United States
1922-23. the 67th Congress, first called in special session by President Harding in April, jority proved to be unwieldly and was also divided more or less sharply within politics was the formation in this Congress of a legislative "bloc," representative in this case of the agricultural interests of the country, which by means of the bloc not only obtained a large share of agricultural legislation, but also of the American merchant marine by a subsidy, to which the agricultural sections of the country were opposed. Only On after eighteen months was a permanent tariff bill enacted, and to this long deafter eighteen months was a permanent ascribed the continuance of widespread business stagnation during most of 1921 and 1922. The revival of business was further postponed by two important strikes in 1922, the first involving almost 80 per cent of all the coal mines of the United States, and the second-that of United States, and the second that of in railroad equipment, the railway shopmen-leading to gradual deterioration service, and confidence. Other outstand- ing causes of uncertainty and unrest ing causes of und were found in the wi tion of the 18th Amendment on national prohibition which President Harding in December, 1922, described as savoring of nation-wide scandal; and, finally, the opposition of the Administration to the soldier bonus, culminating in September, 1922, in the presidential veto of a bonus bill passed by Congress. The congressional elections of November, 1922, resulted in great reductions in the Republican majorities in both houses of Congress. In the House of Representatives, the majority fell from 165 to 15, and in the Senate from 24 to 8, the Administration majorities in both houses being further reduced through replacement in many cases of Administration by anti- Administration Republicans. were found in the widespread open viola- FOREIGN AFFAIRS (
March 4, 1922-March 4, 1923.) British Debt Settlement.-(See FOR- EIGN DEBTS.) German Relations. - Full diplomatic Houghton as relations with Germany resumed April German Relations.-Full diplomatic 20, 20, 1922, with Alanson B.
Ho ambassador to Berlin. German-Ameri- can Patent Convention of 1909 revived. ambassador to Berlin. German-Ameri- UNITED STATES A Mixed Claims Commission was established by agreement of August 10, 1922, to determine the claims of American citizens for damages to property or interests arising out of the war and for debts owed Americans by Germany or her nationals. The last American troops were withdrawn from the Rhine, January, 1923. America's attitude toward the reparations question, as publicly expressed by Secretary Hughes, December 29, 1922, was that a body of financial experts should determine what Germany was able to pay and devise a workable plan of payment.
Haiti. The final report of the Senate Committee to investigate charges of maladministration in Haiti was made June 26, 1922. The American occupation was justified throughout, as having been necessary in the beginning to uphold the Monroe Doctrine and having been continued since 1915 with high credit, on the whole, to the U. S. Marine Corps.
The Committee recommended the indefinite continuance of American occupation, with increased constructive services of various kinds. International Economic Conferences. -The American government declined to take part in European economic conferences held at Genoa and the Hague, April and June, 1922, on the ground that they were largely political in character and that nothing was to be done for Russia during the continuance of the present regime there. A resolution proposed by Senator Borah authorizing and requesting the President to call an international economic conference to deal with European conditions, was opposed by the President in a letter to Senator Lodge, December 27, 1922, and was temporarily withdrawn.
League of Nations. By invitation of the League of Nations, the United States in 1922 appointed representatives on several advisory committees connected mainly with the Health Section of the League. (See LEAGUE OF NATIONS:
HEALTH SECTION.) American objections to various League mandates were removed by negotiations prior to July, 1922, except in the case of Mesopotamia or Irak. On February 24, 1923, President Harding requested the consent of the Senate to a plan for American participation in the Permanent Court of International Justice, the United States to join with the members of the League in the selection of judges of the court and in its maintenance.
Liberia. A loan of $5,000,000, originally promised to Liberia by the United States in 1918, was defeated by the Senate November 27, 1922, in spite of an UNITED STATES appeal by President Harding that the country was morally bound by its previous pledge.
Mexican Relations. - (See MEXICO.) Near Eastern Interests. - The United States was invited to participate in the Near Eastern Conference held at Lausanne, but declined to do so except by observers instructed to advise the other Powers in regard to Americans attitude on various subjects. The American program included the maintenance of Turkish capitulations, protection of educational and religious religious institutions in Turkey, maintenance of the open door policy in that country, and suitable provisions for the protection of minorities. The United States also advocated freedom of the Turkish Straits. Ambassador Richard Washburn Child headed the American delegation of "observers," and presented the point of view of Mr. Harding's administation.
Norwegian Ship-Contracts Case,based on claims of Norwegian shipping companies against the United States Shipping Board for the value of contracts placed with American shipyards and taken over by the Shipping Board during the World War. Heard by the Hague Court of Arbitration, which awarded aw Norway Norway $12,000,000 and interest. (October 13, 1922.) Payment was made February, 1923, but with a statement by the United States Government that it could not accept the award as a precedent.
LEGISLATIONS AND COURT DECISIONS (March 4, 1922-March 4, 1923.) Agricultural Credits Act, -approved March 4, 1923, extending rural credits through twelve intermediate farm loan banks, each with a capital of $5,000,000 subscribed by the Government.
Cable Act, approved September 22, 1922, providing that American women marrying aliens shall not by that act lose American citizenship and requiring alien married women to be naturalized independently of their husbands.
