principal factors
advantage of American exporters to
Latin America One is the adverse
exchange rate. which has favored Eu-
ropean business. Another is the fact
that. aside from the rate of exchange,
goods are manufactured cheaper in
Europe than in the United States and
their cost price is lower than that
necessarily fixed by American manu-
facturers. The third is the lack OF
capital with which to buy what we
have to sell. Those who have studied
the conditional sales system believe it
would prove partial remedy, at
least. for most of this difficulty. Pro-
vided there were laws in Latin Amer
lean republics to protect the exporter
in the United States. as we'll as the
consumer in South America. there is
no reason why American exporters
could not sell to wholesale merchants
In Latin America on a modification of
what is known in retail business as
! the ''installment plan" The system
would. in turn. be extended down the
line through the retail merchant In
South America and to the ultimate
consumer. This would naturally OBJ
yiate the necessity for a large out
lay of capital in the beginning and
would put American products within
| the reach of many, as has been done
in the United States. who otherwise
would be forced to forego their pur-
chase. In turn. American importers
would be able to buy Latin American
products on the same system.
|. Sewing Machine Pioneer.
Conditional sales are little known in
Latin America. 1t is true that one
American company whose particular
product fs sewing machines has been
able to draw UP contract worded in
such q way as to enable it to sell in
Latin America on system closely
resembling that which has sold so
many millions of sewing machines in
the United States. And in Brazil a
abled the government to purchase
railway equipment But the one Is
Evening star., 1922-07-02
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

| ~ ONGRESS views askance the
proposal recently considered at
~ cabinet meeting that mem
bers of the cabinet should take
unto themselves seats on the
| floor of Congress when specified mat
ters are under consideration 1t is
viewed as almost certain to undermine
the basic principle of independence in
tine three functions of government.
which in the United States have been
| kept distinct as in no other government.
Leaders of the republican majority in
Congress construe it as in direct oppo-
sition to one of the pricipal pledges in
the republican national platform in 1920,
and those who have heard from back
| home" on this subject find the people
are opposed to any intrusion of the
executive branch of the government
upon the legislative function.
This proposal to give cabinet mem
| bers seats on the floor. where they may
participate in legislation. is not new
| 1t has been a subject of discussion in
academic circles, political conferences
and legislative counsels. Recommends
tions have been made by students of
political science and government and
have many times reached the stage
where bills we're introduced in Congress.
But it has never been a subject of seri-
ous "a hinet consideration until recently.
Given New importance.
/ S:.o. confederation of the pro-
posal to extend its sphere of influence.
coming so close on the heels of the
quite unusual (and much censureO
statement of Secretary Weeks in pub
lie address on the low ebb' of Con-
eress. reinforced by frequent complaints
against the legislative branch Of the
government for what is interpreted as
an Indifferent attitude toward the re-
quests of cabinet members for additional
assistance, brings the subject beyond
the stage of mere speculation.
Macaulay, boasted in his history Of
England that the American system Of
government was borrowed from Eng
land. He asserted that there was
nothing new that had not been taken
from the EnSilSH HOuSc VI SoihhAoHS'
viscount Bryce was more fortunate
in his comment when he pointed out
the we'll known and recognized fact
that the United States was unlike
any government in history in that
it maintained an independence in its
three coordinate functions. @
Ours is the only outstanding gov
ernment which has preserved the
principle of independence in the three
functions Of government. recogniz-
ing, as Blackstone in classic ut
terance declared, the necessity of in
telligence to make the laws, good
will to interpret them and power to
enforce them-legislative. judicial
and executive. While all govern
ments exercise these three functions.
and in that respect are alike, the diff
ference between them lies in the re-
lation of these functions.
Legislature Rules England.
Probably no one better qualified to
speak the views Of Congress on this
Evening star., 1922-07-02

been associated in the public
| mind with river and lharbor
appropriations and with appropriations
| for public buildings, contained in legis-
| lative and appropriation acts of Con-
/ gress. 1t appears now that the Navy
not the seagoing Navy. but the man
agement on land of the Navy Depart
| ment, with its hundreds of stations for
this, that and the other thng-is to
occupy the limelight as a purveyor of
pork. And as in the case of the rivers
| and harbors and public buildings
pork" the charge will be made that
members of Congress intent upon get
| ting all they can for their districts in
! the way of federal appropria tions have
been the chief offenders.
Senator Mccormick of Illinois. repub
lican. is leading the assault upon the
distribution of pork" through the naval
appropriations. He took prominent
part in the debates on the Navy appro-
priation bill. recently passed. which
carried in the neighborhood of $500, ,000,-
900. calling attention TO many of the
items for shore stations, some of which
have been increased over the appropria-
tions of last year.
Proposal for Inquiry
Into Naval .POrk."
Finally. he introduced in the Senate a
resolution providing for the appoint
ment of a special joint committee of
Congress to investigate the entire ques-
ton of the management of the Navy
ashore and the shore stations. He had
no criticism to make of the manage
ment of the Navy at sea. This resolu-
ton was blocked when it was presented
, and unanimous consideration was re-
quested by Senator Dial of South Caro-
lima. 1t went to the Senate naval af-
fairs committee. But now it is under
stood that the resolution is to be re-
ported out with the approval Of that
committee, and that Assistant Secre-
tary Roosevelt of the Navy has indi-
Gated that the department itself is de-
sirous of having consultations made in
connection with shore stations, where
tney can De mace duFdHldSeouSiS ana
with resulting economy. With a favor
able report from the naval affairs COM
| mittee, it is to be expected that the
resolution will be adopted by the Sem
ate and that the House will follow suit.
Senator Mccormick halls from one
of the great middle west states. But
his state contains the Great Lake s
naval training station, where the
men who enlist in the Navy from the
interior states have gone for train
ing in the past In years gone By.
1t is said, approximately half of the
recruits for the Navy have hailed
from the interior states, but recently
Evening star., 1922-07-02

