Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1905-02-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Jan. %, 1905.

week, when railroad rate legislation being
Representative John Sharp Williams,
appealed in his efforts to curb the power
/ of the railways ssWe are committed to
this proposition because it is Democratic
i 10 principles, declared Mr.. Williams, ''and
do not hesitate to say that we are glad to
4 find the President of the United States on
the question is more of an American citi-
zen, more interested in the welfare of all
people, than any particular Democrat or
4 Republican Then turning to the Repub-
I licans Mr. Williams said, We will toe
and we call on you as American citizens to
+ help us to toe-marl1 themn Mr. Williams
remarks were greeted by burst of applause
from both sides of the chamber, although
it was noteworthy that many Of the Re
publican leaders, among them, Cannon,
who was rot in the chair, Dalzell, Gros-
venor, Payne and others failed to applaud
and even looked disguised
Mr.. Williams remarks followed soon
after caucus of the Democratic members
of the House at which it was determined to
support the President in his movement for
railway rate control, such action, it having
been argued, being dictated by patriotic
motives which should stand above partison
considerations. It is also true that the
Democrats in the Senate will stand solidly
in support of any measure sent over from
the House which carries into effect the
Presidents recommendations, although it
is entirely possible, even probable, that
Senator Elzins. as chairman of the Senate
committee on Interstate commerce, will
be able to prevent any measure of real
value being reported to the Senate
That there is no possibility Of railway
legislation at this session is conceded by
those familiar with the legislative situation
The Senate leaders have craftily brought
about a situation which precludes the
possibility of any important legislative
enactment before March 4. To accomplish
this end they once more made too of the
ever willing junior Senator from Indiana,
Mr. Beveridge Senator Beveridge was
told to bring in the Statehood bill. and
Che leaders would help him pass it, al
though they never intended so doing Mr.
Beveridge, never loath to assume a roll
which makes him the centre of attraction,
gladly responded and for days and weeks
the Statehood bill has dragged its weary
way through the Senate, Mr.. Beveridge
believing he was making progress, while
the leaders declared that nothing could
be done until Statehood was disposed of
and all the while were laughing in their
sleeves. T" Now it has become evident, even
to Mr.. Beveridge that he cannot pass his
bill, but he does not even now how that
he has been made the cats-paw of the
leaders
The best policies of the President nave
ne more spacious friend, no more covert
enemy, than Speaker Cannon. The Presi-
dent recently declared that any govern
ment employee who exerted influence with
members of Congress to obtain an increase
of salary must be discharged This did not
please Mr.. Cannon, who is an ardent spoiis-
man, and he Immediately passed the word
that lump funds must be abolished, and
so they are being. Lump funds are
appropriations made in lump sums for the
several departments, so made that the
respective cabinet officers may, at their I
discreet u reward worthy employees with
increase of salary. Opposed to the lump
fund" is the Statutory roll, y that is
list of places for which Congress fixes the
salaries. Clerks in all departments are
beng transferred to the statutory roll so
that their salaries cannot be increased ex-
cept by Congress, and those who actually
deserve, and to whom their chiefs would
like to give increases, must appeal to mem
beers of Congress or go without
Another instance of MIR. Cannon's efforts
to defeat the wishes of the President recently
came to the attention of your correspondents
Inc FIesldent extended the civil service (
classification to include some 600 employees
appointed as 'laborersn but doing clerical
work and having served several years. AS
long as they were ''laborers'' they could not
be paid over S75 month. Several secre-
taries wished to promote the more efficient
of these employees and to that end asked the
President to include them in the classified /
service. Heidi soand Immediately the House
provided that clerks so classified should re-
ceive maximum salary of S75 month, /
thus defeating the intention of the Presi-
dent and demonstrating to the clerks that
they must acquire influence" with con-
gress if they ever hoped to better their con-
dition