The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1911-12-21
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

(By Charles H. Tavener, special
Washington correspondent of The
Reporter.)
Washington, Dec. 16.-By what
possibility could the United. States
become involved in trouble with for
eign nations by participating in the
celebration of the discovery of Lake
Champlain? Or by sending dele
gates to the International Congress
on Collisions and Salvage? Or by
having a representation at the meet
ing of the International Seismolog-
ical association, which has to do with
earthquakes?
Congressman Courtney w. Ham,
lin, of Missouri, has asked the re-
publcans of the house for an answer
to these queries. He has reason.
President Taft and Secretary OF
State Knox spent large sums of
money for above mentioned pur-
poses, and when Mr.. Hamlin, as
chairman of the committee on ex-
penditures in the State Department,
asked how the money was spent he
was denied all information.
1--WE couldn't possibly give you any
information as to these expendi-
lures" declared Mr.. Taft and Mr.
Knox, in chorus, couldn't possibly
think of it! You see, these expendi-
itures were made under a statute
which permits us to withhold all de-
tails on the ground that it might in
volve us in trouble with foreign ma
tions."
Mr.. Hamlin said he found that the
State Department spent 1000
secretly every year, and declared it
ridiculous to asert that some of the
things for which this money was
spent might involve us in trouble
with foreign nations
I'VE of course do not know" said
Mr.. Hamln, whether the $4,000
expenditure, authorized by secret
certificate, of President Taft, for par
ticipation in the celebration of the
discovery of Lake Champlain was
spent for the purpose appropriated
or not. but l suspect that in all hui
man probability this $4,000 was
spent in paying railroad fares, hotel
bills, automobile hire, banquetings,
wine, etc.
ITO permit any man, even he be
the president Of the United States,
to spend an average of $339.45 of
the peoples money each and every
day of the year, without compelling
him to account to anybody as to how,
and for what purpose he expended
this money, does not accord with
any idea of properly guarding the
treasury"
Wall Street Not in Control.
The Stanley steel Investigating
committee will continue it's probe of
the steel trust. The efforts of Wall
street to bring the investigation to
a halt have failed.
1t being obvious that the house
will not heed the command of special
privilege to stop the inquiry, it is
doubtful now whether the PROPOSE
ton of forcing the investigating COM
mittee to abandon it's inquiry will
even come up on the floor of the
house. But if the attempt is made,
it is certain that the house will stand
by the committe and order it to pro-
coed with the hearings.
This marks a new order of things.
In the past the steel trust has been
able to have bills side tracked, de-
layed, and finally chloroformed in
committees of the house. All this is
today impossible.
Looks Like Business.
An entirely unprecedented thing
occurred in Washington during the
week following the converting of the
present session of Congress on De-
4, although the country may have
been too busy to have noticed it,
The democratic house met on
every one of the six days following
the opening day, remaining in ses-
sion throughout each day, every mo-
ment consumed in real work, until
it was time to light the lamps
This policy is in contrast to the
republican custom of meeting on
opening day, and, after remaining in
session few moments, adjourning
to the second day thereafter; and
upon converting the second day there
after. of adjourning to the second
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 congressman pay of l
$20.83 per day, $165 per week and |
1925 per month would go merrily |
on, the people paying the bill
The new policy simply means this,
that the democrats mean business.
Not "Do Nothing" Session.
IF anybody thinks this is going to
be a 'do-nothing' congress they are
badly Mistaken" was the answer
made by Champ Clark to the propo-
sition that the democrats proposed |
to devote the present session to ef-
forts to put the republicans in
hole, - SO as to strengthen their own
position for next year.
"The democratic party made the
definite promise to give the people |
relief from conditions which have
come to be regarded as intolerable,"
the speaker continued. "The best |
way for us to play politics is to carry
to conclusion, insofar as we are
able, the excellent record we have
already made. The people are look
ing to us for accomplishment, rather