Milford chronicle., 1925-01-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
By National Editorial Association
Special to Milford Chronicle

Special to Milford Chronicle
Washington, January 21-Opinion is divided
as to the economic condition of the farmer. Some
insist that an extra session of Congress is nee
essary to stave off agriculture disaster Others
equally ardent as to the welfare of the farm
er contend that he will work out his own saliva
tion if saved from the annoyances of legislative
interference There is another group in Con-
gress which believes that another session is nee
essary to adjust this countrys position in inter-
national affairs especially as to a world court.
The President and many of his staunch support
ers at the Capitol at odds over these ques-
tions
The President believes that it would be best
for the country to have Congress wind up its
business on March 4. Senator Borah, one of the
most powerful of Republican leaders, disagrees
with the Chief Executive in this respect The
Idaho Senator contends that the condition of the
American farmer will be very little bettered by
reason of temporary rise in price of any par
ticular product He believes that the only way
it can be remedied is by a real system of mark
citing, not voluntary alone but in which the
Federal Government may have directing hand
For that reason he advocates an extra session
The preliminary report of President Coolidge's
Agricultural Commission showed that the only
present emergency" in agriculture concerns
the cattle growers. The Commission supports
the President views that existing agencies are
fully competent to afford the cattle men the f.
nancial assistance they require. The present
indications are that no extra session will be call
ed
Aside from the salaries and ordinary ex--
fIo i,,of
in session is very great. For instance. the re-
port of the Public Printer made available this
week, shows that speech-making is a very ex-
pensive item. The printing of a Congressional
Record for both Houses during 1924, exceeded
all former volumes of annual oratory with to-
tai of 19,475 pages. If these pages were con-
verted into ordinary newspaper form they would
furnish copy for the publication of a ten-page
newspaper of solid reading matter for 300 DAYS
To keep the wheels of legislation grinding, IT,
S47 bills were printed during 1924, one of these
bills alone making volume of 400 pages. The
Teapot Dome hearings filled 5,579 pages and cost
$141S1.26 for printing 1,7OO copies.
Those who have followed efforts of Congress
to force drastic economies in the operation of
Federal departments are always amused by the
Inconsistencies of the lawmakers. It has been
said that it is a poor rule which does not work
both ways However, Congress, in its wisdom,
ignored this principle Much of the
material which appears in the Congressional
Record is extraneous matter and not worth the
paper upon which it is printed.
White changes in high official life occurring
almost daily, the prevailing question is ''Who is
next to go?" The latest story is that Secretary |
Of Commerce to the Department of Agriculture.
Previous to the selection of Ambassador Kellogg
as a successor to Secretary of State Hughes, it
vas assumed in many quarters that Mr.. Hoover
would be given this job. With his wide knowl-
dge of foreign affairs he is said to be especially
Qualified for a portfolio of this kind. Mr.. Hoover
S now occupied in reducing the present spread
# prices between producer and consumer in all
ines to permit marked reduction in prices with
ut loss of wages or profits He will appoint
epresentativ ecommittee to work out plans to
his end. He has placed the Department of !
commerce upon an efficient basis during his last
our years. The task of a successor would be
elatively simple in the event Mr.. Hoover is
to the Agricultural Department.
The Isle of Pines controversy which has been
evived after twenty years, is a matter of more t
nan passing interest Senator Borah, Chairman \
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is op- I
Osing the ratification of the treaty which would i
EIDE the Isle of Pines to Cuba. The original h
'eaty was drafted by John Hay but remained in +
pigeOn-hole in the Senate Committee since 4
)O4. The present Secretary of State is desir- 9
us Of having the treaty ratified but his position n
somewhat weakened by the opposition of Sen 3
or Borah. It is said that ten thousand Amer Il
an citizens have investments in the Isle of n
ines aggregating $15,OOO,OOO They claim that fl
e money was invested on the assumption that W
would remain American territory. 1t is for l'
e Senate to decide whether the Island is a "a
1ban or American Possession. IN
The House has cleared its calendar of impor- N
mt appropriation measures. The Senate will Z
We serious attention to this legislation when ~,
e Isle of Pines Treaty is settled. te
ri