The Washington times., 1911-04-16
TAKING MEASURE OF
some LAME DUCKS
FOR NEW CRUTcHES
'Has Beens" on National
Monetary Commissions to
Get New Degree.
INTERESTING AUDIT
OF BOOKS PROMISED
Monopolizing of Fine Office Room
Helps to Win Votes for
Adjustment.

Adjustment.
An aggregation Of distinguished lame
ducks is going to have its measure
taken for new crutches.
They may save their ancient sup
ports, but the chances seem against
them. They are the members of the
National Monetary Commission, which
seems altogether likely to be abol-
ished.
When Senator Cummins introduced a
bill to end the commission on December
s next, it was generally supposed that
the measure would prove interesting.
but not convincing. Developments, how
ever point to strong probability that it
will pass.
The commission is regarded as the
finest snap ever organized for retired
statesmen. All its members, when ap-
pointed, were members of either Senate
or House; but when they retired from
Congress they continued on the commits
sion, and their Senatorial salaries went
right on working. The salaries, it is
charged, are about the only working
arrangement connected with the COM
mission.
HAS Beens" Listed.
The following are the members of the
commission, those marked "H. B." be-
ing has-beens, and those marked IN. l."
being now-izzers:
Nelson W. Aldrich, H. B.
Edward B. Vreeland N. 1.
Julius Caesar Burrows, H. B.
'Philander Chase Knox, H. B., n. I.
Eugene Hale, H. B.
Henry NJ. Teller, II. B.
fernando De Soto Money, H. B.
Joseph w. Bailey, N. |.
Theodore E. Burton, n. I.
John w. Weeks, N. I.
Robert w. Bonynge, H. B.
Sylvester c. Smith, N. I.
Lemuel P. Padgett, n. ].
George +. Burgess, n. I.
Arsene P. Pujo, n. 1.
""Has been" as Senator; now is" as
Secretary of State.
Salaries don't begin until the COM
missioner is retired from Congress.
Duties highly nominal; a Senator who
has been looking it up said today that
the commission was having two or
three meetings year, and not worry
ing about quorums at those.
This commission might have gone on
with its upholstered snap for a few
years more, but for a curious circum-
stance. When it was organized 1t pos
sessed itself of long row of the finest
offices IN the marble palace which is
known as the Senate Office Building
1t occupies a good part of one choice
corridor for general offices. besides
which the individual members have
choice rooms scattered throughout the
building.
Office Building Insurgency:
Recently, various new Senators-and
some older ones-have been getting in
surgent on the office room question.
They viewed with alarm the tendency
to fill up the choice apartments with
the effects of III. B." Senators pen
stoned on the commission, while the
now-izzers were unable to get room
enough to do their work in.
OF course, Senator Cummins was
moved by no such sordid consideration
in proposing to abolish the commission.
He is too big a statesman for that;
and moreover, he has, for himself be-
come possessed Of fine three-room
suite, and could not possibly entertain
sentiments Of jealousy toward any lame
duck on account of the office-space is
sue. But his case Is not paralleled in
the experience of some of his colleagues,
who would like to break into those
monetary commission rooms, and would
be willing to help abolish 1t.
The commission is by far the most
dignified of its kind ever created. 1t
has a secretary at fancy salary, a
disbursing officer Of its own. and a IL
brarian. Nobody has authority to audit
its accounts, or to interfere with its ex-
penditures. 1t just takes the money and
spends II.
Stories of Fabulous Prices.
There are some awfully interesting
stories about fabulous prices said to
have been paid for articles by various
world-sharps on finance written for the
commission. Nobody knows much about
these stories, but it is promised that
the accounts are to be brought out and
aired and that they will prove very
edifying.
The commission is said to have spent
about 100000 in the three years of its
existence. Nobody ventures a guess
when 1t might get tired of drawing its
salaries and decide 10 report: but the
feeling is that as the drawing is not
arduous labor. it might continue quite
on the question of abolishing the jobs,
with the result that an easy majority
Is declared in favor of the Cummins
measure.
There are quite a number of Senators
who look forward with fond anticipation
70 the day when they can vote to abol-
ish Aldrich and Hale. They are Sem
ators whom Aldrich and Hale have been
wont occasionally to abolish In times
past. They are now looking up the
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