The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-06-09
Washington News Letter.

(By Clyde H. Tavener, staff Wash
lngton special correspondent of The
Reporter
eminent by stealth, is fitting ex-
preston to describe the gag-rule
methods inaugurated under Mr.. Taft
Not merely the average employee
OF the government, but the highest
officials, are afraid to give newspaper
men information as to what is going
on. Employees are being made to
feel that they owe no fidelity to the
public, but that they are mere per-
sonal servants of the coterie of men
now in charge of the government
AS a result of the discharge of
Pinchot, CLAWS, Kirby and other in
terror department employees, the
average government worker today
feels that it is worth his position to
dlscusS even matters of public record
with newspaper man.
The following official order signed
by George Otis Smith, director of the
United States Geological survey
gives an idea Of the Russian-like
censorship that has been established
over government information:
Rule 2. That no interview shall
be granted without securing from the
person soliciting the same a promise
mat he Will, before submitting the
material to his publication office, pre-
sent copy Of his manuscript to the
director George Otis SMITH for ap-
prevail"
SO far as it is known among news
paper men in Washington, nothing
SO drastic as this in the way of press
censorship has ever been attempted
before in America
In 1890. under Cleveland, the
total annual appropriation for the ex-
penses of the national government
was S34O, 600, 900, or Sc for every
man, woman and child. In 1900
our expenses had increased to $780,
100000, or So for every man, wom-
an and child. The last congress ap-
propriated the colossal sum of ST.
o44 ,4Ol ,S51, or nearly SIP for every
man, woman and child. This con-
gress threatens to spend $4,000
600 in excess of last years abpro-
priations
Republicans appear reluctant to
concern themselves much about gov
eminent expenditures in relation to
the cost of living. But one thing is
certain. Government does not pick
up these hundreds of millions of dol
lars in the street. This money
comes out Of somebody's pocket I'm
IKE city and state governments, the
national government has but one
Of ieit
penses, and that is by taxing things
eaten, worn or used by the people,
Hence it is that increased cost of liv-
ing is marching hand-in-hand with
increased republican extravag ance.
II am sorry said Senator Bris-
tow, of Kansas, while discussing the
railroad bill, that the senator from
West Virginia (Elkins) has deserted
the chamber. and | am sorry the
senator from Rhode Island CAL
drich) is not here, and that the SEN
ator from Massachusetts Lodge)
has also disappeared.
A survey of the senate showed
that the railroad senators, after hav-
ing outlined the kind of legislation
they had decided should be enacted.
had fled from the chamber without
waiting to hear those who disagreed
from the railroad viewpoint.
Those of us who are here might
be instructed suggested a demo-
cratic senator, upon noting Bris-
lows chagrin, but if the senator
from Kansas imagines that anything
he can say will influence those sena-
tors he is wasting his time and
| breath"
| | am afraid the senator is right, .
answered Bristow Then he went or
addressing the democrats and the
empty seats of the standpatters.
| Lest we forget, only nine of the
21S republicans of the nationa
house Of representatives are in a DO
sltion to stand before their constitu
ents and report that they voted tt
unseat Cannon as speaker Page
$3.50 of the Congressional Record
shows that on March 10 all but nine
republicans voted against the Bur
Lesson resolution which would have
unseated Speaker Cannon and made
it possible to elect new speaker
Every democrat voted to unsea
"Uncle joe"
A brief definition OF "Cannonism
has been asked for Cannonisn
means that when the interests of the
common people and the interests Of
the steel trust, the sugar trust, the
| lum her truSt the harvester truSt anG