Evening star., 1927-04-29
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

There can be no doubt that one
| consequence of the fearful Missis-
s,nni flood disaster will be to force
prompt action by the new Congress
next December of measures looking 10
Federal aid in the promotion OF flood
control projects. The subject has re-
ceived the intermittent attention OF
Congress for half a century, with
varving results. At the last session
the Middle West group earnestly
nressed a bill providing for a new ana
comprehensive survey by Government
engineers of the fiood-control prob
lem of the whole Mississippi River
area. This bill carried 100000 to de-
frav the cost Of the survey. The
budget Bureau frOwned on TINS eA-
penditure, and the Republican leaders
in the House declined TO give the
measure right of way on the douse
calendar. and so it never reacneo u
vote. It's safe to predict tnat next
Winter there will not be single
voice Of protest to much more eAten-
sive and expensive Federal undertak-
inps aimed to provide permanent con-
troll of the perpetual flood menace. In
cidentally. Representative Martin Il.
Davev of Ohio, the tree surgeon, ana
a most prolific self-advertiser, mas
momentarily seized the spotlight by
addressing a public communication TO
Mr. Coolidge. in which he says: IL
seems to me that this food in its more
serious aspects is wholly unneces-
sarv and is a part of the tragic price
that we nav for our folly or 1oresl
devastation" He points to the COIN
cidence that the disaster has occurred
in the midst of American Forest Week
He urges an aggressive national pol
icy of reforestation.
4 x X X
Representative Finis J. Garrett or
Tennessee, veteran member Oh the
House, with % years of service tnere'
aspires to higher honors and INTENDS
to enter the Democratic senatorlal
primaries next year against Kenneth
McKellar. who will then be a candi-
date for a third term in the Senate.
Tennessee expects a political battle
roval in consequence. Both men are
widely known and popular in their
home State. aggressive campa1gners,
with records of accomplishment IN
Washington. Garrett is Democratic
floor leader in the House and has been
his party's candidate for Mick" Long
worth's post as Speaker. McKellar
has made quite name for himself IN
the Senate.
The queer quirks Of the immigration
law and of the regulations pertaining
thereto are we'll illustrated by case
which is now engaging the attention
of the immigration officials. me
American born son of Italian parents
accompanied his parents when they
returned to Italy just prior to the
World War. Though the boy by our
law was an American citizen, by Vir-
tue of his birth on American soil he |
was promptly drafted to the Italian |
colors. and on his induction into the |
service was required to take the oath |
of allegiance to Italy's King. This act
made him an Italian subject. He re-
turned to America after the war TO |
find that he had lost his American |
He married an American |
girl, but since his marriage was prior |
to the Gable act of 1922, his wife for
feited her own American citizenship |
because her husband was then, in the |
eyes OF our law, an alien, despite his
own American DlfJn. HIS WIG lS now
in Italy and Is trying in vain to re- !
turn to her husband and to her native |
land. She is classified as an alien, |
and unless some ''loophole' is found, |
must await her turn in the quota al |
lotment, which already is filled for |
years to come.
X X X
The third Pan-American CONNER |
cial Congress, the annual meeting of I
the United States Chamber of Com
merce and the first all-America air.
craft show will be in progress stimuli
next week at Washington. 1t
was happy thought OF some one to
so synchronize the schedule that all !
three will come to the Capital Il he |
same time. The pan-American e.
gates will be entertained by the
Chamber Of Commerce, and those in
attendance at both will have a chance
to visit the aircraft display. which
promises to be very comprehensive.
1t should prove an eye-opener to some
of our visitors from the Southern re-
publics, as well as to some of our
own business men, who have had the
notion that since the war American