The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-27
SOME GOSSIP FROM
NATIONAL CAPITAL
Interesting Facts About Law.
makers What They
Are Doing.
az RooERick CLIFFORD.

Washington, Feb. 21.-When IL
comes to fatherIng Legislation for the
benefit OF the people. no member OF
the house is mere prolific with sug-
gestions than Representative William
Suizer, OF New York, dean OF the
Democratic delegation from the En-
pire state. He is the author Of more
progressive measures rOw pending be-
fore tho leading comruittees Of the
house than any other member. lie is
an ardent advocate Of "A parcels post,
and for more than six years has regu-
larry introduced his bill! to add the
parcels post system to the Post Office
Department. His bill on this subject
is simple. and makes clear how this
increased mail facility could be ope-
rated with but slight additional cost.
Operation OF IA parcels post, says the
New York member. would wipe out
the deficit from which the Post Of
flee Department complains. Then
there IL the Suffers good road BILL
which has for some years been indoors
cd by the farmers Of the country This
would cost the government no mo-
ney. and would prove of great benefit
To the people. Mr.. Sulzer says. Good
roads. he says, would prove great
boon to the automobile manufacturers
and labor would thereby reap a re-
ward by increased employment. The
Sulzer ship subsidy bill Is another
measure which has received his at
tention.
The way to make our navy the
strongest and best in the world. says
Sulzer. rs to pass my ship subsidy
bill. u would pay for Itself. and 1t
would re-establish our merchant ma
rinc. which has Jagged sadly behind
the nations of the world
In the next house. Mr.. Sulzer will
rank with the leaders of the majority
side, and when army legislation is
under way he will take command.
II Is not an enviable role to play.
watch dog of the treasury" and yet
Il Is u role that must be filled by
some one. In this congress, Repre-
sentative James X. Mann, OF Illinois,
occupies this influential and power
Representative Robert Bruce Macon.
Of Arkansas takes the part of the
Democrats. and keeping close watch
In the next house the Arkansas states
man will be on guard for the Demo
Gratis and will keep close watch on
Uncle Sans purse strings.
The duty of the watch dog" is to
closely scrutinizc the supply bills to
sec that the committee who have
charge of budgets for the Department
do not try to slip In items involving
additional charges on the treasury
Items of this character are subject 10
n point OF order which has the eff
feet of knocking them out. and un'
less the watch dog" as he was first
called during the days of Represents
tive Holman. Of Indiana. when most
of the business of the house was dis
posed of by unanimous consent. Is con
stantly on the lookout for little jok
ers. the budgets will run up thousands
of dollars above the Department es
Inmates. Mr.. Macon has done goot
Tcrvicc during this congress. and has
saved the government much money
but In doing this he has created con
siderable friction. lie keeps on the
even tenor Of his way, however. he
licving that he Is doing IA public ser
vice. lie Is often criticized by mem
bcrs whose pet schemes go awry be
cause OF the point of order. but the!
admit In private that Macon Is right
Mr.. Macon does not press the poin
of order when shown that Legislation
~ necessary. and that the quickes
way To get II Is through an item I'm al
appropriation bill. When 1t comes -
increasing salaries of high officials III
draws the line. saying that IL salaries
must be increased. give the increase Il
the clerks who get small pay and d'
most of the work. lie believes II
economy in public expenditures. AM
next winter will prove great he'll
10 the majority in carrying out thu
Democratic economy program.
After congress adjourns Represen
tativc Butler Ames, of Massachusetts
who obstructed Senator Lodges re
election to the senate by announcing
himself "a candidate prevented tn
senior Massachusetts senator fror
taking his usual vacation to Europ
last summer. will give his time to pei
fccting his airship. MIR. Ames is a
aero enthusiast. and is the invento
of "A flying machine. which his friend
claim. will prove winner In the cor
tests to be held this summer. 1t
said the War Department officials ar
much interested In the Ames airshi
and will give II a tryout after he ha
perfected II.
In the opinion of Representativ
Richmond Pearson Hobson, of Al;
hama. the airship will. before man
years. be an auxiliary of the arm
and the navy. and with the perfectio
of the aeroplano dangers OF war wi
he increased. He says there are grea
possibilities In the flying machn,
and ut the present rapid improvement
I'm air navigation the day will soon a
rive when parties of six or eight wi
be able To make safe journeys of Ion
distances with ease and comfort. II
IL not prepared 10 say now that th
aerop;ane will become common ca
rier. but such thing Is In the rams
OF possibility. and when II comes ther
will be those who will advocate III
application Of the railroad rate la
b.. fkfa .Ng hn "a