The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-21

De Almond Wants Several Constita-
tional chanses-Why an Extra sss-
sion Is Not Likely 70 Be Held.
BY CHARLES w. ARTHUR.
Washington. Feb. p. TSpeciai. IA
striking evidence. Of the ease with
which congress can reverse itself has
been furnished by the house. During
the consideration Of the naval appro-
priation bill in committee Of the whole
Of that body 1t was decided by a vote
OF III to so to appropriate 100000 to
enlarge the gun foundry at the Wash
lngton navy yard The only opposition
70 the project came from the Penn
sylyania delegation and few other
members who come from. districts
which contain private foundries and
casting plants. In the course OF the
discussion various authorities were cit
ed TO show that long and expensive
delays frequently occur as a result OF
having castings and forgings for big
guns, etc, made by private concerns
and that the government plants are
best for the purpose. Yet the very
next day the same members who took
this action in committee Of the whole
voted In the house to eliminate the
foundry amendment. The vote was
lt0 TO 1eS, on a greater majority
against the amendment than there was
for II the day before. Overnight con
gressmen in sympathy with the steel
trust, which now enjoys practically
monopoly OF contracts for castings and.
forEings for the government. made a
canvass of members and induced many
TO about face and vote against what
they had voted for the previous day.
Causes Lack of Respect.
1t is such things as this that have
the Inevitable effect Of causing the
general public to lose respect for the
lawmakers. OF course there are many
honest, sincere and conscientious men
In both senate and house. but the two
bodies as whole must be Judged by
the formal acts OF majority of the
members of each. Thus. while many
senator's and Representatives opposed
the increase Of congressional salaries
from 5000 to $500 year, major
lty in both houses voted for the raise,
and congress as a whole must take the
consequences. In the house those In
charge of the movement were too pu-
sillanimous to permit record vote on
the subject the last time, after the pro-
posed increase had been defeated by
the first record vote. and the house as
whole must bear the stigma OF that
dlscreditable act as we'll. Both Demo
Gratis and Republicans were RESPONSE
BILE for this; but the gun foundry
amendment. first added to the naval
bill by mixed vote, was finally de-
feated by the Republicans alone. All
the 100 votes against the amendment
in the house were Republican. while
Of the 1Os votes for it twenty were
Republicans and the remainder Demo
Gratis.
De Almond In the Linelisht.
Representative De Almond Of Mis-
souri, is the subject OF much newspaper
comment these days. His suggestion
for constitutional convention TO de-
eide on changes in our basic law which
he thinks are necessary has been wide
" discussed. and series of bills, all
aimed at constructive legislation, also
have attracted considerable attention.
Mr.. De Almond realizes that there is
not the slightest chance for the pas
sage OF any of his bills at this session,
but he thinks that the reforms for
which he is contending will be inaugu-
rated all the sooner by getting the
facts about them before the people. It
Is interesting to note in connection
with the proposed constitutional con
vention that the constitution OF the
United States has not been changed In
hundred years except In so far as
are concerned the last three amend
ments, added as a result OF the civil
war. Mr.. De Almond and others think
that the different conditions which
century has brought about warrant
changes in even such a magnificent
work as the federal constitution.
Why AIdrieh Objects.