The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-01-27
Probable Action of Congress
Regarding Railroads.
EXTRA SESSION MAY BE AVOIDED
Why Speaker Cannon Admires
Chairman Burton - Being Honest
Versus Being Law DEMONSTRATIONS
Not the "Father of the senate.

nau better Dt iAlONlnS WY HNANh'J' -
does not look as if there will be any
legislation unless perhaps provision Is
made for thorough investigation OF
the subject by commission. But
actual legislation of Importance along
the line which was advocated by the
president, shippers and railroad com
mission men Of different states seems
almost impossible in the time yet re-
manning in the short session OF con-
gress 1t is true that the president has
said there must be railroad legislation
or an extra session. L think the extra
session can be avoided by providing
commission TO investigate the whole
subject during the summer. Extra
session threats can compel some KINDS
of legislation, but not such measures
as have been proposed and which are
opposed by the railroads.
Cannon and Burton.
Chairman Burton of the rivers and
harbors committee and Speaker Can
non have not always agreed upon mat
tiers in the house. but each has pro-
found respect for the other. Burton
believes i'm the rugged honesty ana
sterling integrity of Cannon. He does
not indulge In the familiar term Uncle
Joe" when addressing or speaking or
Cannon. He is Mr. Speaker" or Mr..
Cannon" so far as Burton is concern
ed. Cannon admires the scholarship
and culture of Burton and speaks OF
him i'm the highest terms. lie IRE
uuently consults him about matters
pertaining to the house, especially such
as come under the management or the
Ohio man. 1t is generally believed
that Speaker Cannon would be glad to
advance Burton to the Craftsmanship
of more important committee if he
could see his way clear to do so. The
appropriations committee has been sug-
/ gested.
Law Honest"
In the house there was a discussion
/ about cotton statistics and reports, and
! Representative Williams of Mississippi
remarked that cotton mill men natural
/ ly concealed the status of consumption
of cotton so as to "bear' the market
and reduce the price Of raw cotton,
adding, "They would naturally do that
rs far as they honestly could" Rep
resentative Baker took exception to
the use of the word honestly" and
Williams replied:
Il meant legitimately. My father
was once asked, Kit, is So-and-so hon
estp and my father replied by saying
He is law honestY l am talking OF
keeping within the law. l see nothing
dishonest about ones Withholding in
formation relative to his business wher
the information is not required by law
Now we desire to require 1t by law"
, Father of the Senate.
) Occasionally some one refers to Sena
tor Pettus of Alabama as the 'fathel
of the senate" OF course he is fal
!, from it. In fact, he is q Junior, as TWEEN
, ty-nine senators rank him in length o.
service 1t is true he is nearly eighty
four years of age and the Oldest man IL
, the senate, but~it is length Of continu
, Gus service that determines the ques
ton of fatherhood in the senate as wei
as in the house. General Harry Bing
. ham is father Of the house" because b
: has the longest continuous service, al
! though Uncle Joe Cannon has serve'
| much longer. Cannon's service was III
terrupted by defeat in 1890. the yea
Of the big landslide.
Public Buildings? No!
II is not the intention of the me
who are managing affairs in congress
to pass a public building bill at thi
session. Like the river and harbo
measure and the general omnibu
g claims bill, public building bill mus
now be an omnibus affair and care fo
v enough places to secure IL majority {
votes. There is something Of d'
" mand for public buildings, too, an
10 some Of the most insistent member
say that a bill caring for all place
where buildings are urgent could |
passed for the same money that is pl
in one battleship. 1t would not be
Ii all surprising if the economy is ca
81 ried too far that raid should be mac
ID on the navy and army bills.
of Too Much CaVaIry.
l Ie Army men outside Of the cavalry ar
ID will no doubt warmly support Senate
=. SCOTS bill to reduce the cavalry fly
ng regiments The cavalry has been &c
ting very much the best of the arm
places. The last two lieutenant gene
ais were cavalrymen. and several III
jor generals and brigadier generals n
from that branch of the service. Is
h, the time has come when the cavalry
II. not needed as il was in the days of l
or dian wars, and the reduction is likely
e "Record" Bills.
u Members of both senate and hou
continue to introduce bills regardle
of the fact that they can receive
consideration at this session. Most
them are simply record makil
-, measures presented to show how {
20 senator or member proposing the
70 stands on the subject covered. IL
u" haps some of them will commend thel
selves to the country when they a
better understood, but so far this 81
- sion there Is nothing more I'm the WI
se. of new and important legislation to