Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. c., Dec. 81. 1911.
BY CLYDE Fl. TAvENNER.

United States become involved In
trouble with foreign nations oy par
ticipating 10 the celebration Of the |
discovery OF Lake Chamberlain
Or by sending delegates TO the In
ternatioual Congress on Collisions
and Salvage? Or by having re-
preventative at the meeting OF the
international Seismological associa-
ton. which has to do with earth
quakes?
Congressman Courtney W. Ham
lin. OF Missouri. has asked the Re-
publicans o: the House for an ans
wer to these queries. He has Q
reason.
President Taft and Secretary Of
State Knox. spent large sums Of
money for above mentioned pur-
poses, aud when Mr.. Hamlin. as
chairman OF the committee on Ex-
penditures in the State Department,
asked how the money was spent ne
was denied all Information.
We couldn't possibly give you
any information as TO these enpen-
ditures." declared Mr.. Taft and Mr..
Knox, in chorus, couldn't possibly
think OF il! You see, these expen
ditures were made under q statute
which permits US to withhold all de-
tails on the ground that il might in
yolve US ia trouble with foreign ma
tionsI'
Mr.. Hamlin said he found that the
STATE Department spent 1925 900 Sc
cretly every year. and he declared
il was ridiculous to assert that some
Of the things for which this money
was spent might involve US in
trouble with foreign nations. ;"
we Of course do not know" said
Mr.. Hamlin, whether the $40, 600
expenditure. authorised by secret
certificate. Of President Taft. for
participation in the celebration OF
the Discovery OF Lake Champlain
was spent for the purpose sppro-
prated or not, but suspect that in
all human probability this $40. 900
was spent in paying railroad fare,
hotel bills. automobile hire. ban
quetings. wine, etc.
To permit any man, even though
he be the president OF the United
States, TO spend an average OF 1899
10 of the peoples money each aud
every day OF the year. without com.
polling him to account TO anybody
as to how. and for what purpose he
expended this money, does not &C.
cord with my idea OF properly guard
ing the treasury"
WALL STREET Nor IN CONTROL.
TIE Stanley steel investigating
committee will continue its probe OF
the steel trust. The efforts OF Wall
street TO bring the investigation TO
a halt have failed.
II being obvious that the House
will not heed the command OF spe-
cial privilege to stop the inquiry, IL
is doubtful now whether the pro-
position OF forcing the investigating
committee TO abandon its inquiry
will even come up on the floor OF the
House. But IL the attempt is made,
il IS certain that the House will stand
by the committees and order IL to
proceed with the hearings.
This marks q new order of things.
In the past the steel trust has been
able 70 have bills side tracked, de-
layed, and finally chloro formed in
committees OF the House. All this
Is today impossible.
Locks LIKE BUSINESS.
An entirely unprecedented thing
occurred in Washington during the
week following the converting OF the
present session OF Congress on Dec.
1, although the country may have
been too busy to have noticed il.
The Democratic House met on
every one of the six days following
the opening day. remaing in ses-
sion throughout each day, every
moment consumed in real work, un-
til it was time to light the lamps.
This policy is in contrast to the
Republican custom OF meeting on
opening day, and after remaing In
session a few moments, adjourning
To the second day thereafter; aud
upon converting the second day
thereafter, OF adjourning to the Sc
cond day after that. and so on, until
two full weeks had been wasted,
when adjournment would be taken
for the holidays. In the meantime,
of course, the conRressman's pay OF
$50. SD per day. $l56 per week and
1925 per month would go merrilly
on, the people paying the bill.
The new policy simply means
this, that the Democrats mean bust
ness
Not A do NOTHING" SESSION.
al any HOIy -; - L. l - =