The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-12-24

Threatens to Hold Up Postal Savings
sank-impossibIe to Change House
Rules.
Washington, Dec 10. - There is a
widespread belief about the capitol
especially among the insurgents, that
the Hale-Aldrich program is to do moth
ing this winter except pass the appro-
priation bills and such other routine
measures as are absolutely necessary
to run the government. The departure
of several senators for Panama would
indicate that matters will be held up
in the upper house at least until their
return. One senator today told me
that we need look for nothing impor-
tant until near the end of January: In
his view it takes congress month to
get ready for the holidays and almost
another month to recover from them.
It is a good thing that Christmas
comes but once a year, for If it &C.
CURED two or three times our national
lawmakers would be in continual
state Of preparation for and conva-
lescence therefrom. In Washington
the natal day Of the Son of Man GER
tainly brings a long period of peace.
1t is not exactly the sort of pacifcation
described by the poet. HE makes sol
ltude and calls it peace" but, rather, l
should put 1t thus: "He makes a lassi-
tude and calls it peace"
Is AIdrich Getting EVENT
The action of the senate finance COM
mittee in holding up the nomination Of
James Freeman Curtis as assistant Sec
rotary Of the treasury is interpreted
here as a call down for Secretary Mac
Veagh. Curtis Is a personal friend of
MacVeagh, which lends color to the
theory. The reason for disciplining
the head of Uncle Sans financial de-
partment is said to be the low tariff
views of the secretary as expressed in
his annual report. Now the finance
committee to which the nomination of
Mr.. Curtis was referred is the iden-
teal finance committee which has at
Its head the Hon. Nelson w. Aldrich
of Rhode Island and which had the
tariff bill in charge. Nor, according to
the wise ones, is this the first offend
Ing by Secretary MacVeagh against
Aldrich and his committee. Some time
ago the secretary made a speech in
Chicago in which he referred rather
threateningly to a possible change in
"the majority and control Of the
party. That meant Aldrich and Can
non-at least so thought the country,
and so evidently thought the senator
from Rhode Island. The wiseacres
have done a little political Sherlock
Holmesing and have concluded that
Aldrich is now getting even. 1t is an
Interesting situation, and the end is
Aot yet.
Legislative Air Brake at Work.
The friends of the postal savings
bank measure are alarmed lest Sena-
bor Aldrich should attempt to side
track the bill pending the report of
The monetary commission Of which he
Is the head 1t Is not probable that
this commission will report for a year
possibly not during the life of the
present congress. Until it does report
40 general financial legislation will be
undertaken. A plausible plea could
therefore be made that the postal saw
lngs bank wait along with the rest.
II the commission finally recommends
4 central bank of issue, as now seems
probable, it might wish to overhaul the
whole banking system and include the
savings bank end in the general
scheme. limitations have already
been made that present consideration
Of the postal savings proposition will
be objected to on this very ground.
Therefore, while congress is not liable
to take much positive action for a
month or more, and maybe not then,
there is already evidence in plenty of
negative action.
No Change In House Rules.
There has been considerable talk in
the press and elsewhere Of the posi-
bility of amending the house rules
Turing the life Of the present congress. !
It may as well be dismissed. In talk
with Representative Cooper Of Wis
.onsin, the leader of the La Toilette
forces in the last Republican national |
convention, he made plain to me the
after futility Of such an attempt. The I
present rules provide that before they T.
IAN be altered or amended the pro- .
posed change must first go to the COM F.
nittee on rules. Not only so, but be .
lore such an amendment can even be I
proposed the consent Of the speaker .
must BE- obtained. No member can +.
gain recognition for the introduction .
II any important measure without .
drst arranging the matter with the .
speaker. Is your Uncle Joseph or his .
Jules committee liable TO let anything 4
IF that sort get past? Think Of every .
negative word I'm MI the languages
fou know and you have the answer.
Prosperity by the Billion.
The report Of Comptroller Of the Cur
rency Lawrence o. Murray shows
more than 100000 bank depositors
N the nation and above s14.0OO.000,-
300 in deposits. These figures sound