The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-06

udb Ueeu TeQOEV6O ~ saying tn0t the
senate needs stirring up" Probably
that is true to certain extent. but rest
assured that the gentleman from Ar
kansas will not do the stirring. That
digniRei body has partially suppress
sed Tillman, and it will succeed with
the new aspirant for notoriety. One
reason for the ease with which a new
member of congress is suppressed is
that all legislation is handled by the
leaders, the various committees whip
ping the material into shape after an
outline has been given. Votes in con-
gress are not made by eloquence on
the floor, but by dlctation of leaders
and "swapping':-you vote for my bill
and will vote for yours.
Row About Soldiers.
There will be a pretty row in con-
gress this winter regarding the dis
honorable discharge of three compan-
les of colored troops because they
would not reveal the names Of several
comrades who are said to have shot
up town in Texas. The idea prevails
to certain extent that not all the men
could have known the identity of the
guilty parties. It is certain that sew
eral resolutions will be introduced,
some calling for information Of the
subject and others directing their re-
instatement Congress will be little
slow in ordering their reinstatement,
however, for the president would
surely veto it.
The appropriation committee of con-
gress has been at work for some weeks
shaping their supply bills, and one
of the first obstacles they bumped into
was "simplified" spelling. The presi-
dents order requiring the use of the
300 words recommended by the SIM
plified spelling board has been gen.
orally followed by the various depart
ments, but when 1t came to making
laws a new condition arose. Con-
gress will settle the matter one way or
the other-probably in favor of the
orthodox method within few days.
Apropos of simplified spelling the
methods of the government printing
office are receiving much needed
overhauling. The present public print
er is coming in for considerable criti-
cism, but what public officer endeav-
oring to change time-honored and
moth-eaten methods is not held up to
ridicule? There has not been single
government official for years who has
endeavored to do his duty and his
whole duty who has escaped. Regard
less of the howl the greatest printing
Office in the world is being brought to
sensible basis. Employees work
eight hours, get eight hours pay, and
do not get fired" II their politics are
not right; materials are purchased at
the lowest price, AMI the endeavor is
being made to increase the product
by concentrating the plant.
One great reform being worked out
by the public printer is in the sale of
public documents. The superintendent
Of documents is rearranging the sys-
tenn Of handling governmental publi-
cations with a view to facilitating de-
livery and Capitalization of distribu-
ton. When this plan Is in operation
the people of the United States
will be informed through press notices
dn news, agricultural and technical
papers of the issuance of various re-
ports and bulletins. the price, and
where to obtain them.
The government charges cost price
for it's publications, and Of course an
increased demand will reduce even
the small charges made at present.
Even with the added cost of compo-
sition the present editions of govern
ment publications sell for from five to
fifty cents. What is the use of having
several hundred experts making In
vestigations Of various subjects and
then printing couple of thousand
copies of their reports-never to be
heard from again? Create a demand
for 100000, and the country will soon
decide whether the investigations
should go on. It is hoped that con-
gress will relieve the;situation by Gen.
tralizing the distribution in the docu-
ments Office and sell every volume-not
give them away to people who wish to
fill bookcases with finely bound books
and have a friend in congress.
"Clerks" Make Great Men.
Every few days the papers are full
of the great deeds in governmental
administration Of this man and that.
A great speech is made; a wonderful
decision rendered; a great discovery
of fraud in some branch of the service.
Wherein does their greatness lie? In
having "gumption" enough to take
advantage of the desire of their clerical
force for advancement. The guiding
hands of the federal government have
time to play tennis, to take horseback
rides. to go on hunting and vacation
trims on.l To oniox. kho mood thin c.e 1,f