The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-06-10

contest in 1917 and 1918, and with
satisfaction in the thought that
for insurance, for the care Of the
injured and the sick and for their
training and betterment we are
expanding an amount which in
one year reached almost $50 mil.
lions of dollars, there was a sub.
stantial minority in Congress
who sought to sustain the Presi-
dent. But the bonus act is now
the law of the land. Conditions
created by it must be met and
Its provisions must be willingly
accepted.
A constitutional amendment has
passed the Senate providing for
the beginning of the terms of
the President and of Members of
Congress early in January fol-
lowing the November election.
There is certainly an incongruity
in the present interval between
election and induction into office
This lengthy period was based
upon conditions existing in the
century before the last, when
means of communication were so
limited. Under the law as it now
stands it would be possible for
an outgoing administration, prior
to the 4th of March, to prevent
or very seriously impede its sue
cessor from accomplishing the
purposes for which the people
elected 1t. President Mckinley
advocated this change in his
inaugural of 1897.
Relief for President.
One urgent reform demanded
is that the President be relieved
Of part of his most exacting
duties. A constitution of iron
can hardly bear up under the
strain imposed upon the Chief
Magistrate. There could he no
more practical step in accomplish.
ing this than to diminish the
demands upon his time for the
settlement of questions Of patron
age. This great framework Of
government was not devised for
the dispensation of the flesh pots
of office. The mighty problems
of nation in it's foreign and
domestic affairs, the decision of
AAAdcS LlIS veal WO0 10
tens of millions, are enough to
absorb the attention Of any
statesman.
Nor is the distracting influence
or patronage confined to the
executive department alone. Leg
islators, whose time could be
more profitably employed in the
making of laws apd establishing
policies for the Nation, lose mucn
of their time and subject them
selves to constant irritation from
the same source. An extension
of the merit system is urgently
needed and this is especially true
in view of the enormous increase
of Federal employees.
In the relation Of the economic
activities of the people to thAil
government three methods are
possible.
/. The old and now discarded
theory of giving to private initia.
tive free and untrammeled ply
laissez faire as it is called.
2. The control and management
of central government with all
the incidents of public ownership
and operation. To this there must
be fatal objection, for II woul0
threaten the rule of bureaucra "
with it's deadening influence and
interference In every home, ara
the destruction of that personal
initiative which with restless
energy has unclaimed the whecls
of progress and given our country
it's foremost position.
3. A third and more rational
course presents itself in sane
regulation, based upon wise leg.
islation and administration, re.
pressing the power of great cor.
porations or combinations Of any
type. which else might threaten
to overshadow the state itsAlf,
and with equal care guarding
against the evils of unrestrained
competition.
Equal Opportunity.
Let us secure for every inil.
vidual the greatest possible
equality Of opportunity and leave
to the States and minor political
divisions a broad field Of activity
in their proper sphere. Thus we
shall avoid an unwieldy Genital