The Republican journal., 1908-05-14
Washington Revisited.
SOME NOTES FROM THE PRESS GAL
LERY OF THE HOUSE.


LERY OF THE HOUSE.
The Democratic fillibusterlng was ON
in the House and the sessions were large
Iy taken up with roll calls. In the Old
DAYS there used to be practically a una
niuity of sentiment in the press gallery
as to men and measures, although news
papers of all shades of political opinion
were represented How it may be today
I cannot say, but the few expressions L
heard we're in support of the Democratic
position and adverse to what was term
ed the gag law. With this position L
did not find myself in accord. My
svmpathies were with the Speaker and
fbe man behind the Speaker, Asher c..
Kinds. The Republican position was
we'll stated by Mr.. Sherman of New
York, when he said:
tried to make clear the other day,
MI. Speaker, and / repeat now, thaC
the Republican majority is anxious
that the country should know that we
are responsible for both what is and
what is not done | tried to make It
clear the other day that the republican
narty in this House, as well as the Re
nnblican party in the nation, in distinct
contrast to our Democratic friends on
most OCCASIONS is not seeking to AVOID
responsibility, but accepts full respon-
sibilitv for all that is done, as well as
for ali that is not done. For, sir, both
what is done and what is not done is
actuated solely by our desire to do that
which will best serve the interests OF
the greatest number of all the people
of our beloved country.
And Mr.. Dalzell of Pennsylvania said:
I want to call the attention OF the
House to the fact that the rules that
have heretofore been introduced, ana
the rule that is now INTRODUCED, are III
tended to enable the House to do bust
ness in the normal way, not TO lntro-
duce ANYTHING that is deleterous to the
minority, not anything that will do in
Justice to the minority, but to enable
The House to act just as it would If 1t
were not for the prevailing fillbuster.
There were some interesting features
in the debate on the diplomatic and
consular bill in committee of the whole,
in which prominent members on both
sides of the House took part. Mr.. Fer
kins of California regretted that no
provision was made for the purchase
of embassies for our foreign represen-
tatives, and said that almost every
great nation except cur own has per-
manent residence for its representa-
tives in the great capitals, and the lack
of that presents our own country IN
way that sometimes is not merely squa-
lid, but is almost ludicrous." When
asked if any of the foreign nations pro-
posed to build or own residences in
Washington for their representatives
Mr. Perkins replied: Eyes. The British
government owns its own residence,
and France has bought land on which
it expects to build. The Chinese have
erected an embassy, and Germany, un-
less l am wrong, owns its own embassy.
Not only do many of the great powers
do this, but the powers of smaller i'm
portance." Mr. Perkins also advocated
the purchase of proper buildings for
consulates in China, Japan and Korea,
and spoke of the inadequate compensa-
ton of our representatives. abroad.
OF greater local interest were the re-
marks of Mr. Saunders of Virginia on
the bill for can appropriation for agri-
cultural and industrial instruction in
secondary schools, for normal instruc-
ton in agricultural and industrial sub
jects in normal schools, and for branch
agricultural experiment stations" a
measure not only of peculiar interest
to the agricultural sections, but of vast
Importance to the people of the entire
country. In advocating the passage of
this bill Mr.. saunders said:
Increase the efficiency of the farmers
boys and girls; increase their ability,
each in his own role, to operate the
modern devices which contribute to the
comforts of the home; put within their
reach the opportunity to acquire the
knowledge appropriate to their particu-
lar function in the home and farm life,
and you increase to such an extent the
attractions of life on the farm that the
present eager desire of orr young men
and women to get away from the coun-
try to the cities will be counteracted.
EApplause.l
The establishment of high schools in
the country districts for agricultural
and mechanical instruction will mean
that, for the first time, thousands of
country boys will learn that farming is
something more than mere digging the
soil, after the fashion of our fathers
and grandfathers; that there is a sci.
ence of agriculture, just as there is
science of law or medicine.
He will acquire in these schools that
knowledge which will enable him to
make his home better and happier. To
that end he will learn to lay under con-
tribution the discoveries of science. We
have gone too far in the direction of
public school education to stop with
the colleges and common schools. They
are well enough in their way and will
be continually improved, but the agri-
cultural high school, the mechanical
arts high school, the high school which
pducates women in relation to the do |