Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-30

changed overnight from q remote, I'M
intelligible local controversy to q ma
tional affair
A quarter Of a century ago the coun-
try was aroused with even greater sud-
denness over another previously obscure
issue involving the waste Of national
resources when President Roosevelt
abruptly projected the problem of forest
conservation into the national con-
scioGsness. The method Of that great
man was to put himself at the head
of good cause and ride down the
opposition. 1t was probably the correct
method in that case; at any rate it
was highly successful. In this case the
Hoover commission is to follow, II pos
sible, the opposite course; that of
bringing all sides together and seeking
an agreement as to the facts and as to
the remedies. This commission has
more complex duties and aims than
those Of the usual Hoover commission;
it is asked to find the facts, to con-
ciliate the opposing private interests,
cate public opinion in order to accel-
crate the passage of the legislation.
The representatives of the opposing in
terests-call them lobbyists-are on
the commission; they are there to
confront one another, to lay their views
on the table, to try to understand all
sides of the problem and the Nations
interest.
Solution Probable Outcome.
It is possible that the commission
will fail to reach an agreement; it is
possible that, even IL the commission
does agree. Congress will reject its rec
concentrations. The probabilities, how
ever, are that the problem is on the
road to solution.
The Constitution in no way limits the
President in performing his duty Of
giving information to Congress. He
may sit in the White House and hurl
Libraries II he is 50 disposed. Congress
has an absolute right to ignore 1t. Con-
eress has the power also to refuse to
appropriate money to aid the President
in getting information, although this
might be regarded rs an encroachment
Of the legislative on the executive, in
view of the fact-getting duty imposed
Even in the possible case of refusal
OF Congress to support the Presidents
fact-getting activities the President
would probably not be greatly embar-
raised. The prestige of the ONCE gives
the President O right of eminent domain
over the intellectual and scientific re-
sources Of the country. He can sum-
mon whom he will to advise him; he
can conscript scientists, business men,
authorities Of every kind; he can dra-
COON academies, universities, labora-
tories, foundations.
The only limitations on presidential
fact-hunting are those OF common
sense. II carried beyond reasonable
limits, satire and ridicule become effec-
tive checks. So far, however, President
Hoover has appointed modest number
OF commissions; he has resisted tempta-
| ton. On paper 1t appears that he is
not yet running ahead Of Presidents
Coolidge, Harding and Wilson In ap-
pointing commissions. But he has
limited that there are many more COM
ing Further than that, the Hoover
Commission on Social Trends Is q COM
mission Of commissions, dealing with rs
| or more subjects, each Of which would
be- SUFFICIENT to occupy an ordinary COM
| mission. There Is no doubt that a new
| chapter in the political history Of the
United States Is beginning; we are In
tn 80 g coraraicsions. a