The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-03-20

perts in physical research as special
ly commissioned liason agents. Both
committees are making much ado
over the personal affairs of the late
Jesse Smith, an intimate friend of
Daugherty, and the late Jake Ham,
mon, once political parsonage in
Oklahoma.
1t is easily shown that the majority
Of the testimony taken in these hear
iugs is prevalent and would be dis
carded in an actual court case. I'm
fortunately, the reading public does
not sift the evidence for facts and
forms erroneous conclusions from
hearsay. These inquiries are sup
posedly bipartisan so that no one
party can be held wholly response
BILE. Washington has become the
Nations whispering gallery" and
there is much talk of intrigue but lit
tie proof is offered. 1t is a sorry
commentary upon the intelligence of
responsible legislators that their ac-
tivities should have a corroding eff
feet upon public confidence. Rumor,
it has been said, is dangerous be-
cause the word is no longer evanes-
cent breath but fastened end fixed by
types and print.
That the investigators are more de-
sirous of holding public interest and
increasing their own popularity is
obvious from the program adopted by
the Observation-Disclosures committee. 1t
is customary to conduct hearings dur
ing the morning hour In order that
the members of Congress may give
their attention to problems. before the
House or the Senate in the afternoon.
The newest Senate committee depart
ed from this practice obviously for
TIE purpose of obtaining the fullest
publicity to their activities. Hearings
OF the Senate Public Lands COM
mittee into the Teapot Dome affair
are held during the morning and the
accounts of these proceedings lind
their way into the headlines Of the
evening daily newspapers. Messrs
Wheeler and Brookhart realize ap-
parently their Investigation" would
not obtain the prominence they de-
sired because of the competition for
space with the Teapot Dome story.
It was strategic move on their part
to conduct the hearings in the after
noon in order to receive the same at
tention and personal publicity from the
morning papers that the Teapot Dome
had been given in the afternoon edi-
tons. The zeal they have manifested
in their announced effort to prove ir-
Irregularities and inefficiency may be
reasonably questioned for the play fol
spotlights is nothing unusual as
"every mortal longs for his parade.
place.
The defeat of the Norbeck-Burt.
ness Farm Aid bill in the Senate in.
dicates that there will be little, if any
Legislative aid given to farmers as a
class. Several measures for relief in
drought-stricken areas have already
been passed but agricultural legisla-
ton in general received a severe
setback with the rejection of this
proposal to appropriate $50,000,00C
as a loan fund to finance farmers in
the purchase of live stock and in di-
versifcation of crops. 1t is said that
the failure of this bill to pass in the
Senate indicates the waning power OF
the so-called "farm bloc" The rep
resentatives from agricultural dis
tricts contend, however, that the bill
was beaten because of the belief that
it extended special favors to four
states. The bill was rejected by a
bipartisan vote, despite the fact that
it was one Of the few measures pro-
posed for agricultural relief which
met with the approval of President
Coolidge.
Many observes profess to note in
this case reaction against paternal-
ism. While it is highly desirable for
political purposes that Congress
should assume the responsibility for
farm relief measures, the opinion pre-
walls that the existing agencies of
the government have sufficient power
and funds to cope with any situation.
During the debate in the Senate it
was brought out that the opposition
to the bill was based on the belief
that the taxpayers as a whole should
not be obliged to pay for govern
mental assistance to certain groups
of farmers.
/ Another measure relating to agri-
culture, which provoked some dis
cussion during the week, concerned
cotton grading. The bill was intro
duced by Senator Dial, OF South Car
Dina. The Senator charged that his
measure was being "chloroformed''
by the Senate Agricultural committee.
-
The House has disposed of the
Muscle Shoals project through the
enactment of the Mckenzie bill,
which provides for the acceptance
of Henry Ford's offer. The orig
inal bill was amended in the House
and will probably be revised by the
Senate committee. Two identical
bills provided for the conservation of
great national resources through the
linking up of the Muscle Shoals,
Bolder Canyon, and the Colorado
River power projects, were introduced
by Senator Norris, of Nebraska, and
Representative Kellar, of Minnesota.
This legislation contemplates the OPP
Grafton of these establishments under
government control to produce and
sell electricity, fertilizer, and nitrates
for explosives on cost basis.
o.
The question of radio regulation
has hean discussed simultaneously