The Washington herald., 1910-05-15

/ looked upon as the watch dog Of the
Treasury. could not longer resist the in
fluence Of this depravity, and concluded
that Il was time for them TO go down
10 Panama and ascertain for themselves
whether the money they annually appro-
priated for this stupendous enterprise
was being honestly and economically
expended: this they were able 20 do AT
a mere glance. and came back with glow
Ing accounts.
The currency question furnished anoth-
er splendid pretexD for the appointment
Of joint committee TO settle that troub-
lesome problem. True. the country has
been wrestling with the subject from it's
earliest history, but here was an oppOr-
tunity 70 take another step in grating.
and provide places for the retention on
the payrOIls OF the two Houses of a few
members whom their constituents had
decided to leave at home.
Seek SeashOre Breezes.
Before Congress had completed the
work Of revising the tariff. whether up-
ward or downward no one has been able
10 tell. the heated term had arrived and
it became necessary that this special
committee should be called together m
some refreshing. IL not very conven-
lent, place. The members were notiAed
TO assemble at Narragansett Pier. and
here they met, and after d few days OF.
no doubt. very serious thought. decided
that it was necessary that a subcommit
tee, composed Of those who desired TO
make the journey. should go to Europe
for the purpose Of studying the monetary
systems Of European countries.
Their Investigations over there seem
10 have consisted Of the usual CASTRO
monte performances and public exh.bi-
tions. and-their labors were ended. This
committee. however. we are informed.
viii make no report till the next session
of Congress; Of course not; no one with
a grain Of sense expected that It would
report az this session; and no one ex-
poets that il Will report anything Of any
consequence at the next session. Peri
odioal panIcs-mld or severe-accordins
to the plans and purposes Of the inter
ests,T and necessary for the consumma-
ton Of the schemes Of those who have
their grasp on the Federal Treasury. and
no measure OF reform which VIII inter
fere with their control and manipula-
ton Of the volume OF currency 10 suit
their purposes viii ever be accomplished
until the expressions OF the people be-
come much more calling than they are at
present
Health Breaks Down.
The author Of this article served dur
Ing the last six and a half years Of its
labors. from 1900 20 1895. as a member Of
the Commission 10 Revise the Laws Of
the United States. and gave 20 that work
such UnceasinE effort that near its com
ple;ion his robust health "a vigorous con-
st.tutlon) was so impaired as 10 require
treatment and rest for more than q
year. During the progress Of the work
of the commission. which was an almost
impossible task. because Of the crude,
conflicting. and bungling legislation OF
Congress during a period of more than
thirty years. il was not an uncommon
thing for some members OF the House OF
Senate 20 make some sighting remark
about the commission. and ask when its
labors would be completed. The facts
are that the laws Of the United States
were. and are to-day, in such hopeless
confusion that the members os the judi.
Ciary committees OF both the Senate an6
the House. from want Of knowledge Of
what the law is, commit serious bIunders
Ia reporting measures to their respect
I've houses and which have been enact
ed into laws without the discovery OF
that fact by a single Qember Of either
body
The commission made its final report
in printed form. on the 18th day o. De
cember. 1876. being a complete revision
of all the permanent and general laws
in force UP TO the beginning Of that SEES
sion Of Congress. a joint committee OF
the two Houses was appointed 10 con-
s.der the report. This committee was
given the authority 10 employ clerical
assistance and 10 print at the Govern
ment Printing office. in Cact was cfver
all the power possessed by the commits
sion. They employed clerical force al
d much greater outlay than that incur
red by the commission and have contin.
Jed the same 10 this day, and yet no re.
port has been made, EXCEPT on a few
penal provisions which had been in their
hands for some three or four years previ-
'us. and a report on a part OF the judi
,al title, but not a word Of objection
has been made Of this delay. no demand
'y single member OF Congress as C
when this committee expects 70 cease
IS expenditures and bring this important
work before the House and the Senate
or consideration.
House Is Inactive,
1t WOULD have been an opportune time
or the House to have taken I'D this re-
-ision at the special session. while the
senate was engaged in the work Of re-
Using the tariff, but instead Of doing
o the House did nothing for six months.
although its expensive machinery. re-
.uiring tho services Of more than 500
mployes. was constantly in operation.
II would appear that Congress has be-
ONE very close corporation and that
n the future no extra expenditures are
o be allowed to go 10 others than mem
e-s and ex-members Of the two Houses.
Now that Congress has established the
recedeut Of continuing on its payrolIs
etiring members for a succeeding term,
'e may expect an enlarged list. as the
lumber of crippled ducks" promises 10
e quite large the coming fall season.
Already "a resolution for the appoint
lent Of a joint committee to be COM
osed Of four members Of each House.
D devise and report an improved sys-
EN- Of keeping the records Of the sew
raj departments, is on its way. and
iii unquestionably be adopted
All these CRAFTS are inaugurated and
rcsecuted under the pretext of reform
Is abuses and reducing eNnendit1lrns