The Sauk Centre herald., 1926-09-02
WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Sept. There is a
marked disposition to steer clear
from platform manufacturing until
the September primaries are held.
Wise politicians take no unnecessary
risks. The voters of late have bad
habits in that they manifest desire
to vote for men and are not greatly
influenced by partisan shibboleths.
Reports from states Indicate di-
versity of issues affecting senatorial
and congressional candidates. In New
York State, for instance, it is report
ed that one party is assigning, def
mite subjects for party orators TAX
ing no recognition of local conditions.
The opposition says it is a subter-
fuge to avoid pertinent debate. The
sponsors say it is essential to pre-
vent confusion on vital political prob
lens. The voters will soon pass final
judgment ON the methods.
National leaders have noted a ten
dency of democrats to drop the tariff
ss the principal campaign issue and
concentrate on farm relief and irri-
cation measures, subjects which are
designed ito appeal to the Middle and
Far West. They are also taking ad-
vantage of the expose of primary ex-
penses. Somehow, both parties are
willing to sidestep the much noted
world court controversy. The Presi-
dent feels that there is no need for
tariff revision at this time. This
means the subject will not figure
prominently at the next Congress.
Within a few weeks, the congress
sional committees handling appropria,
tions will meet here to study the ma
tions pocketbook with Ia view to au-
thorizing Federal expenditures. Their
work will not be completed until JAN
uary.
The various subcommittee mus.
quiz departmental chiefs as to the
proposed expenditures as approved
by the Budget Bureau. These COM
mittees derive keen pleasure in ex-
ercising their authority. 1t is a
source of delight for them to reduce
estimates and then claim the credit
for great economies.
Possibility of conflict between the
Treasury and the Congress is fore
seen here in the latest uttera ,e of
Chairman Madden of the House APP
propreations Committee that the sur
plus should be used as a basis of tax
reductions. The Secretary of the
Treasury has advocated gradual re-
tirement of national debt.
The President usually supports
Secretary Mellon on fiscal matters
and the prospect of clash on taxes
grows bright.
General Hancock once said thai the
tariff is local issue. Perhaps with
some modification the same might lie
said regarding the antitrust Laws.
Their advantage or disadvantage de-
pends upon their direction--at whom
they are or are not aimed.
This seems to explain the criticism
of the Coolidge administration CON-
ccfning it's attitude toward prosecu-
tion of the antitrust laws. On the
one hand, the Department Of Justice
has been assailed for it's rece 1T state
ment concerning the record the de-
partment proudly pointed ito in pro-
ceedings under these laws. On the
other hand, the Coolidge administra-
ton has been attacked from the fig
ures shown by the Department of JUS
tice. The former class of critics ap-
pear generally to be those who are
not engaged in vocatiors that might
be subjected to the Sherman or Clay
ton laws. The latter class of critics
constituted principally all those whose
business could be subjected to prose-