The Sunday Oregonian., August 21, 1921, Section One, Page 4, Image 4

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TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIAX,. PORTLAND, AUGUST 21, 1921
SENIORITY SYSTEM
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HANDICAPS
SOU
Chance for Democrats
Make Campaign Issue.
IE
to
CLD MEN ON COMMITTEE
Contrast In Ages of Chairmen of
Most Important Committees and
Cabinet Men Marked,
BY MARK SULLIVAN.
Opyritrht by the New York Evening
Pout, Inc. Publintied by Arrangement.)
WASHINGTON. D. C. Aug. 20.
(Special.) Whether congress is to be
criticised for taking a summer recess
Is one question. Whether congress
ought to have accomplished more be
fore the time for the recess came is
another question. Still a third ques
tion is whether some aspects of the
present organization of congress
might not be changed so as to en
able it to do its work more quickly
and effectively. The three questions
call for different considerations.
As for the desirability, under nor-
" mal circumstances, of a summer re-
cess for congress, any person fa
miliar with the deleterious effects of
heat and fatigue on the judgment and
efficiency of public men is likely to
Answer yes.
font Ir Mlatakra .Hade.
That answer need not be based on
humane consideration for the indi
viduals concerned. That the strain of
a tariff debate, or of any other sim
ilarly strenuous work during a hot
summer session has shortened the life
of more than one public man is a
familiar fact. But the desirability of
a recess need not rest on considera
tions of mercy to tired men.
It can be based on the fact that
under conditions of intense heat, fa
tigue and angry controversy, costly
mistakes of judgment and bad de
cisions ere made. Doubtless many a
farmer and many a business man,
who must swelter on through the
strain of a summer marked by al
. most universally harrassing difficul
ty, may lend a responsive, ear to
those who will make political capi
tal of the proposal for a recess for
senators and representatives.
But the more reasonable Judgment
is that in a year when the most im
portant conceivable issues are to the
front, there are better subjects for
political controversy than whether
tired senators shall have an oppor
tunity for rest before taking up the
heavy burden of a tax debate and a
tariff debate combined.
Heckllns; In Discouraging;.
It is especially discouraging thAt
the democratic national committee,
at a time so rich, in opportunity's for
an opposition party, should include in
its publicity a meticulous statement,
with critical implications, of the pre
cise days and dates and hours spent
by President Hardinjj in trips away
from Washlngtpn, in horseback rid
ing and the like.
It is a literal fact that the public
business of congress, especially at
this moment, is delayed by the fact
that some senators that occupy Im
portant positions are either tired or
more definitely ill, or both. The rule
of seniority, upon which the senate is
organized, causes the work of the
more important committee chairman
ships to be placed upon the shoulders
of those senators who have been long
est in service and, therefore; oldest
in years. ' .
It is a fact that the average age
of the chairman of the ten most Im
portant committees of the senate ii
68 M years. If we omit the commit
teen on military affairs, of which it
happens that a young man. Senator
Wadsworth of New York, age 44, is
chairman, then the average age of
the chairman of the other nine most
important committees is 70. - If we
omit, further, the chairman of the
committee on finance. Penrose' of
Pennsylvania, who with 60 years is
comparatively young, then the av
erage age of the chairmen of the re
maining eight most Important com
mittees is 73.
Penroae Abaent a Long; Time.
While Penrose, as chairman of the
committee whioh has charge of both
taxation and tariff, is more than ten
years younger than the average
chairmen of the other important com
mutes, it is also a fact this heat is
not good. Previous to last Decem
ber he spent a complete year in ab
sence from the senate and he is still
In process of recuperatlon.i
Men whose age averages over 70
years are seriously handicapped in
their energy and effectiveness by the
conditions of a summer session in
such a climate as Washington. juite
apart from considerations of sum
mer neat, it is doutbtul whether we
make the best use, of the experience
and ripeness of these older senators
by dooming them to the drudgery of
a committee chairmanship. There
are frequent proposals to change the
rule of seniority in the senate so as
to have the older men for a role sim
ilar to that played by the elder states
men of Japan, and to recruit younger
senators for those positions as com
mittee chairmen, in which, so much
of the work depends for its value,
not necessarily upon experience and
ripeness, but rather upon energy and
devotion to details.
Cabinet Members Younger.
