Evening star., 1925-03-08
The World Court.

In addltlon TO Its legislative duties
the Senate of the United States passes
upon all treaties with foreign nations
before they become effective, and 1t
confirms nominations of high execu.
tive and judicial officers appointed by
the President. 1t cannot legislate or
attend to legislative business in the
absence of the House. But it can, and
does, transact executive business
the consideration of nominations and
treaties without respect to. the House
or its being in session.
The Senate is now in special ses-
sion, without the House 1t is able
to devote its whole time and atten-
tion TO foreign affairs and such nonni-
nations as the President may send to
it. For that reason proponents of the
adherence of the United States to the
World Court are urging that the pro-
tocol providing for such adherence be
taken up and disposed of at this time.
From the standpoint of the trans.
action of public business, it would ap-
pear that the consideration of the
world Court protocol should proceed
during the present session of the SEN
ate. 1t is matter that will lead un-
doubtedly TO much debate. 1t is a mat
ter that very considerable number
OF the people are interested in. 1t is
a matter which was laid before the
Senate for its consideration and ap-
proval by the late President Harding
more than two years ago. President
Coolidge has in his MESA ges to Con.
gress and in his recent inaugural ad.
dress recommended favorable action
by the Senate on the protocol, with
reservations
with ample time at it's command
the Senate might we'll tackle this,
problem and dispose of it, one way or
another. II it be put off again until
the regular session of the Congress,
the Senate will, with the House, face
the need OF framing and putting
= through a large program of legisla-
ton. Congress, meeting then, for the
first time since it's election, will be
called upon to translate into law the
pledges given by the Republicans dur.
ing the campaign. This program will
include many domestic matters of
great importance-tax reduction and
reform, farm legislation, railroad
legislation, etc. 1t may well be that
the World Court proposal would again
he sidefrackad - a1louad 70 os~o n,,>-
now until December. There will be
demand by Congress to get away from
Washington by June or July, 1925.
Another campaign will be under way.
Tentative plans have been made to
consider during the present session
the treaty with Cuba regarding the
sovereignty OF the Isle of Pines and
the treaty with Turkey-the treaty of
Lausanne. There has been talk. too,
of Senator Borah, chairman Of the
foreign relations committee, pressing
for action on a resolution looking to
the recognition of the Russian govern
ment by the United States. All of
these matters are important and
snoulo De COnSlQeTed, proponents OF
the World Court admit, but they say
there is no reason why tbs World
Court protocol should not be included
in such a program.
Naturally, opponents OF adherence
Of the United States to the World
Court in the Senate are against TAX.
ing it up now-or any time. There
must, however. be a large number
who see the matter from the admin.
istration's viewpoint.
OF course, Senators are anxious to
shake the dust of Washington from,
their feet to seek other climes. 1t
should be remarked, however, that
during the last two years, the period
of the Sixty-eighth Congress, the SEN
ate had been in Washington for a
total Of a little more than nine
months. If it adjourns now, the re-
cess will continue for eight months
and more. If the World Court matter
Is ever to be taken up, every argu.
ment save that of senatorial recrea-
tion would seem to indicate that now
Is the time.