The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-12-25
FIFTY.SEYEN
CONGRESS.
The More Notable of the Weeks
Doings.f

DOingss.i
Maryland is asking for $4,000 to erect
a monument to the memory of Gen. Ohio
Holland Williams, in contmemoration Of
his services in the Revolutionary War.
This monument they wish to erect above
his grave in Riverview Cemetery, Viii
Transport, Md. A whole century seems
to be good while to wait to erect mon
ument above a mans grave. Anyhow,
what is the matter with Maryland putting
up the monument herself?
80
At the last session Of Congress about
so Public Building bills were passed,
whereat there was great rejoicing IN oo
cities throughout the country. Now, every
single city that gets a Public Building is
coming back to Congress for a. larger ap-
preparation. Was there method in the
madness which scaled down the estimates
SO that they would pass muster when I'm
Gle Joseph" tackled them in the Commit
tee on Appropriations?
Mr.. Boreins Q1y.) has introduced . bill
plsyees" Of the Government Printing Of
fee, such as laborers, helpers, skilled help
ers, drivers, messengers, watchmen, and
clerks, % per cent. ON their; present wages.
Why "male"? Are ALI the efficient "fe-
male" helpers, skilled workwomen, Ia
borers and clerks to be excluded from this
benefcent bill2 This may not be class
legislation, but it certainly looks like sex
legislation of the most vicious kind. A
woman who does the same kind Of work
that . man does, is entitled to exactly the
same pay, if she does it as well. II Mr..
Boreing gets that bill through and sur
wives, he is equal to anything. The MEM
bers who vote for it will not insist on a
roll-call, however.
When Mr.. Maynard (Va.) gets his bill
through, the officers Of the National
Guard of the States and Territories Of the
United States may frank all their official
mail. The bill is not framed to cover the
transmission of soiled linen or bric-a-brac.
Up In North Dakota there is a woman
named Nellie Eft Heen. The Nellie Eft
part belonged to white woman named
Parker, who espoused a disciple Of Con
fucius surnamed Heen, hence the present
combination of cognomens. Heen himself
migrated to North Dakota in 1875 and
settled on a piece Of land, to which he
final proof on the 100 acres, the Land
Office scornfully rejected the same, and
told the Chinaman to 60 hence, as NO man
with his Gu: of eyes could homestead land
in the United States. 1t seems little odd
that the first papers could be taken out
and the last refused, but Government red
tape is past common tiAtang ling, and il
seems that such can be the case. There
is a child, or children, and Nellie has
made him a good wife, ss1>Heen has come
to Congress for aid. Nsi9e Eft ,Heen, the
wife, being citizen Of the United States
by birth, is to becomeka, citizen for the
purpose Of proving .upf on. the homestead
and receiving the patent, which looks 9
good deal like strainiP3,Rt q gate and
swallowing sawmill. ivy -
Mr.. 'DeArmond Gfo.) proposes an amend
ment to the Constitution aAiakinY change
in Inaugural dates, the SAME to come on
the Both OF April. instead OF the 4th ri
March. There should be no kick coming
on such IAN amendment March lis the
nastiest month OF the ig III Washington
and has absolutely nothing to recomment
it. 1t is a well known fact that seyera
Presidents have nearly caught their dealt
Henry Harrison did, and for that reason
il no other, the date should be changed
The Inauguration of President has come
to be one Of the great gala days in the
National Capital, and people come froE
the far corners Of our possessions to b.
present. They should be greeted witt
smiling skies and balmy breezes, if posi-
BILE. They are likely to get them in April
There should be no sentiment hanging
round March 4, because the very frs
Inauguration was held on April 80. Tina
was the day that Washington took tn,
oath Of Office. He ought to have taken i
on the 4th, but the Indictment weather ant
other things kept him from getting to New
York on time, so the Inauguration wa,
held over till April 30, and Washington
made pretty good President, for thos,
days. even II he did run the risk Of lop
ping off whole two months of his Presi
dental salary by the delay. 1t will be {
change in the right direction,
| s"s-,s ~
Mr.. DeArmdnd also wants the time o.
the converting Of Congress changes
from March 4 to Jan. 8, beginning
at noon, Jan. 8, 1907. The pre-
vious Congress to end at the hour, OF
the 9Th when the; new Congress takes it.
seat. There is room for Improvement il
that date, too. Under the Constitution a,
| it now stands. a man is elected to Con
gress a year and month before he take.
his seat, and his term ends on the 4th day
of March Of the second year. 1t has Ions
been talked that it would be wise to cleo
members of the House In November, ant
let them take their seats in January, bu
to change the time Of ending the term i.
rather new idea. &c.,
|
The present law has some advantages
A newly-elccted member has a chance t.
come to Washington and study Congress!
| for year before he becomes q member II
fact. He thus has an opportunity to ia
miliarize himself with the practices Of tn,
House and to make himself more &C
ceptable representative of his constitu
ents.. Not a great many avail themselve.
Of this privilege, however, SO 1t may b.
advisable to make that change also. L
has been argued that in this day of sud
den political changes, O man may outgrov
the goodwill of his constituents before h,
has had chance to serve them aftel
election. 1t is not likely that this change
will be made, howevercTIf Inaugural Day
is changed, it is more than probable tina
the term Of Congress will be extended tt
meet that date. ts,r
Mr.. Often (wis.) is kRfHtser the prize pack
age men, and IL possible will make it {
criminal offense to put in packages Of
chewing tobacco, fineciftI ocigarets, cigars
etc.. any kind Of prize,1'ffor shall any o.