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182
THE WISCONSIN IDEA

ments and criticisms which had been presented to him. If asked why he does not go directly to the commission and find the truth, he invariably replies that when he did go to that office he met a crowd of experts who could prove anything to him and things were so complicated that he only made a fool of himself. This man however, would feel much stronger if we adopted the European policy and called the commission before the legislature. He would be bold and they would be on the defence. As Sir Arthur Cunningham of the British home office remarked to the writer, "If old Maggie Malone of County Cork does not receive her old age pension we may be called upon to give the reason." The author witnessed John Burns undergoing a severe test before parliament one day and consequently has great respect for the question as a vigorous expedient to apply to some of these new commissions which are coming into existence, not only in Wisconsin but all over the country.

In the case of the proposed Interstate trade commission, supplementing the Sherman anti-trust act, the members should be subject to recall by a majority vote of congress. It is the belief of the author that sooner or later such a plan will be developed in addition to the program which has been laid down in Wisconsin. When all is said, there is no sure cure-all in commissions. It is a good thing once in a while—not too often—for the