It is interesting to compare the
average age of the ten senators who
are the chairmen of the ten most
important committees with the av
erage age of the ten members of the
cabinet. The average age of the ten
members of the cabinet is 54. This
average age of the cabinet is in a
way an expression of judgment as to
what is the best age for men chosen
to stand up day after day, year in
and year out, under hard and con
tinuous work. The difference be
tween this average cabinet age of 54
and the average senate chairman age
of 68 is 14 years of added suscepti
bility to jhe strain of fatigue and
heat. It represents in a rough way
the difference between the average
age of .men chosen for efficiency re
gardless of any other consideration
end the average age of those sena
tors who have come to committee
chairmanships, hardly less onerous
than cabinet jobs, through a process
which takes account of seniority only
Seniority System Attacked.
Every once in a while the seniority
System of selecting the chairmen of
senate committees is under criticism.
The chief reason it fails lies in the
fact that tradition has grown up
which associates the principal honors
of the senate with these positions as
committee chairmen. There ought to
be some way for saving both the
dignity and the greater usefulness of
these older ana more experienced
senators without, at fche same time,
loading them down with the burden
of some detail workvof the commit
tees. Much of this work is sheer
drudgery, which neither calls for any
particular ability or experience, nor
conlers any inherent dignity. It
could be better done by senators who
are younger in years and newer in
Has the Tide of
Business Turned?
To
RICHARD SPILLANE
Foremost Business Analyst of Today
Plumb ' the Well of Business for
The Oregonian
During ten weeks He will tour from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from Canada to the gulf. T4ie trip
will cover the following great centers: New York city.
Fall River, Boston, Buffalo, Cleveland.-Toledo, Detroit.
Chicago, Milwauke, St. Paul, Minneapolis. S. Louis,
Joplin, Kansas City. Omaha, Cheyenne, Denver, Salt
Lake City, Spokane, Seattle, Portland, San,' Francisco,
Los Angeles, Prescott, El Paso, Oklahoma City. Fort
Worth, Dallas, Little Rock, Memphis, New Orleans,
Mobile, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Atlanta, Charleston,
Savannah, Jacksonville, Norfolk, Richmond, Wheeling,
Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Baltimore, Vancouver. .Winnipeg,
and probably other Canadian cities. " -'
During this vitally important tour Mr. Spillane will
present absolutely accurate pictures of business conditions
in every section of America, and probably in the most
important centers of Canada.
His investigations tfill embrace Manufacturing, Agri
culture, Finance, Transportation and Merchandising.
He will discover what economies and what changes
have been wrought in each, of- these regional districts
by , the drastic upheaval which America recently has
undergone.
He will study Labor, the Hfeusing Problem, Hydro
Electric Developments, Roacl Building and Shipping
Prospects (coastwise and international') ; in fact, every
condition which in the major sense now affects America's
business prosperity. ' .
He will ascertain whether some of our foremost
business observers are correct in their belief that the
turning' point in the jicfe of business has now been
reached; whether, from drastic liquidation, business is
now starting upward.
This information wfH be of the utmost importance,
not only to America, -but to the world at large, for
America is the axis upon which the business world
revolves, industrially., financially and sentimentally.
. Mr. Spillane's letters will present that news which
every reader of The Oregonian buyer or seller, pro
ducer or consumer, employer or employe, husband or
wife, rich man or-poor man most eagerly awaits today.
Watch for These Articles to Appear
Soon in The Oregonian
PEACE 1 IDEUND IS
DECLARED REMOTE
Agreement of Gaels Called
Key to Settlement.
1 BICKERING HELD RISKY
Sentiments Expressed . by Members
of Dail Eircann Feared Apt
to Irk ' English, People.
FilllllllllllllllillllUlllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIilllllllllllllllllllllllllUlllllllllllllllir.
the senate, and the value of greater
experience and ripeness of the older
senators could be better conserved
by giving them the .opportunity to
express themselves more in matters
of broad Judgment than in detailed
Brudgery.
If there is a political issue for the
democrats in this proposal for a
summer recess it does not "lie in
mere opposition to the recess, as such.
It lies rather in the opportunity of
the democrats to promise that, if
they are put in control of the senate,
they will abolish the seniority sys
tem and establish a better method of
choosing the chairmen of the impor
tant committees.-
LANDERS HEADS NORMAL
NEW MEXICO EDCCATOIl
CBPTS POST AT MO.VMOUTH.
AC-
ARMY SUPPLIES CHECKED
Camp Lewis OrTicers Arrive at
Vancouver "Barracks.
VAXCOUVER, Wash, Aug. 20.
