The Washington herald., 1906-12-08

The President mustn't use simplifed
spelling in his messages and other state
papers. The House Committee on Appro-
priauons won't let him.
OF course, the House may take another
view Of the case, but there can be no
doubt as TO the attitude of the committee
in the premises The legislative, exeeu-
tive. and judicial appropriation bill re-
ported yesterday afternoon, after long
delay, occaSioned by the opposition of
Mr.. Gillett of Massachusetts. to the
wishes Of his colleague on the committee,
contained the following paragraph:
Hereafter. in printing documents au-
thorized by law OF ordered by Congress or
either branch thereof, the Government
Printing Office shall follow the rules of
orthography established by websters. or
other generally accepted dictionaries Of
the English language
The bill carries a total of $50 80. .6S3 and
viii be taken up in the House on Monday.
The Committee on Appropriations want
ed a unanimous report on it, but Mr..
Gillett held out for four hours. lie made
speech after speech in favor of simplifed
spelling, and finally became excited when
he found a majority of the committee
opposed to him.
who are we?" Mr.. GiHett asked.
who are we? A small body of men
trying to interfere with a great reform
that has been inaugurated by the Pres-
dent of the United States"
Committee Not Impressed.
The other members Of the committee
We're not very much impressed with this
line OF argument but Mr Giuett con-
tinued It, until the House finally took a
recess of twenty minutes while waiting
for the bill to be reported
The members were giving up all hope
of securing a unanimous report They
pleaded with Mr. Gillett and laughed at
him, but all to no purpose. It looked
as il the committee would split on the
rock Of simplifed spelling.
"SimpIhed spelling huhr' one member
said The President probably saved
about JIG words by his simplined spelling
In his message, and the additional proof
reading and editing and correcting il
viii take before It goes out viii cost
500 That's simplified spelling for you
] can't see the use Of hddling round
here wasting time on the thing.
Informal conferences of the members
showed a determination TO report the
bill as it stood, with or without Mr. Gill
lett. When he saw the drift. ne annOunc-
ed his intention of concurring in the re-
port, but served notice that he would
make a fight for the simplifed method on
the floor.
The bill provides for 14.727 goverpuknt
salaries, 2J2 less than the number 4 b.
mitted in the Secretary of the Treas ~ s
estimates, and twenty-nine more IN
last year
There IS general feeling that in
creaSes Of salaries are necessary, ana.
confident that their own salaries will be
increased by the Sixtieth Congress. the
members of the House are expected to be
generous.
Secretaries Get Increase
Right at the start the bill increases the
salaries of clerks to members from
$1,2oo TO $l50O a year. The joker in the
item is that the requirement that has
been in every other appropriation bin
that the Member or Delegate certify that
he has paid or agreed to pay the sum. is
omitted from this bill IN the past it has
been frequently charged that members
were in the habit of paying out only
part of the allowance for clerk lire and
pockeGng the balance.
Some members Of Congress appoint their
sons or daughters, or wives or sisters. OF
cousins 10 be their clerks and draw. down
the fun amount. In some instances small
boys, the sons or nephews of members. /
have drawn the allowance while attending
school here
Representative Littauer. Of New York.
who refused a denomination to the Six
tieth Congress, has been selected TO pre-
sent the bill by which members hope TO
get their salaries increased from $500 to
S7,5oo
Desires General Raise.
The prospects of getting their own pay
raised has opened the hearts Of the men,
bCrs, and Representative Southwick. Of
New York yesterday introduced a bill to
increase the pay Of every empIoye Of the
government. excepting the President, Vice
President. and Senator's and Representa-
tives, 10 per cent. Mr.. Southwick takes
the ground that the. increased cost of Iiv-
ing. together with the fact that the great
corporations Of the country are increasing
the pay Of their employees. makes an ad-
VaPCe here necessary.
The bill Increases the salary Of Speaker
Cannon's secretary, Mr. L. White Busby.
Sl,o00 year, and the salary of Clerk of
the House Mcdowell is increased from
$500 to S4,o00.
Public Printer Stillings will get an in
crease of 1,500 a year. making his sal
airy $500. If the House follows the recon- /
T1Gnflg fforae Of