Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-10-09
A Weekly Panorama Of Events in the
National Capital


DERSISTENT reports are again
heard in official circles that Sec
retary of the Navy Wilbur may short
lv hand in his recignatiOn. The rec
ent series Of mishaps to Naval equip
ment gave rise to the latest gossip
1t is generally felt that Wilbur is not
in the least responsible for the air
craft and submarine fatalities, but
his enemies have seized upon them as
further evidence that all is not wei!
with the Navy. President Coolidge is
understood to be prepared to accept
the resignation if it is offered, but
has not indicated that he will request
it. Wilbur's hasty recall from q
speaking trip throughout the West
during the last Presidential campaign
is offered in some circles as reason
for his lack of favor at the White
House. The Naval Secretary at that
time was generally believed to be not
dealing with important problems with
the delicacy which the forthcoming
election demanded. Wilbur's power
full friend in administration circles Is
Secretary of Commerce Hoover Both
are from California. Hoover was
mainly instrumental in having Dr..
Ray Lyman Wilbur appointed presi
dent of Stanford University. The
college president is a brother of the
Secretary of the Navy.
THE French debt negotiations left a
bitter taste in the mouths of
many Washington officials. The ac-
ton of the French delegation in an
nouncing that an agreement had been
practically reached, when such, as it
lated reveloped, was not the case, re-
ceived much adverse criticism. One
member of the American Debt Fund
ing Commission, characterized it as
typical French politics." and a last
minute effort to force American ac-
ceptance Of the last proposal offered.
Others said CaillauX's understanding
was due to misinformation which was
no ones fault. The $40,000,00O an
nual payments for the next five years
as finally offered France by the Com
mission are certain to cause row IN
Congress- 1t is believed that France
will shortly find it the better part Of
wisdom to return to the United States
with higher offers so that the debt
can be definitely funded. The pres
ent arrangement, which has not even
been approved by CaillauX, would
merely prevent the total debt from
increasing pending a stabilization of
French finances. When the finances
of France are stabilized, it is thought
that terms agreeable to Congress may
be Offered the United States.
A LTHOUGH Senator Norris of Ne
L braska has publicly refused to
accept the leadership Of the Progress
sives who followed the banner of the
late Senator Robert NJ. La Toilette,
his friends believe he is almost GER
tain to head the bloc in actions, re
gardless. Norris occupies the unusual
position of being a Republican who
vet retains his privileges in party
councils. The election Of Young Bob
La Toilette to his late fathers seat
has maintained the group at full
strength. Although a leader may os
tensibly be chosen, Norris is gener-
ally regarded with Borah as being
the outstanding oracle who will tell
the half dozen Republicans on which
side of an issue to stand.
THE end of the U. S. Shipping Board
as an Independent body is one of
the near certainties of the coming
session of Congress. The final def
ance of that body to the president in
stripping President Leigh C. Palmer
of the Emergency Fleet Corporation
of all power is regarded as having
sounded the knell of many Of the pres
ent commissioners. Palmer was high
ly thought of by the President. He
was deposed from power because
Commissioner Haney of Oregon
thought his policies were inimical to
the interests of the Pacific coast,
Oregon in particular Haney refused
to resign when he was requested to
do so by the President.