Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1936-04-09


positive that the Holding Compan,
bill, which his hackers were desper
ately fighting. never came up for dis
cussion, a few days after the Hous
passed the measure, he gave up tn
furnished house.
Senator Byrd, OF Virginia, Chairman
OF the Senate Committee on Government
REORGANIZATION, believes that the plaI
TO be reported to the Senate next yea
VIII save hundreds OF millions OF dol
lars. The junior Senator from Virgins
has been an advocate of governmental
reorganization and initiated the move
Tor the creation of a special committee
to study the operations of government
to the end of eliminating duplicate ac-
Invites. He feels that this is in line
with a plank of the Democratic Party
platform calling for abolition of use
less agencies" and consolidation Of
overlapping bureaus
Anyone with the slightest informa-
ton regarding the multi-various ac-
tlvlties of the Government, knows that
there is room for economy. This has
always been the case and probably
will continue always, or so long as the
Government persists in its present
form. However, thoughtful citizens
should applaud the purpose of the
Senate committee. Maybe it will ac-
complish some economy in operation
OF the Government, wen if the results
are not permanent.
Readers interested in this subject
will find it extremely instructive to
study the record of Congress in regard
70 the economies effected by President
Roosevelt in the early months of his
administration. In practically every in
stance the savings effected by the
Government have been cancelled by
positive legislation from the Congress-
men, which was SO overwhelming in
strength as to make useless a Presid-
entail veto.
The cost of Investigations author
lied o II conducted by the last two Con-
crosses will probably approach the one
million dollar mark. Public opinion as
to the value of these forays differ, but
there is, apparently, a healthy respect
for Senate probes. The House invest
lgatlon aimed at prohibition enforce
ment some year. ago was noteworthy
and its inquiry into rebates, discounts
and refunds, alleged to encourage
monopolistic trade organizations, is
encouraging.
On the Senate side one recalls the
oil scandal probes, which returned the
Elk Hills oil reserve and the Teapot
Dome reserve to the Government, and
also the stock market probe a few
years ago, which added millions OF
dollars to the Treasury in the payment
Of evaded income taxes. OF the twenty
investigating committees which
were launched by the Senate since last
year, there does not seem to be much
of large money returns, al
though the lobbying and munitions
probes have uncovered facts which
undoubtedly influence public opinion.
The probability is that the Great
Lakes-St. Lawrence seaway project
will come to life between now and the
election this fall. Neither Canada nor
the United States has ratified the 1882
treaty to permit work on the project
and there is considerable opposition in
this country. This, according to the
President, springs from fears of econ
omic harm to special localities or to
special interests" There is no differ
ence about the proposal among the
Governments concerned, including the
Province Of Ontario and the State CT
New York.
Senator Pittman, of the Senate For
eign Relations Committee, who led the
fight for ratification two years ago, ad-
mits that the treaty cannot be passed
now. Henry j. Allen, former Senator
Kansas, charges the power in
t%erests, railroads and gulf ports with
responsibility for the defeat of the
III 1884. Interesting is the OIL
servation hat whereas huge power
projects have been initiated through
out the United States by a simple act
Of Congress, requiring only a majority
vote, the seaway proposition, involv-
ing a treaty with Canada, must secure
two-thirds vote of the Senate.