Navy personnel has been cut down.
But the pruning hook must be laid
upon the shore stations, too, It is lo..
contended
Again 1t is emphasized that il is
not the desire Of the supporters of
this move for economy in admins
tration to famstring the Navy They
I believe in the Navy, and MIR. McCor-
mick has so indicated many times
by his votes in the Senate.
States Wanted TO Keep
Their Army Posts.
Years ago, when the Indians
thronged the frontiers of the coun-
try, Army posts were established in
many places. After the Indians had
been destroyed or rounded up and
placed on reservations, the states in
which these posts were located still
clung to them. 1t was a way to get
some of the federal appropriations.
Members of Congress were slow to
admit these posts not needed. There
have been controversies in the past.
too. as to THE navy yards of the
country. and much rivalry between
yards should be located At present
along the Atlantic coast from Key
West to Kittery Point the states are
dotted with ammunition depots,
guarded by marines. torpedo stations.
navy yards and other naval stations
North Carolina is an exception, il is
said. in this list of constituencies
having naval stations. Many such
stations are found the length of the
Pacific coast also The committees
on naval affairs of the Senate and
House are for the most part made up
of men who come from the coast
states. and not unnaturally they do
not like to have the naval stations in
their districts and states disturbed,
Great Navy Yards
Must Be Maintained
Navy can do away with the great
navy yards which have been con-
structed at Boston, Philadelphia,
Washington and elsewhere. They
must be maintained if there is to be
navy. But the myriad of naval
stations along the coast can well be
reduced, it is said. and the activities.
if needed, consolidated about the
larger yards and depots
Nor is it to be expected that the
naval appropriations for the United
States will be reduced now to a fig
ure comparable with the appropria-
tions before the war in view of the
size of the Navy which the country
is to maintain under the treaty
agreements-when they are ratified
by all the nations. But it must be
remembered that in 1918 the appro-
priations totaled s123,Ooo,0oo and in
1915 only $4,000, 900. or one-half
what they are for the next fsca!
year.
Evening star., 1922-07-02

w ts:rs:;':s ts: s:'::s ss:::: s; s.; e. ::
ernment is becoming
rapidly also the hub of American
business.
lust as the President and the
members of the cabinet meet In
executive conference to determine
the policies of a. great nation.
heads of the country's leading
financial, industrial and CONNER
cial organizations are favoring the
National Capital as the meeting
place best adapted for outlining
the course of American business
Here, in regular conventions. the
fundamental steps which are des-
tined to make this country the
business center of the world are
being planned, by men who control
the activities of large agricultural,
railroad, lumber. real estate, con-
struction, commercial and similar
interests. Ethics are defined.
progress is noted, programs of
work are drawn up, rehabilitation
plans are discussed; for WASH
tngton. loosing the bonus of in
Evening star., 1922-07-02
BY HUBERT WORK.
Postmaster General.

TIME principle function of the
Postmaster General is to see
that a hundred million people
are served daily with fidelity
and the greatest dispatch of which
human ingenuity is capable. The
great postal system of the country,
manned by nearly half million
workers-willinG and satisfied work
ers-constitutes what might be termed
the greatest business institution on
earth. But. unlike other business
concerns, it functions not for profit.
laudation or self -glorification. but
with the sole object of rendering that
Intimately personal service for which
II was created and to which the public
is entitled.
Frequently l am asked to discuss.
IN all its ramifcations. matters relat-
ing to the economic business admin
istration of the postal service. When
the present administration took
charge il was found that what had
come to be the worlds greatest busi-
r.ss was being operated in some re-
S~ects on unbusiness-like principles
and the public had become dissatis-
fed with an institution whose ineff1-
ciant operation was matter of daily
concern to them. President Harding's
administration had pledged itself to
more business in government and
l-ss government in business. and the
officials appointed in the Post Ofhce
department throughout the nation
were consequently charged with
Carrying out these policies.