(Special.) Captain Thomas A. Harris,
supply officer for troops in the 69th
infantry, and Lieutenant H. Q. Travis,
also of the 59th, arrived at Vancouver
Barracks this morning from ump
Lewis where they are stationed, and
anent the dav checking up the sup
plies in the local post, rney are aiso
figuring on those that will be needed
when Colonel W. H. Jordan and the
89th infantry arrive from Camp
Lewis.
The supply detachment oi company
L arrived at the barracks this morn
ing from the rifle range near Froeb
stel, where ' the company has been
practicing for ten days. Company K
is leaving Monday morning for the
range, and will stay until the round
is completed.
Presbyterians Have Picnic Dinner.
ALBANY. Or.. Aug. 20. (Special.)
Class work in the young people's
conference of the Presbyterian church
of Oreeon. which has been in session
here all week, was concluded 'today.
Thn last recreational work of te
conference was concluded today also
anrt a bier picnic dinner was held in
Bryant park this evening. A pro
zramme of religious services an
addresses will be presented tomorrow
oh thin will conclude the conference,
which has been a very successful
event. -
Former Head of Pendleton and The
lalles Schools to Begin Duties
Within Two Weeks.
SALEM Or., Aus. 20. (Special.)
J. S. Landers, who is now serving at
the head of the training department
of the Las Vegas (N. M.) State Normal
schcool, has been selected president of
the Oregon Normal school at Mon
mouth to succeed the late J. H. Acker
man. It. was said today that Mr.
Landers had accepted the presidency
of the institution and would arrive
here within the next two weeks to
confer with the board of regents pre
paratory to taking up the duties con
nected with his new appointment.
I Mr: Landers served as city superin
tendent of The Dalles public schools
for nearly ten years. He later went
to Pendleton, where he acted In a
similar capacity for eight years. Aft
erward ho was connected with, the
University of New Mexico and other
educational institutions of prorai
nence. He received his master degree
in tne university or Colorado.
It was said that Mr Landers had the
unanimous support of the board of re
gents.
Dr. Fred C. Ayer of the University
or Washington, to whom the presi
dency of the Oregon Normal school
was tendered at . meeting of the
regents last week, declined to accept
the position.
Work Rushed on School Building
ALBANY, Or., Aug. 20. (Special.)
Monday, September 19, has been
set as the date for the opening of the
Albany public schools tnis . year.
Preparations are" being made now
at the various school buildings for
the coming term. Work is being
rushed on the new junior high school
building which is being erected at
the corner of Fourth and Madison
streets, adjoining the present Madi
son grade school.
" '
Phone Equipment to Be Added. -EUGENE.
Or., Aug. 20. (Special.)
MoVe than J50.000 4n improvements
will be expended in Eugene by the
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph com
pany at once, according to announce
ment of C. P. Van Houtte, manager,
yesterday. Mr. Van Houtte said the
approved plans Include the placing
of 325 new poles, 890 miles of wire in
aerial cable. 650 miles of wire in
underground cable and extensive re
pairs throughout the entire exchange.
Clifford's inn, the oldest of the nine
inns of Chancery of London, has a
history dating back to 1310 at least.
2 70 Delinquents Pay Tax.
VANCOUVER. Wash., Aug. 20.
(Special.) Collections on a total of
270 persons for the S poll tax fee
had been made by Sheriff Thompson's
office since the list of 2500 delin
quents were turned over to him. The
sheriff estimates that fully 50 per cent
of the original list cannot be collected
because of mistakes and duplications
appearing in it.
BY GEORGE N. BARNES.
(Copyright. 1021, by The OregonlaJi.)
LONDON. Aug." 20. (Special.)
Truly, if the letters published re
specting the Irish negotiations are to
be taken at their face value, the
prospect for peace is remote.
Prime Minister Lloyd George is
found to have made an offer of a
measure of self government. De
Valera is found to have treated it
with contumely. Lloyd George has
replied in principle that he has said
the last word.- Sir James Craig has
declared that Ulster at this stage
merely wishes to be left alone.
All of which brings us to the fact
that the peace in Ireland depends
now more than ever upon Irishmen.
It depends upon them either separate
ly or in co-operation agreeing to
manage their own domestic affairs.
Either course is now open to them.
Dominion Status Offered.
The British government has offered
a scheme of dominion self-government,
subject only to conditions im
posed by geography and also offer
ing to assist in harmonizing their
common, interest should Irishmen so
desire.
