The Washington herald., 1909-04-20
NEW LAWS IN EFFECT.
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

savers Government reports probably
vii constitute the bulk OF the books so
transferred.
A law that has made more angry Con-
gressmen than anything else ever put on
the statute books IN one relating 10 the
distribution Of government documents
and books ordered 20 be printed by the
Sixtietk Congress. Although the first
session Of the Sixty-first Congress is now
sitting its members who have been new
ly elected viii not get a taste OF the
thrilling pleasure Of distributing books
and documents among their constituents.
The closing hours OF the Sixtieth Con-
gress saw the passage Of a Joint res0lu-
ton granting the members who were not
reelected the privilege Of such distribu-
tion up 20 the tine Congress meets next
December. Sonfe OF the retiring members
are lame ducks. and are desirous OF max
ing the fight over again A constituent
writes TO q new member for a certain
publication The new member cannot
supply it, and perhaps explains why. The
constituent theTeupOn writes 10 the for
mer member. who is able 10 supply his
want. Result: That constituent con-
cludes the former member is a man OF
more influence than the new member. and
gets ready 10 vote for him next time
talking for him meanwhile. This sort OF
thing Is setting some OF the new members
almost wild, and they are trying to bor-
row, buy. or wheedle from some more
fortunate man a supply OF books and
documents.
The law under which Niagara Falls has
recently been preserved from the ravages
Of q vandaI commercIalism expires June
@ by limitation Il was expected that
Great Britain and the United States
would be able 70 perfect a treaty rela-
tive TO the Preservation OF the falls prior
TO that time. But such an expectation
has not been realized, and the recent ses-
sion or Congress passed . joint resoIu-
ton extending the operation OF the pres
ent law Until 1871. in the hope that be-
tween now and then q treaty may be
ratified which viii hand Niagara un-
spoiled down 70 generations yet unborn.
Renewed efforts VIII be made 20 secure
the adoption Of such a treaty.
The Library OF Congress WiI hereafter
be the repository OF the publications Of
the legislative bodies OF other countries. 4
hundred copies Of the Congressional Rec
ord have been placed in the hands Of the
Librarian OF Congress 10 be used for an
exchange list between the United States
Congress and other legislative bodies
which agree TO the exchange. Il is. Of
course, expected that all principal legisla-
tive bodies VIII exchange with the Ameri-
can Congress Another public resolution
authorizes the Census Bureau 10 extend
its cotton statistics so as to show the
stocks Of baled cotton IN the United
States on November l, January /, and
March /
Mrs. Grover Cleveland and Mrs. Ben
Jamin Harrison are now enjoying the
franking privilege. sending their CORE
through the mails free. as this
privilege was extended them by Congress
before it adjourned It IS interesting 10
note that Mrs. Mckinley was granted
this privilege shortly after the death Of
her husband. but that IL was not extend
ed 10 Mrs Harrison until recently. Why
she was shown less consideration than
the widows OF other Presidents is unex-
planned.
Matters relating TO the navy and ship
ping were wei taken care Of in a dozen
different acts and ameadatory laws. 4
bill vas passed authorizing the refund Of
csrtaia Moneys 10 purchasers OF stamps
under the war revenue act OF 1855. aad
the remission Of certain duties collected
on anthracite coal imported about the
time OF the big coal strike several years
ago These moneys are now being re-
turned BY the Treasury Department.
Il is q remarkable fact that Theodore
Roosevelt signed away nearly a billion
dollars Of the peoples money IN a single
twenty-four hours Seldom in the his
tory Of the country has there been such 2
congestion OF big appropriation bills AT
the end OF a session as there was in
March Nearly every one Of the big
supply bills bears the significant state
uent that they were approved on March
5 or March 4. From noon on the former
date 70 noon Of the latter NJ Roose-
velt by his signature made the appropria-
ton Of some $500. 10000 the law OF the
land Il is a record which bids fair 10
stand for many years, and Il IS perhaps
twice as much money as was ever signed
away by any ruler IN the same length Of
time.
Copyright. 1915. b. Freaz-ic J. Hask1a-J
To-morrow-A Matthew Maury Me-