The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-02-21

Washington, Feb 21.-The congress
Of the United States is in hole! It
Is a hole of their own digging, pre-
pared for the deliberate purpose of
preventing legislation of an "obnox-
ious" nature, as predicted several
weeks ago. Members Of congress come
here in the fall full of hope, ambition,
and often with a genuine desire to do
that which the people of the country
are demanding. But there are other
considerations than the desires" of
the people, and in the end the men,
bership of both branches of congress
are made cognizant of the fact.
But few measures are advocated in
the NATIONAL capitol that do not affect
business interests" and business men
particularly political business men
know how to attain to that which
they most desire. There Is no graft,
no buying and selling of votes-that
is left for the lesser political lights
termed ward healers. But campaign
subscriptions, positions on the direc-
torates of different companies, all have
an important bearing on the subject.
It is comparatively easy to swing SEN
timent in regard to any measure by
the statement of one side of the ques-
ton, and advantage Is taken of this
characteristic to bring popular senti-
ment to the aid Of any important deal.
Hearst was held up to ridicule last
week fer introducing bill to prevent
the buying of votes on election day.
and the corrupt" use of money in any
manner. Now comes the intelligence
that Willie is hard at work through his
political henchmen to make his infiu-
ence fe.t at the next political conven-
ton. Reports from the independent
CO league show wonderful activity in
Indiana, Iowa, and other western
states, and this action is only OBJ
tanned through the use of money. How
the yellow Kid" can differentiate be-
tween 81 spent for the direct purchase
of votes and $1,OO spent to hire pro-
fessional boomers is beyond compre-
flensiOn.
Our friend William jay" Brian,
whose wife lost her Pullman car Sleep
ing car pass during the last election,
is beginning to sit up and take no.
tice as the time draws near for another
political campaign, but this action is
necessary to maintain his income. He
is fed from the notoriety he receives,
else his literary gems in the Common
er and other papers would fall fiat,
and w. j. B. knows on which side his
bread Is buttered.
The house of representatives has, as
predicted, killed the appropriation for
a 100000 gun foundry, although the
testimony adduced to show that 1t
would pay for itself within a few
years, besides being great conven-
fence in the matter of deliveries of
material. When the dron and steel
interests of the United States can
through member Of the senate force
the government to divide a contract
for armor plate between the independ-
ent and trust companies, although the
independent company's bid was the
lowest, there is no danger of a mono
poly being put out Of business. 1t is
all right for a senator to practice"
before the heads of departments, pro-
vided he stands in, but how about Bur-
ton who for a few hundred dollars is
serving term in the penitentiary be-
cause he did not stand in?
The treasury department is about
to adopt the double entry" system
of bookkeeping used by practically
every grocer in the land! The gov
eminent is not behind the times! If
a minor government employee desires
a broken chair repaired, or minor con-
veniences, he pays for them out of his
own pocket rather than unwind the
miles of red tape necessary to get
them. The avidity with which a chief
clerk will turn down a requisition for
a dollar or two in supplies is only ex-
ceeded in his desire to sign the re-
quests of the department heads for
thousands of dollars worth of use
less junk.
AS soon as influential men could get
a chance at the post Office department
a different version Of the recent order,
postal employees from OPEN
ing their mouths, was announced. OF
course there are indiscreet men in the (
seIvice, yet that did not merit the |
blanket keep your mouth shut" or
der There Is as much loyalty to the
square inch among the minor employ
es Of the government as with the "su-
perior officers" az they delight to
style themselves. and this is best IL
Illustrated by the manner in which they !