Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-03-31
Doings in Washington.
From George W. Summers J

|
lapse Of many years since the Demo
Gratis have been in control Of Congress,
the majority members OF the new
House Of Representatives are now
overwhelmed with applications from
Democrats from all over the country
for positions under the coming session
Of Congress. And as applications have
been made for probably a hundred
times as many offices as there are Of
fees to bnstow. II follows that y large
percentage Of the applicants are DOOM
ed 10 disappointment.
| West Virginia looms up strong
among the applicants for positions
under the Democratic Congress and
West Virginians must prepare to be
asa pponted, for very few OF them can
hope to be appointed. Congressman
Hamilton alone, who is the only West
Virginia Congressman here yet, has
something more than 200 applications
for positions under the Congress. When
it is remen bered that there are only
from 600 TO 700 offices ST the disposal
OF congress and that there are 39l
congressman all clamoring for some
Of the positions, it can readily be seen
that Of necessity many will be disap-
pointed.
Among the employees Of the House,
many are required 10 possess techni-
Cal skill. There are engineers who
are familiar with the type OF machin
cry used in the capitol indexing CLERKS
who are familiar With the sy stem OF
indexing the records and can keep
them up in proper form from the start;
clerks TO committees who have been
employed in the same positions for
many years under various admins
trations; men the very nature OF whose
services require experience and whose
places cannot be filled by experienced
men; and the result of all this is that
the mum Der of positions which can be
disposed of is less than the number of
employees by good deal, and the
number of new appontees is CORE
spondingly reduced.
On Tuesday os next week Congress
will convene in one OF the most impor-
tant sessions which has been held since
the Civil war. Legislation of vast
importance to the common people and
the consumer is expected and it is be-
lieved that such legislation IN the in
terests of the people may be enacted
that the Republican Senate and the
Republican President will feel COM
PEELED TO agree with the House.
| West Virginia Democrats are to take
an important part in this legislation
and part that is unusual aud to
which they have been unaccustomed
for many years. The Senators and
mem bers of Congress are expected to
be here within a few days and by. the
end of this week it is expected the en-
tire delegation will be here. 1t IS be-
lieved the Wet Virginia delegation
will very soon agree upon general
policy aud act together in practically
all matters and that it will agree upon
other matters from time as they arise.
No such factional fights as have di-
vided the Republican delegation are
expected to act III perfect harmony on
all matters of interest to the State or
the Democratic party.
The injection Of politics into the sci
ection of state mine inspectors is bit
terly denounced by DR.. j. A. Holmes,
OF Washington, director of the new
Bureau of Mines, recently cseated by
Congress. He urges that mine inspec-
tors be examined by non-politicai
board OF mining experts and that they
be appointed from applicants who
show the highest skill aud the best
experience in the work.
Strict observance of rules and regu.
latio9s for the conduct of mines is
urged, along with punishment for any
he be mine worker, mine owner or
mine inspector.
A continuance of the Federal inVes-
| tigation as to the cause of mine acct
dents and methods for their preVen-
ton is advised and the prompt dis
tribution Of all such Information on
) these lines as can be obtained.
The differences between the West
Virginia method and the city method
of dressing poultry for market has
: been the subject of thorough investi-
| cation by the Bureau ofChemistry I'M
der the Department of Agriculture ard
a report on the matter has been pre-
| pared and published, which those in-
| terested may obtain Though their
Representative in Congress. The pam
nh OF 10 vi, T..