The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-08-14

come IN ana smile ana you VIII DC wei
come"
Scott smiled.
This promises to be lean year for
the congressional junketers.
At the last minute the House knocked
out the item providing an appropriation
for congressional visitation to the
Alaska Yukon Pacific exposition, and if
the members and senators take in the
show at Seattle between now and De-
cember they win 90 under their own
steam and provide their own coal. With
this trip gone glimmering, there is moth.
ing in the way Of recreation az the pub
lie expense III sight for the lawmakers
except the trip of the appropriations
committee TO Panama. No wonder that
many Of them are now frantically dick.
ering with the Chautauqua and other
lecture bureaus.
II is not right to expect a member or
senator, anyway a member or senator
Of prominence, to stay at home All dur
ing the congressional recess. lie needs
travel, he needs exercise; above all he
needs money, even If they did raise their
own salaries a year ago from $4,000 20
81 800 a year. and even if most Of them
do put their additional clerical and sta
tionery allowances, totaling Sl,725 per
annum into their own pockets.
Nearly every previous year since the
Oldest inhabitant can remember, the
members and senators have had pleasant
little trips fixed up to while away the
dull hours Of the heated term One
bunch would 90 to Hawaii; another, to
the Philippines; another, to Panama;
still others, to whatever expOsitions hap
pened 10 be running. Congressional
parties went to Chicago. ST Louis, Om-
aha, Buffalo jamestown. Uncle Sam
paid all the bills and looked cheerful.
What business had he 10 look otherwise,
anyway tie should know By this time
that whenever a senator or member
wants to take a trip, it Is up to Unlee
Sam 20 provide the funds The niorma
tion the statesmen gather while on their
journeys surely more than repays the
government for whatever paltry dollars
may be spent on fares hy rail and water
and fare by way Of table
Next fall one little group Of states
men will have a pleasant trip at public
expense, In spite Of and notwithstanding
the fact that Congress acted 50 stingy
about the Seattle exposition The APP
preparations committee Of the House, Of
which Representative Tawney Of Minne-
sofa is chairman, viii visit Panama
starting on November 7 and remaining
on the isthmns for two solid weeks. The
members 0f the committee have been
down on the canal zone before and like
ID. They viii 20 and come on a govern
ment vessel and whatever money il
spent BY them on railroad fares and
provender will come out Of the Panama
canal appropriation.
In discussing the trip. Tawney said
that the committeeman really feel that
they should familiarize themselves with
conditions on the zone They are called
upon each year TO make appropriations
for the canal work and il is Just simply
neglect Of duty for them to fail to learn
all about the gigantic undertaking. To
learn they must 90 in person.
Alaska, with its large population and
important business interests. has been
obliged BY Congress to get along with
crude form Of territorial government.
From time 70 time bills have been intro-
dueed to give the Alaskans a voice in
the management Of their affairs. but
these Attempts to get action from the
statesmen on Capitol Hill have an been
failures Now Senator Perkins has
shouldered the task and he win make
determined effort to have a law enacted
by the present Congress In bill intro
duced in the Senate be proposes that
the capital Of the territory be established
at juneau and the seat OF government
maintained there. All Russian subjects
who resided il Alaska in 1867. when It |
WAS acquired BIZ this country, and their
descendants are to be recognized as citi I
zens Of the United States There is to +
be a legislative assembly with sixteen
members II is to meet every two years I
Various powers are to be given the |
sembiy and other powers are specifically /
III the bin The legislators are
to be prohibited from issuing bonds and +
from granting any divorce unless the ap. /
plicant las lived III the territory for
two yea The same limitation as 70 I
divorce cases is 70 be imposed upon the
courts Each member Of the assembly isf
to be paid Sl5 a day for each days at.
tendance while the assembly Is in ses.
sion and mileage at the rate Of rs cents
a mile going to and returning from the
capital. The governor is given the veto
power AN laws before taking effect
shall be approved BY Congress.