Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-24

Now Senator Borah has really
started something, unless parlia-
mentary laws have changed since the
days of President Washington. Not
q mere committee, but the whole Sen
ate or none. will go on junket to
Mexico and Nicaragua during the re-
cess. The Senator, as chairman OF the
committee on foreign relations, estl-
mates that a subcommittee might
make the tour for $4,000. and In the
same proportion for the whole SEN
ate. Col. Sellers of Mark Twains
"Gilded Age" would find millions in
it," The truth must prevail, no mat
ter what the cost. 1t is evident to the
determined chairman of the foreign
relations committee that our diplo-
mats in Nicaragua are too naive to
be relied on to get the Sacasa low
down." and while the United States
Constitution stipulates that treaties
are to be initiated and negotiated by
the President and ratified by the Sem
ate, he knows that in this modern age
| 1t is better to put the cart before the
horseless buggy and let the Senate
ascertain first the advisability of
turning a mere President and Secre-
tary of State loose in Central Amer
lea, guarded only by a minister ex-
and a few consuls.
So Senator Borah offers a resolution
in the Senate:
THAT the Senate committee on for
eign relations, or any duly authorized
subcommittee thereof, is hereby au-
thorized to investigate and study con-
ditions and policies bearing upon the
relationship between the Central
American countries, Mexico and the
this resolution the committee or SUBJ
committee Is authorized to visit such
countries. to sit during the recess OF
Congress, and at such times and
places to employ such clerical, steno-
graphic and other assistance, to re-
quire the attendance of such witnesses
(sicD, and the production of such
documents and papers (sicD, to ad-
minister oaths, to take such testimony
and to make such expenditures as 1t
deems advisable.
1.-THE expenses of the committee, or
subcommittee, which shall not exceed
SIC. 900 shall be paid out of the con-
tingent fund Of the Senate"
* X
During" m cans continuously
throughout the period designated. So
the committee or subcommittee will
spend a happy season from March 4
to the first Monday in December, in
vestigating the scenery and people of
Mexico and Central America. Sum-
mer in the tropics is delightful, &C.
cording to altitude. The mountains
are cool and invigorating. The jun
keters may keep cool with"-the
President.
The committee or subcommittee will
be empowered to subpoena the I'm
juns" of Central America and Mexico.
and explain how they learned the art
| by summoning the politicians of
| Chicago and Pennsylvania.
Our ministers there nave no such
plenary power, although they bear
| the high -sounding titles of ministers
extraordinary and ENJOYS plenipoten-
tiary." The committee or subcom-
mittee-even IL the subcommittee con.
sist of only the chairman-will per-
hans carry the senatorial mace and
take along the whole force of the
sergeant at arms, experienced in ar
resting United States Senators fast
| asleep. So they will hail into the
| august-also July and October
presence the recalcitrant armies of
| Gales ana SacdSd, anu give ILcui
drumhead court-martial justice.
| n X X X
| But. shades Of George Washington!
The Senate tried something like that
| on him, once-just once!
| 1t was In Washington's first term.
when he still loved the Senate and
thought 1t interesting to visit the
| Senators and talk things over socially
Iconcerning certain clauses In the pend
ling treaty with Southern Indian tribes,
! Senator Maclay, in his Sketches Of
Debate In the First Senate of the
| United States,,' tells about 1t.
| President Washington had favored
oral conferences on treaties while
they were In the process OF negotia.