Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-15


The palladium of liberty, the perpetuity Of
American institutions. the haven OF the
oppressed, the canned 'vox populi, vox
del, each and all the treasured heritages
of the Four OF July orator, are not as
securely anchored as people imagine. I'm
suspected perils are burrowng into the
vitals of the government at Washington,
and the low rumblngs of the coming cata-
clysm ~reverberates through department
buildings. The deuce is to pay, and then
some. Trouble began with whisper from
the White House that department clerks
should work eight hours day. instead OF
seven. Though the order has not been
issued, the fact that President Taft har-
bored the thought and smiled on II
aroused indignation at the permanent pie
counters and shocked every Washington
editor. "The suggestion" observes the
star with twinkling tears, lis to be seri-
ously depored. Already the public service
employees render daily seven hours of diff
cult work. often in circumstances which
cause a serious strain upon the eyes and
upon the general health. They deal with
the most exacting duties, under strict dis
cipline. Yet 1t is proposed to add an hour
to their schedule" Simply awful! Con-
slider for g moment what it means to put
government clerks on an eght-hour sched
ue! What will happen to the sundowners,
the base ball fans and the pony game
bereft of crowd? The prospect appalls
imagination. 1t is q reproach to civilza-
ton, as Washington views it. Above the
mutterlngs OF Indignation and talk of
oppression, nary note Of resignation is
heard. Too many willing hands ready to
fiunr into n goyArnn1ant lob
A Washington correspondent, writing for
sydlcate Of newspapers a sketch of the
career of Nebraskas senior senator, pins
this buttoniere on the coat lapel Of Hon
orable Elmer Jacob Burkett:
Several years after he had Unanswered
himself out of pedagogics and into the legal
profession, Elmer Jacob Burkett was asked
to address a meeting of school teachers in
neighboring county Of Nebraska.
Between the calls of infrequent and ex-
perimental clients, he thought out rhet-
orical discourse on Man and His En-
vironment" first writing it down and then
committing it to memory. To his surprise,
not to mention his abashment, he found,
on reaching the convention, that his audi
ence was made up of women. Changing the
sex of his subject and his subject matter
was out of question. The lady, disguise
her as he might would still be grotesquely
and coarsely masculine, wearing boots
and beard, as we'll as being odorous with
tobacco.
Standing on his feet. bowling to a salute
Of alluring eyes and fluttering handker-
chiefs, Elmer Jacob Burkett, it would be
natural to suppose was in distressing
situation. But acrobatics, mental and
oratorical, FASTENED to his rescue. Stimu-
lated, even ectasized by the eager and in
spring faces before him, Elmer Jacob,
dark, bold and handsome, trumpet-voiced
and fascinating, poetized femininity until
the oldest and ugliest, and most hopeless
woman in the room giggled with joy over
the crown so beautifully wrought out and
placed upon her brow so CALAMITY and
reverentially.
On the senate military committee SEN
ator Warren devours work as though he
relished it; he often remains in his room
at the capitol until past midnight reports
the National Magazine! SD. .4 ,'r e....
why do you work so hard?" he is
asked
Have you no pride in your work." is
the reply, as the busy man looks up under
the green shade that he wears to relieve
his eyes, as he dives into mass Of papers.
When you wish to do everything just
right, it becomes a matter of pride as well
as of conscience"
After spending the afternoon at the ses-
sons, many of the senators work late into
the night in order to finish up work on the
various comittees.
The assiduous attendance of senators at
tha ~ ha
consumes enough time to BATTLE even an
industrious man. Long hours of plain, hard
work are essential-and no pay for over
time. Senator Bailey paid deserved
tribute to his republican colleagues when
he insisted that the senate ought not to con-
vene until o'clock. to give members time
to complete their committee work In the
morning and enable them to attend the
sessions
This is what Senator Dolliver thinks of
the existing bankruptcy law:
Il regard 1t as a statute operating very
greatly to the disadvantage of interior
commercial points, and as policy in favor
of the great commercial centers, destruc-
tive of the credit OF country merchants,
Injurious to legitimate banking interests
in the rural districts and as a monstrosity
so gross that 1t ought to attract the at
ton of such people as ours.
Il have never had any objection to an
occasional bankruptcy law for the pur-
pose of ending the business troubles of
men unfortunate in their affairs, but to
have standing on the statute books of a
country like this law which says to a
young man about to embark In business:
You cannot ever possibly be any worse
off than you are now,' and which invites
every Spectator to go forward in what
ever reckless exploit may be in view,
seems to me to be against public
morality.
Il do not believe that we ought to per-
manently maintain on our statute books
standing invitation TO spectators, bust
ness adventures, reckless plungers in
commerce and industry to go on with their
shady operations, protected by laws which
relieve them of the old-fashioned obliga-
fiOn nav their dahtSn