The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1907-12-08
National Lawmakers Think
The Ideas Expressed in the
Message Good, But Not
Practical at Present Time.
SENATORS MAY OPPOSE
POSTAL LEGISLATION.
New Congressional Directory
A Most Interesting Volume
-CorteIyou Likened as to
''King Wang" by Many.

Washington, Dec. THE attitude
of congress toward the presidents
message now that members have lad
an opportunity to study its recommen
dations carefully, may be summed up
as follows: g.
Most of his recommendation have
merit in them, but we doubt the wis
dom of attempting to enact them into
law at this session. The advice we
get from our constituents is that the
country wants rest-a sort OF
breathing spell. What may be called
the Roosevelt policies will in the main
all be adopted eventually; but with
the financial situation uncertain and
with a presidential election coming on
We think it best TO let most of the
presidents suggestions wait until the
next session or until a special session
Immediately after the presidential ell
ection.
This, be it understood. is not the
unanimous view of the republicans in
either senate or house by any means.
In each branch are republicans who
are anxious that congress shall pro-
ceed at once to carry out practically
all the recommendation the president
makes. Senator La Toilette, for in
stance, SAYS emphatically that the fl
nancial situation has not influenced
him to abandon his fight for more
drastic railroad legislation.
Sentiment in the House.
- Over in the house of representatives
perhaps one-third of the republican
members are willing to follow the
presidents advice.
What may be called the old guard
in both senate and house seems to be
fixed in the determination that there
shall not be any legislation inimical
to the business interests of the coun-
try at this session
Banks and Parcels Posts.
In both senate and house are some
ardent advocates of postal savings
banks and parcels posts, which the
president recommends be established.
but the members who control legisla-
| ton are at this time opposed to both
propositjOnH One point made against
postal savings banks is that in time of
war the people would draw their saw
ings from these banks and thus en-
barrass the government at a time
when it most needed money The one
vital objection TO the enactment of a
parcels posts law at this time is that
the government can not afford the ex-
pense. OF course il II be possible
that both these recommendation will
become law before the session ends,
but with the most Influential senator s
opposed to favorable action at this
session and with the speaker of the
| house and the chairman of the house
committee on postOf:ices and post
roads against both propositions it
seems improbable that favorable legis-
1atiOn can be put through.
Some far-seeing politicians are dis
posed to predict that if the republi-
cans are not careful they will make
a good deal of capital for the demo
Gratis before the winter is over. 1t
must be said for the minority that it
| seems to have more ginger in it than
| it has had for several years.
Directory is Instructive.
The new congressional directory is
| a highly instructive volume. The
! longest autobiography in it was con-
| tributed by an Iowa member, Daniel
! Webster Hamilton, democrat of Sig
Quincy, who tells how he labOred on a
farm and taught school. AS a climax
/ 10 he E+poa .ioI
a Quakeress and a resident of his
/ home country and they now have a
| ROoseveltian family of nine children -
/ In spite of the fact that William Alden
went to the senate and George W. of
| Illinois died, there are still five
| Smiths in the house. The shortest
autobiography is that of Representa-
tive Robert Bruce Macon of Arkan-
| sas, which occupies exactly three lines
and is so condensed that he does not
even give his age. Then there is
| Joseph Grant Beale. new republican
member from Pennsylvania who
| claims to be "a thoroughbred" This
| is what he says: Mr.. Beale's forefath-
ers came to this country with William
SuH, 81 AS SldiihS ti-dL lie 10 IuUF-
oughbred Pennsylvania. and his fore
| fathers, as well as himself, have been
| born in Pennsylvania until the mem
| DRY of man does not run to the con-
| trary." Another new member has
! pride of ancestry; this is Represen-
tative Richmond Pearson Hobson of
Merrimac fame, who boasts that he
is the tenth in descent from Elder
| Brewster of the Mayflower.
| corteiyou Like "kins Wang"
| Secretary Cortelyou is very much in
the position OF the gracious King