The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1924-02-21

concerning men In hlgn places nave
side-tracked important legislative
measures. The charges OF an IN
visible government" the Senate res
olution demanding the resignation
of a Cabinet officer, the unfounded
rumor concerning the late President
Harding, intimations of plots to
prevent the development OF Alaska,
all contributed to the unsavory pot
pourri of political scandal. These
items have overshadowed the mark,
ed partisanship which has developed
with the beginning OF debate on
the tax reduction bill. There was
an urgent and compelling demand for
constructive legislative measures
which grew in volume until the Tea,
not Dome affair, like hydra-headed
monster of fiction, sent everybody
to cover with a demand for the pro-
lection of the taxpayer and the pros
ecution of present and former pub
lie servants identified with graft
measures.
Not even President Coolidge's defl-
milton of his policies in speech at
New York could divert the public IN
terest in the political mess which mas
cropped out of the oil lease matter.
The Presidents speech was taken as
tbe beginning of his campaign for he.
publican nomination. Cognizant OF
the Importance of the oil invesuga-
tion. Mr.. Coolidge made it clear that
he would prosecute without tear or
favor" His speech, in the main, was
an qualification of his first presl-
dental address to Congress, and
stronp hid for popular favor. Inc
nosition taken by the President IN
refusing to follow the request OF the
Senate. which called for the reslgna-
fion of the Secretary of the Navy
DENLY, has provoked Senate Leaders.
Mr.. Coolidge stated that the Senate
had no right to invade the Executives
prerogative in regard to the members
of his Cabinet. 1t is believed that
the Senate could not produce sufn-
Gent evidence to warrant the I'M
peachment of Secretary of the Navy
Denby. The principal charge against
him has been deficiency of Judgment
rather than personal gain In connec-
ton with the leasing of naval oil re-
serves to private interests.
The tax bill, which is now in the
House, will undoubtedly be amended
considerably before it is reported to
the Senate. Republican leaders ad-
init that they cannot marshal the nee
essary votes to bring about the en-
actment of the Administration bill
without revision. The so-called in
surgent Republicans with II votes
have indicated that they will join
with the Democratic minority to IN
crease the surtax rate from 20 to oO
per cent. Realizing the political
value of the tax bill, the feeling pre-
walls that provisions will be made Tor
immediate reductions to be made on
income tax returns for 1928. Secre-
tary Mellon himself has approved this
plan.
Relatively few bills have been in
troduced during the week due, per-
haps, to the pressure OF othef al
fairs. Many legislators who are un-
equipped to speak extemporaneouSl
or generally known for their DIS
play of mediocrity in oratory, take
refuge in the privilege OF EXTENSION
of remarks" This concession Which
allows members of Congress to write
speeches and print them in the Con
gressional Record without actual de-
livery before the House and Senate
is somewhat deceptive in that copies
of the Record sent to constituents In
various congressional districts give
the impression that the speeches are
masterpieces and that the Congress
men are real orators. Sentiment mas
developed in Congress OF late to stamp
out this practice insofar as possloles
in order to save the expense OF
printing undelivered speeches.
It is believed that the House will
vote on the Muscle Shoals proposals
after the tax bill is sent to the Senate.
Republican leaders had originally
planned to consider the immigration
bill after the tax debate, but pres
sure has been brought to bear from
agricultural communities which gives
Muscle Shoals measures the right of
way. The bonus bill will probably
follow the proposed immigration law
in the House, with departmental ap-
preparations bills sandwiched be-
tween these proposals.
p
Anther investigation was author
lied this week when the Senate unan-
imously adopted resolution to con-
duct an inquiry into charges of fraud
ulent land operations in the lower Rio
Grande Valley in Texas. There is
also talk Of investigating the Ship
ping Board and Emergency Fleet
Corporation.
Representative King, Republican of
Illinois, introduced a resolution call
ing for an investigation by the Bank
ing Committee Of the House into the
affairs of the Department of Justice
and the Treasury Department, rela-
tive to duplication of Government Sc
curities at the Bureau of Engraving.
Chairman Sinnott, Republican, of
Oregon, introduced a resolution at
the request of Secretary of Agricul-
ture Wallace, for an investigation in
to land grants for the Northern Pa
cific Railroad.
The bill of Senator Harris, of
Georgia, Democrat, providing for a
five-year suspension of all immigra-
ton, was rejected by the Senate I'm
migration Committee.
The Ways and Means Committee
OF the House decided to postpone ac-
ction on the soldiers bonus measure
until the tax bill was passed in the