The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1908-01-10

N|& ~ ANss
which began ON Monday, dec. :, and
ended on Saturday, dec. Il. The re
Fiod between those dates nominany III
c.udea three full legislative weeks. Had
congress been 80 minded III might have
done an Immense amount OF work dur.
Ing that time and public business would
have been expedited To such an extent
that an adjournment could have been
taken about a month earlier than will
now be possible. Both the house and
senate We're In session at frequent In
t~ervals. ard for a brief time during
part Of several days the Congressional
Record shows that the time OF congress
was almost absolutely wasted. Moth.
Ing OF permanent value was done ex-
cept to perfect the organization of the
honse and senate. The money of the
people was thrown away, ard for all
the value to the country botir houses
might have met on Monday morning.
gone through formal organization. lis
tened to the Presidents message Tues
day morning. and adjourned Tuesday
night to meet again after the HOLIDAYS.
Thousands Of bills were introduced in
the house, but all of them were handed
In and put I'm a box while the house
was not In session. for the introduction
Of bills In the lower house Of congress
II not part Of the legislative program.
In the senate one statesman after an
other rose and presented a bill. which
was read by title and referred 10 the
appropriate committee. the same prose-
dure being taken In the house. The
committees Of the house were not an
norncei until Thursday. Dec. 10. and
final adjournment came two days later.
After having done nothing for three
weeks congress displayed Its Christmas
spirit BY adjourning for two weeks
more. so that the first real business
session OF the 9xtieth congress will be
opened Monday. Jan. 6. Ave weeks
after the day set by law for the repre-
sentatives OF the people to begin to
represent things.
The PostofIice Department is going 10
seek the aid OF Congress to prevent the
railroads from putting into service
bluff" trains with n view to capturing
mail tonnage and later abandoning
them. This fact Is disclosed in the re-
port OF the department regarding the
tra tAstta.fnftns re tl. ,..,tf. s.. a. ....
rent year. 1t Is alleged that prior TO
the reweighing periods. which deter
mine the routes and compensation ev-
cry four years. 1t has been the custom
OF some railroads TO put on new fast
trains with a view to capturing the
mails. Having been successful, such a
road, under the present law. must re-
ceive pay for that mail during the sue
ceeding four years. wehther 1t contin-
ues to carry Ii Oh not. Accordingly
some OF the railroads have been accrs-
TONED to take Off their 'bluf" trains
after the r~eweighing. allowing the
mails to he diverted to another road,
continuing to receive pay FOR trans
porting them until the next reweighing
~neriol. when the trick Is repeated.
-.
Speaker Cannon announced his ar
rangement OF the new committee on
appropriations. with Tawney of Mime
sofa ut its head and Livingston Of
Georgia as the ranking Democrat. Tlw-
ney has come u squarely for the pOl-
Icy Of retrenchment, which the Speak
was known to favor, and he will b
the recognized watch dog Of the treas
ury" during the life OF this conyrf~a
In a statement Chairman Tawney TO
ferred to the estimates for the next
expenses being over 100000 OOU
over the estimates for the current year.,
aud said this would mean q deficit OF
eS3.O00.0O0. Hence the necessity Of
rigid economy aud the avoidance ~s
new enterprises.
$50
The roller skaters Of Washington are
interesting sight. There are $1,000
children Of skating age in Washington
and 10000 are whizxing around the
mounted upon two skates, while
the balance OF them, more or less ron
with al equipment Of one skate Z
child, are doing a complicated hop
whizz, un~disinayed By the frequent
complications which ensue. The asphalt
are really Il temptation not
easily resisted. and after dark the roll
er skaters seem to have grown sudden
~ and my~sseriously taller.
-: !
Before the swearing In Of the two
new Senators from the new State OF
they drew lots In the pres
OF the Senate to determine which
should have the long term and which
the short. The blind Senator. Gore.
drew the two-year term. and smiliagly
congratulated his colleague, Senator
Owen.
In the Senate the committees have
been changed % ~ tosfll vacancies and
make places for the new membera
Knox goes to the front. a. expected.
hI becoming chairman Of the rules com-
where BE- will have the duty q