The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1925-05-28
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial to Sank Centre Herald

Washington, May 27-Conven-
lions of business and social organiza-
tons are the only things to relieve
the deadening effect of the political
off-season in Washington. The con-
gressional contingent has completely
disappeared and the exodus of the
diplomatic crops is underway. Mr..
Coolidge and some of his Cabinet will
follow next month.
The chief political crumb is the
possible fate of the Federal Trade
Commission. Senator Borah, of Ida
no, and Senator Norris, of Nebraska,
who are known as Liberal Republi-
cans, are doing considerable talking
to the effect that the Commission
should be abolished. These gentle
men have just made the discovery
that the Commission is hot bed of
fractional politics. The average
American business man and every po-
litical observer in Washington has
been cognizant of the situation for
at least six years. 1t took frank
discussion of the Commissions short
coming by the newly appointed men,
Der of that body, Mr.. William Hum
attract the attention of the two West
ern Senators.
The fact that Senator Norris has
concurred with Senator Borah in
dictates that the politics" which pre-
dominates at the Commission has
been transferred to the Capitol. The
former colleague Of Senator Borah is
now Commissioner Nugent, of the
Federal Trade Commission. The
former Idaho Senator is teaming with
Commissioner Houston Thompson in
objecting to every step taken by Com
missioners Humphrey, Van Fleet and
Hunt, the so-called majority in this
Federal agency. Until the appoint
ment of Mr.. Humphrey, it is said,
Messrs Thompson and Nugent were
running things their own way on the
Commission. Now that the policies
of the Commission have been changed
to conform with the conservative pol
icies of the present Administration,
it appears that the minority wants
Congress to take a hand. We are
told that Senator Norris has an axe
to grind as the majority of the Com
mission refuse to heed his request for
investigation of business interests.
Mr.. Humphrey and his associates
say that in as much as they have
quasi-judicial powers they prefer the
advice of the Attorney General of the
United States ON legal matters to
that of a committee of Congress
This is practically the only exciting
political development noted at the
Capitol. Secretary Hoover is again
advocating reorganization of Federal
departments. 1t is his contention that
the regrouping of Federal agencies
would result in enormous savings to
the taxpayers. His program, if
adopted, would relieve the President
of many details which were assigned
to his office in the stress of war time.
Unuquestionably the ideas of Mr..
Hoover will be written into proposed
legislation when Congress convenes
next winter. However, it will be a
difficult matter to get action from
congress as the entire situation is
loaded with political dynamite.
Official and social Washington is
manifesting more than usual interest
in advertising appearing in news
papers and magazines. The pulling
power of testimonials has long been
recognized by patent madeline vend-
ors but it is only of late that the pro-
ducers of toilet articles appealing to