The Colorado statesman., 1923-03-03


individual member investigators who
wanted to find out "all about It," and
to come back to tell the lawmakers
what they should do to help Europe.
Congress in all probability will have
long vacation from March 4, and
now It Is said that at least six con-
gressional parties will start out to see
the world but this time the members
will coniine themselves TO this side of
the Atlantic and to few places In the
Pacific. OF course it is wicked to call
these expeditions 'junkets," but there
are some fearless ones who are will
Ing to say that n wv of these lnves-
tigating and sightseeing parties are
promoted and carried through as much
for amusement as for constructive
business purposes.
Little criticism is heard of one of
the proposed journeys afield, or rather
asea, for the intent on of certain mem
bers In congress '1terested in naval
affairs and of officials of the Navy de-
partment is to take n ship bound for
southern waters and to witness the
maneuyers of the Atlantlc and Pacific
fleets in the Caribbean sea.
1t Is the intention of another con-
gresslonal investigating party to go to
Hawaii, there to look over the great
naval base at Pearl harbor and to
learn Of the progress on the great army
fortihcations which are intended to
protect the entrance TO the harbor
from the sea. 1t is expected that this
party will drop back" from Hawaii
to California to look over what is
known as the Alameda project. The
understanding is that the Mare island
base may be superseded eventually by
a new base at Alameda. If this
project ultimately is carried to con-
cluson the improve naval base in San
Francisco Bay Will represent cost Of
$150,000,0OO, and the claim is made
that 1t will be worth the money.
Will Study Reforestation.
A I nmittee of the United States
senate, it is understood, will travel
considerable distances in the western
and southern country to look into mat
ters relating to reforestation. There
always has been a ieeling in congress
that some of the forestry problems
could be settled if reforestatlon were
practiced in those places which, after
the first forests have been removed,
cannot be used readily for agricul-
valuable than tree raising Something
good, it is claimed, may come out Of
this proposed trip of the senators.
There was a time years ago when
congressional parties went forth with
the members of their families in tow.
Government ships always were avail
/ able if there was enough of business
tinge to the travelling proposition
seemingly to justify Uncle Sam in CIV
ing the members o. the parties quar-
ters on one Of his transports. 1t is
only fair to say that on these trips
the members paid for board for them
selves and families while on the ves-
lsels, but of course their transportation
was free, and as Uncle Sam charges
very moderate boarding house rates
on his transports the trips didn't cost
much.
Many of the real junketing features
and ship voyages. There was much
criticism in the past of things that
were done, and as result the plans
for the trips are now hedged about
with precautionary pecuniary arrange
ments, and congressman can start out
without fearing such heavy brOadsides
of criticism as were hurled at them in
the past.
Taft's Famous Journey.
Perhaps the most famous journey of
congressman and others ever taken
was that which was known as the Taft
Philippine trip in the year 1904 or
thereabouts. There were great many
members of congress who thought 1t
was only right-aEd perhaps it was
that the lawmakers should know at
first hand what wcs happening in the
Philippines, so with their families and
with considerable number of friends
they started for the Orient under the
leadership of William Howard Taft,
who then was secretary of war.
This party not only went TO the
Philippines, but to Japan, China and
Corea. A government transport was
provided but everybody paid his board
bill. There were Republicans and
Democrats in the party in about equal
numbers, and inasmuch as there
seemed to be a general feeling that
congress ought to know something
definite about the East at that time,
there was not much adverse comment
from the press or the people of the
country on the plan of the voyage
OF course the great trip of the com
ing summer will be that of President