Evening star., 1926-03-14

Shoals, but added two amendments,
which necessitated a conference with
the House. The resolution embodied
the administration plan for disposing
of this white elephant" but there Is
still expected to be some fight before
the issue is finally disposed of. The
purpose of the legislation Is to lease
the property primarily for the manu-
facture Of fertilizer for the farmers.
BY vote Of to 8, the House Dis
trict committee last week favorably
reported a bill which would abolish
capital punishment in the District of
Columbia. The bill Is of interest to the
~hole county because Of the princi-
pie involved in having the Federal
GovernElent thus express its senti-
ments. It is doubtful, however,
whether the bill will be passed at this
session of Congress.
The Senate judiciary committee has
decided to report adversely on the
nomination of Wallace McCamant of
Oregon, nominated by President Cool
idge to be Federal Judge. Judge Nc
Camant Is now holding q recess ap-
pointment. The history OF the fight
against his nomination in the Senate
is interesting. The judiciary commit.
tee once favorably reported it to the
Senate over the protest of Senator
Hiram Johnson OF California, who
launched a fight on the floor which
won him victory when the nomina-
ton was referred back to the commit
tee. Judge McCamant nominated
President Coolidge for Vice President
in 1920. Senator Johnson claimed he
violated primary election pledge in
failing to vote for Johnson in that con-
vention.
Another week has passed in which
the revivified fight over prohibition
has been aired pro and con in the halls
of Congress, with indications pointing
to continued discussion of the subject
until the adjournment of Congress.
Dry" leaders in and out Of Congress
claim the fight is merely for the sake
of spreading wet" propaganda before
the congressional elections, while the
vets" are interpreting their own
drive as being a response to public de.
mand for revision of the Volstead law.
The Senate judiciary committee last
week appointed a subcommittee to
consider the various proposals now
before Congress for modification or re-
peal Of the prohibition laws. The sub
conducting the hearings in public.
however. The "wets" are demanding
that the hearings be in the open, while
the 'drys" are as strongly opposed, al
leging that publicity would only give
free rein to wet" propaganda. The
judiciary committee, by the way, Is
overwhelmingly "dry."
"One reason why we have made no
more progress with our merchant ma
rine" is due to the differences between
the President and the United States
Shipping Board, Secretary Hoover told
the House commerce committee last
week, and he recommended that the
Shipping Board be stripped of all its
powers except judicial and regulatory
functions, and that the merchant fleet
be operated by the Emergency Fleet
Corporation.
The Senate last week ordered %
special investigation Of the Tariff
Commission with instructions that it's
investigators should find out whether
any attempt was made by Govern
ment officials or others to influence
the official actions of any members
of the commission. The personnel of
the committee will be composed of
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin,
Senator Wadsworth of New York,
Senator Reed of Pennsylvania. Sena-
tor Robinson of Arkansas and Sena
tor Bruce Of Maryland.
Will, the time for adjournment Of
Congress planned for some date be-
tween May is and June |, the Presi-
dent has held a series Of conferences
with congressional leaders at the
White House, at which plans for leg.
islation to be put through before ad-
journment have been discussed. The
present plan calls for action on the
public buildings bill, which would ap-
propriate s150,000.000 for public
buildings throughout the country;
the WatsonParker railroad bill. abol-
ishing the Railroad Labor Board;
ratification of the war debt settle
ment with Italy and other nations;
coal legislation that will embody the
Presidents recommendations for a
commission. and disposition Of the
Muscle Shoals measure.