The next step is with Ireland. If
De Valera and his friends were to
accept the principles embodied in
Lloyd George's letter, or if Sir James
Craig were to express without stipu
lation a willingness to meet De Valera
and to discuss with him Irish govern
ment in the light of the new fact.
hen a road to further accommoda
tion might be found. But while De
Valera insists upon the impossible.
and Craig imposes conditions which
make a meeting with De Valera out
of the question, no sensible advance
can be made.
The position is much the same as
when Lloyd George Imposed an
abandonment of Ireland's claims to
separation as a condition to meeting
De Valera. Directly this condition
was withdrawn, a meeting arranged
and the door was opened to peace.
Sir James Craig should follow the
example of Lloyd Ueorge and De
Valera should descend to 'the realm
of realities.
Letter In I raprriwlTr.
General Smuts' letter is impressive.
The general goes straight to the heart
of things by pointing to the division
of the Irish people as the real diffi
culty. He advises the south of Ire
land to accept the government's offer
and to trust to good will and econom'c
interest ultimately to bring the north
into an all-Irish parliment.
But De Valera had received and
considered that letter before he re
plied to the prime minister, so that
presumably the general's advice had
but little effect. Since the publica
tion of the decuments the Sinn Feins
meeting in Dublin has certainly not
improved the chances of pacification.
De Valera has nothing but bitterness
and rancor to pour upon troubled
waters. His statements, however, ex
pressive of Irish aspirations, are not
applicable to a situation demanding
practical statesmanship.
Meantime the British people . are
perturbed. They ardently desire peace
and reconciliation, and are willing to
sanction any conclusion which may
be reached within the conditions laid
down in Lloyd George's offer, but
nevertheless there is some feeling of
resentment. It is felt that an in
dorsement of the offer involves on
their part a good deal of self-mortification.
King's Lead Followed.
The offer palliates, if it does n.t
justify, the Sinn Fein excesses. The
lead of the king has contributed to
the stilling of the opposition for
the moment and is shielding the gov
ernment from the adverse criticism
which might have been levelled
against it. But it would not be very
wise, because of that, for the Irish
leaders to indulge in a policy of pro
tr acted haggling or provocative
theorizing. In the event of a plebis
cite being taken ultimately, the result
might be found to have been preju
diced thereby.
There is, however, more Immediate
danger that the intemperate talk now
being indulged in may again inflame
passion in Ireland and lead to re
newed violence. In such an event
the resentment in Great Britain
AILVATHON NEL.IL'
9
r"-- A picturization of Edward Sheldon's
famous play first enacted by Minnie
- ' I Madden Fiske on the stage.
II ,
Great as was the stage
drama, keener still, in
its perception of mob
emotion, the hate, love
and jealousy of the
men and women of the
slums, is the screen pro
duction of "Salvation
Nell."
SCREENLAND NEWS
Extra! Dr. BrumfielcPs Arrival in Portland Extra!
being the only motion pictures of the famous
"man of mystery." In addition the home-grown
news shows a number of interesting local hap
penings it's good this week!
Knowles and the Picture Players have an
excellent score for "Salvation Nell."
TODAY
TODAY
would break into a conflagration. Or
if there should be a sudden breaking
away without settlement, there is at
once the risk of adopting measures
which would in the long run add
to the difficulties of ultimate settle
ment. Chance Considered at Hand.
Now is Ireland's opportunity, ill
she close with it? Judging irom l'b
Valera's speeches the answer would
appear to be in the negative. But it
is difficult to believe-he is serious
in Interposing impossible demands
again at this critical moment. If he
thinks he can improve on Lloyd
George's offer by raisinglssues where
with to bargain, he is laboring under
a fatal delusion. for the British
government would not be supported
by the people in further .concessions.
Gold Dollar Now Standard.
ROME, Aug. 20. (By the Asso
ciated Press.) The ministry of com
merce announced today that here-
after the gold dollar will replace the
pound sterling as the standard upon
which the Italian gold lira is based.
Federal Attorney Nominated. .
WASHINGTON. D. C, Aug. 20.
Fred M. Harriwon of Alaska was
nominated today to be United States
attorney for the second division of
the district of Alaska.
Home Brewer Fined $2 00.
A- fine of $200 was levied against
Helen Bakk of Astoria by Federal
Judge Bean yesterday when she
pleaded guilty to selling home brew.
Six Intoxicated persons and 25 gal
lons of home brew were found in the
woman's lodging house when it was
raided by federal prohibition agents
on July 2-
I
Phone your
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3
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