The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-10-22
WASHINGTON LETTER

Especial to Sank Centre Herald)
Washington, Oct. Fl = Though
there has been little publicity given
the matter, official Washington is dis
turbed over a simple question-"Is
the President the real boss of his Of
fetal family2"
The highest tribunal in the land,
the Supreme Court, has been asked
to decide this question which involves
the removal of the postmaster Port
land, Oregon. Every Monday when
the decisions of this august body are
read the hundreds of government Of
ficials throughout the country await
the verdict. However, the average
citizens regard it as "just anothe,
case for lawyers"
These who pr ODE beneath the sur
face of things say that the courts
decision will be of the utmost impor-
lance to the American Government.
The Portland postmaster challenged
the right of the President to remove,
claiming that under the law he could
be removed by the President, only
ry and with the advice of the Sen.
ate" The question involved is wheth-
err or not, under the broad authority
given the President by the Constitu-
ton, he must obtain the consent of
the Senate for the removal of an ex-
eculve officer.
1t will be noted that a verdict up-
holding the defiant postmaster would
put the President of the Unied
States at the mercy of the Senate.
1t is easy to imagine how the en-
feebling of the executory power would
strengthen the Senate's domination of
the Government. Incidentally, it
would undoubtedly result in cabals
and intrigues by disappointed politi-
clans and keep the nation in constant
ferment and political commissions.
Some of the waggish observers have
compared the situation to a domestic
controversy wherein a domineering
spouce (meaning the Senate) who
wants all the prerogatives.
Two subjects will come before Con-
gress this winter which will revive old
time discussions of States rights and
other points of political philosophy.
The Secretary of Commerce, Herbert
Hoover, one of the principal promot-
ers of identification programs, has
projected the giant power issue into
public debate. "Giant Power" is a
new term to designate the cheapest
sources of power by pooling of cleo
trical energy supply, we are told, and
the chief idea behind it is not profit
but the public welfare. "Superpower,"
another new phrase, is the inter
change of small quantities of surplus
power at the ends of the transmission
line of each system, which, of course,
is for the profit of the companies.
1t is foregone conclusion that the
question of power merges and regula-
ton viii. be threshed out in Congress
this winter. Senator Norris, of Ne
braska, is the leading advocate of
public ownership while Secretary
Hoover occupies similar position as
proponent of State regulation.
Congress will be the Judge as to the
necessity of Federal action.
Certain phases of the tax reduction
program hinges upon the action in
question of State rights. AS the
present tax hearings progress the in
heritance taxation provision will be
discussed. It is said that the Admin
lstration wants this tax repealed
while certain Congressional leaders
are against this proposal. According
to the story making the rounds of
Washington, several southern govern
ors have joined with the chief execu-
tives OF other States in an effort to
have the Federal inheritance tax re-
pealed, making it matter for the
States to decide.
The fundamental principles of the
Republican and Democratic parties