The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-06-19

letters or Eoio-oF ptaSH
nails OF the nation one item on the
record VIII stand out as dazzling as
the whiteness OF the White House
TT BUMPED UNCLE JOE CAM
NON.
The history Of that feat is still too
fresh In the public memory to need
repetition here so it will not be re-
peated, although in casting about fer
things to say about the session one
can ind few affairs so interesting.
Wherever one turns in the history. at
any rate IN. the greater part Of its
length he finds a plethora Of words
and a paucity OF accomplishment Al
ways excepting what happened TO I'm
Gle Joe. And that was some months
ago.
One is reminded OF story told on
congressman new, perhaps, but not
30 old that it won't bear retelling. The
gallery overlooking the hall Of repre-
sentatives once held two visitors, q
father and his young son. at the open
ing OF a days proceedings. When the
chaplain had concluded his invocation
little Rollo asked, Father. why do they
have man TO pray for congressT
The paternal reply was, He doesn't
pray for congress. son; he takes a look
at congress and prays for the coun-
try"
Some Able Addresses.
II seems 20 be the general opinion.
however, that the work Of the session
has not been such as TO require the ad-
dressing OF any special petitions to
Providence for the country's welfare.
The major part OF the time since the
first Monday Of last December has
been devoted 10 discussion OF the
measures advocated by President Taft
IN his message and speeches-the
amendment OF the interstate COM
merce law to give greater powers to
the commission, the postal savings bill.
the bill looking to the conservation OF
the country's resources. the statehood
bill and other administration" meas
ures. Outside of these the session has
not been marked by the introduction
OF any great, epoch making laws.
There have been. however. some able
addresses, notably in the senate, in ad-
Wocacy OF or in opposition to the bills
favored by Mr.. Taft. Some OF them,
such as Senator Cummins' three day
speech opposing the administrators
railroad bill, have attracted the atten-
ton of listening world to the extent
which they deserved. Others. prob
ably equally as able forensic efforts
have gone "the way to dusty death" in
the pages Of the Congressional Record.
that sepulcher Of the hopes and fears.
the aspirations and ambitions, Of con-
gressional orators. Probably as many
more have broken into the Record IN
der the 'leave to print by which the
senate and house save themselves from
listening 10 speeches which the author
does not want to- deliver and the al
legged audience does not want TO hear.
Speaker Cannon's Views.
Some of the really great speeches Of
the session have not made the i'm
preston on the country which they de-
served. II we may believe Speaker
Cannon, the fault lies mainly with the
newspapers. In a recent letter, speak
ing Of the relative space given in the
papers to subjects OF real Importance
and to such matters as the sending TO
the speaker Of a freak postal card
pretending to be the plea Of several
young ladies who desired the speaker
to aid them in securing husbands"
Speaker Cannon said:
"A few weeks ago there were several
Incidents If not important develop
ments, IN congress on one day. One
southern senator who had for a few
weeks occupied a seat in the senate by
appointment Of the governor delivered
farewell address which was unique
both in the fact itself and in the char
acter of his utterances.
Another southern senator presented
a constitutional argument on the post
al savings bank bin which held the
attention Of the senators and members
who almost unanimously agreed that
II was one OF the greatest arguments
made in the senate IN recent years.
"A member of the presidents cabinet
appeared before the joint committee
charged with the investigation Of the
interior department and gave positive
testimony Of Importance, taking direct
issue with one Of the principal &C.
cusers Of Secretary Ballinger.
"The senate committee appointed TO
investigate the cost Of living began its
hearings that day and heard important
testimony. The house committee on
agriculture heard a number Of uni
versity presidents on the bill to enlarge
the scope Of the Morrill, act for federal
aid 20 agricultural and mechanical edu-
cation.
"A subcommittee of the committee
on the District Of Columbia in the
house gave hearing 10 DR.. Wiley on
the high cost OF living.
The army appropriation bill. carry.
ing more than 100000. 600, was under
consideration in the house. The same
day there was found in the speakers
mail an anonymous postal card pre-
tending to be the plea OF several young
ladies who desired the speaker to aid
them in securing husbands.
Here were six subjects OF public
importance and one freak postal card.
and the latter secured second place In
the newspapers as measured by space
headlines and position on the first page
the next morning. The farewell ad-
dress OF Senator Gordon had srst
place. and Uncle Joe's matrimonial hu-
reau' had second place while the con-
stitutional argument against postal
savings banks. the high cost OF Iiv-
ing. the extension OF federal aid 70
agriculture, education, the defense Of
q great executive department against
SANDER and the appropriation of 1900
10000 for the army were each dis
missed with a paragraph"
Proceedings Followed Closely.
In spite Of Mr. Cannon's pessimistic
Judgment concerning the relatively