Evening star., 1923-07-23
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

Statesmen who nave been legislating
for decades upon topics closely re-
lated to European conditions-the
tariff and international relations. for
example-have decided that they
should really get into touch with
| conditions which have been inspiring
them. from afar. for. 10, these many
years.
Has there ever been such a hegira
of senators and representatives to
Europe as has been noted this sum-
for Senator Brookharts extra ses-
sion of Congress to be held some
where in France" amidst the scenes
made famous when the American ex-
peditionary forces were located there.
** x
Or. an extra session might be held
on the Leviathan while crossing. SO
no time would be lost. Another SEN
ator, with his family. is TO cross the
Atlantic for the first time about Au-
gust. When he returns. after a few
weeks of rapid transit from hotel to
hotel, with an occasional dinner or
banquet rendered him. in token of
respect for his official position. how
| much will have been added to his
actual knowledge of European condi-
tions. This is no disparagement to
the senator's open mind.
How much have any of the official
tourists been able to get, in the way
of first-hand information. in their
| rapid visits of sightseeing? Every
one has come back with his own pre-
conceptions confirmed. for, in super
ficial visits, it is impossible to shunt
ones prejudices, and see actual con-
ditions with impartial interpreta-
tion.
When steamships bring would be
immigrants across the ocean in ex-
| cess of the quotas allowed by law, the
ships are required to refund the pas
sage money, take the passenger home
and pay a fine. One company this
month will lose $4,000 for bringing
400 extra passengers, barred by the
quota law.
A cable inquiry on the day of sailing
might prevent any MISUNDERSTANDING
| has frequently been recommended by
| the Department of Labor, all candi-
| dates for admission might be exam
ined and certified as to eligibility by
our consuls before they leave their
native land Both the steamship
companies and the United States gov
ernment are charged with being dere-
| lict in the gross injustice to immi-
grants permitted to make vain jour
neys across the ocean.
+ 4 * 4
1t has been charged that for every
alien admitted to this country legal
I " tU- 40 rfrTa n
in Illegally. 1t is urged by the chair
man OF the committee on Americana
zation OF the Washington Lions that
all aliens be required to register, and
that, once Il year, aliens should be
checked up. and those who cannot
prive registry and legitimate entrance
be transported. What complications
would arise in the checking up oil
aliens year after year, when thou
sands move from place to place. has
not been discussed. Even orientals
have given considerable trouble in
the checking up.
i: :: = i
Scopolemin may be capable of help
Ing Texans tell the straight story
when they go a-tishing, but the drug
Will never be admitted in a District
of Columbia court OF justice. in spite
of the claims Of the Texas doctor
who discussed its use recently be-
fore the American Medical Society.
Both doctors and lawyers Of Wash
ington condemn the drug as unre-
liable and Illegal. 1t intoxicates the
victim, and may make him garrulous
az whisky affects some, but there
is no assurance that what he says
has any relation to truth. Besides. the
United States Constitution prohibits the
conviction of any man on any charge.
through his own evidence, forced
out Of him. or given when he Is not
in full possession of his mental facul-
ties. To convict man OF crime on
| the basis of his maudlin utterances
while drunk, would be equivalent to
using scopolemin and taking note
of his gibberish. according to the
doctors.
Every man is innocent of crime
until evidence eXtraneous to himself
proves the guilt, unless hc voluntarily
confesses.
X x X (
writer in 4 weekly Of national
circ llation argues in favor of the