The Washington herald., 1909-07-21

The House paused In its labor OF pass
ing the deficiency bill for awhile yes
terday to consider an amendment offered
by Representative Olmsted, OF Pennsyl-
vania. providing months additional pay
for House and Senate employees.
For fifty years II has been the practice
Of Congress 10 give its servitors an ex-
ira months pay. which is supposed to take
the place OF mileage.
Senate pages quit playing pranEs for
awhile and came over to the House cham
Der 10 listen TO the debate on the 'extry''
month. while ell the House employees who
could get round were on deck TO be
present at the ceremonies-
Mr. olmsted was hailed with acclaim
as he rose in his place to offer the amend
ment. while Representatives Macon OF
Arkansas, Sisson OF Mississippi and Cox
Of Indiana received black looks as they
asked questions which indicated that
they were opposed TO granting the extra
months pay which would take $4,000
out OF the Treasury.
OImstead Sole Defender.
Mr.. Olmstead was the only one TO
speak in favor OF the appropriation. All
the others who participated In the debate
denounced the extra month" as an out
rage Sisson. OF Mississippi working
himself TO a rage over the extravaganza
Of the Republican party
Il do not like the spirit behind it,"
shouted SissOn, who is a Democrat.
"As far as the spirit is concerned" re-
piled Olmstead. who is a Republican, che
viii have 20 quarrel with the Democratic
fathers who started making this appro-
priatlon more than fifty years ago"
The upshot Of the matter was that the
appropriation went out on a point OF
order But the House employees and the
Senate pages were not unhappy. They
were sore at Sisson and pleased with
Olmstead, but left the Capitol knowing
full well that the extra month" allow
ance viii be put in the bill when it Is
taken up by the Senate.
II a provision IN the deficiency bill that
passed the House yesterday becomes a
law. government employees will be pro-
hiblted in the future from paying over
q certain amount for bonds secured
from surety companies doing business
with the government and its employees.
This provision was not passed without
Z spirited debate. Under a rule OF the
House new legislation cannot be carried
on an appropriation bill except by spe-
eial order. and for that reason IT became
necessary 70 obtain a rule from the Com
mittee on Rules making this feature Of
the measure IN order.
It directs that. until otherwise provided
by law, no bond shall be accepted from
any surety or bonding company FOR any
officer or employe of the United States
which shall cost in excess OF the rate OF
premium charged for a like bond during
the calendar year 190S.''
In that year the bonding companies
charged at the rate OF 81 a thousand.
Since January last their rates have been
increased to $3 a thousand. 1t IS fur
ther provided that hereafter the United
States shall not pay any part Of the pre-
MUM or other cost OF furnishing a bond
required by law. or otherwise. Of any
officer or emplOye OF the United States"
President Taft's proposed trip to the
Pacific Coast in the fall becomes a GER
tainty as the result Of the passage OF the
deficiency bill IN the House. The meas
ure. which will go through the Senate
without fail, carries an appropriation Of
k25OOO 10 cover the cost Of the Presidents
travelling expenses.
Accordingly. the plans for the Journey
will be completed and the trip will be
made beginning at Beverly, Mass, about
September 10 and extending across the
continent, and taking in many States in
the Union. One of the objective points
Of the Journey IS Seattle, where the Presl-
dent will attend the Alaska-Yukon Expo
siton.
Mr.. Taft will visit Chicago. St Paul.
Minneapolis, Denver Salt Lake, San
Francisco. and numerous other cities. in
addition TO Seattle. He may also go 10
Alaska, although the itinerary recently
published did not include a trip into the
Territory.
When the House adjourned II was de-
cided to meet again at noon on Friday.