Child Labor Law Decision. - (See CHILD LABOR.) Coal Fact-Finding Commission,created by act of Congress, September, 1922, to study the conditions existing in the coal industry with a view to determining the causes of persistent labor troubles and of making recommendations for their prevention. The Commission was authorized to study the question of nationalization of the coal mines, and was ordered to make a report as speedily as possible on wages, costs of operation, etc. John Hays Hammond was elected chairman.
UNITED STATES UNITED STATES Fordney McCumber Tariff Act, -effect- continued to August measure, with an average of rates somemeasure, with an average of rates somewhat higher than those of the last Remendation of the Tariff Commission, to gives the President power, on recomraise or lower rates within certain limits, such action to be based in general on raise or lower rates within certain limits, such action to be based in general on the principle of meeting differences in costs of production at home and abroad.
Japanese Naturalization Decision, rendered November 13, 1922, by the United States Supreme Court. Japanese cannot become citizens of the United States under existing statutes. privileges of naturalization are declared by this decision to have been restricted by Federal statutes from the beginning of the nation to free white persons and those of African birth and descent. vs.
Labor Unions' Liability Decision, rendered by the Supreme Court June 5, 1922, in United Mine Workers vs. Coronado Coal Co. Labor unions are declared to be suable under the Sherman Anti-Trust Law for damages caused by strikes, and their strike funds to be subject to execution of judgments. Women's Wage Law Decision, -by District of Columbia Court of Appeals, Notrict of Columbia Court of Appeals, Nowomen to special protection by law in the matter of minimum wages.
MISCELLANEOUS (March 4, 1922-March 4, 1923.) American Legion. - Major Alvin M.
Owsley of Texas elected national commander October 20, 1922. An overwhelming vote of the 1922 convention was in favor of the enactment of a soldiers' bonus law.
Army. Further reduction of the army to 125,000 enlisted men was made Army.-Further reduction of the sponding reduction in the number of officers made it necessary that one in every seven be dropped prior to January 1, 1923. Many voluntarily resigned.
Coal Strike. April 1 to September, 1922, involving 80 per cent of the coal mines of the U. S., anthracite and bituminous. The main cause of the strike was a threatened reduction of wages in the bituminous mines. Efforts made by President Harding to end the strike and was a threatened reduction of wages in under promise of federal protection failed. An agreement continuing old wage scales and conditions in the bituminous mines to April 1, 1923, was signed at under promise of federal protection failed. An agreement continuing old strike settlement signed at Philadelphia September 2d, with the old wage scale ast 31, 1923. A new wage scale for the bituminous fields was signed January 23, 1923, to become operative April 1, 1923. Terms practically the same as those of the expiring contract.
Immigration. During the first year (q. v.), Italy supplied the greatest numunder the Immigration Restriction Law ber of immigrants to the United States, 42,089, the full quota permitted. Great Britain and Ireland used less than half the quota of the United Kingdom, 35,935 out of an allowable 77,206. Poland exsian immigrants numbered 22,891 out of ceeded its quota of 26,103 by 500. Rusa permissible total of 34,247. Germany sent 16,158 immigrants or about 28 per cent of its quota of 68,039. In general, than half of the quotas allowed them, northern and western Europe sent less while southern and eastern European then restricted by the operation of the countries used their full quotas, being Restrictive Law. The Law was extended with some amendments to July 1, 1924.
The total number of immigrants admis- White foreign-born residents of the Ú. S. sible for 1922-23 was fixed at 357,903. and those whose parents were foreignborn numbered 36,398,958 on January 1, 1920. Of this number 13,713,754 were 11 per cent of these were unable to themselves immigrants and 1,488,948 or speak English.
Ku Klux Klan. - Activities of the Klan in Louisiana led to a conference between Federal authorities, November, 1922. The Governor Parker of that state and the murder of two citizens of Mer Rouge, La., attributed to members of the Klan, Federal authorities, November, 1922. The La., attributed to members of the Kla aroused nation-wide indignation. Curb- ing of the Klan's activities was discussed by a conference of state governors in ing of the Klan's activities was discussed December, and steps were taken in Kan- sas and other states for the Klan's suppression. Navy. A cut in the enlisted personnel of the navy from 100,000 to 86,000 men a spirited contest with the "small navy" was made by Congress, June, 1922, after group who desired the number to be cut to 67,000. The reduction necessitated putting a large number of destroyers out of commission. Construction on all new capital ships except the "West Virginia" and the "Colorado," as allowed by the Five-Power Naval Treaty, was By order of Secretary continued during the year, and the scrapping provisions of the Treaty were set in motion.
By were consolidated into a single United Denby, the Atlantic and Pacific fleets States fleet under one supreme command.
States fleet under one supreme command. dis- VILNA 104 WOMEN'S WAGE LAW DECISION Railway Shopmen's Strike, - July 1 to September, 1922. Following the announcement of a reduction in wages ordered by the Railroad Labor Board, about 90 per cent of the railway shopmen of the nation went on strike July 1, 1922. A proposal by President Harding to bring about a settlement July 31st was rejected by the railroads on the ground that they could not restore the striking shopmen with "seniority" rights unimparied. A sweeping injunction obtained by Attorney-General Daugherty September 1st, restraining the strikers and all affiliated organizations of the American Federation of Labor from interfering in any way with the operation of the railroads, greatly heightened feeling and brought about an appeal to the workers of the country to resist writs of injunction in labor disputes. Final settlement of the strike was made in September on the basis of an agreement in which no mention was made of seniority rights and under which the strikers returned to work at the prevalent rates of wages.