New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-02
TILE WY OTT.

The tirelessness with which the Hon,
Weldon r. Hepburn labors to enhance
the reputation of the United States Sen
ate rs deliberative body often amazes
even those of his colleagues 10 whom
discussion is a thing of beauty and JOY
forever and who under ordinary circum-
stances would rather talk than eat. Mr..
Hepburn is one Of the greatest pro
moterS OF deliberation whom the Sen
ate has ever welcomed into its midst.
II seems TO pain him TO think of closing
IN the business Of a session and leaving
the Senate chamber TO silence and sol
itude 1t does not agree with his ideas
Of the fitness of things ever to put up
the shutters Of the only institution in
the world where an orator can unbOsom
himself without limit and get every word
ne says published in THE Congressional
Record at the Treasury's expense.
The Idaho Senator has recently been
holding up legislation single handed in
order to prove TO his weary associates
the folly Of planning to get away from
Washington by June IL. October IL
would suit him better, for he has things
on his mind which cannot all be reduced
TO language within four or five months.
II Mr.. Hepburn persists in Heyburniz-
ing. what hope is there that Congress
men will get home before the pumpkins
begin 10 be touched with frost?
There is but one ray of encourage
ment The Idaho Senator thOughtlessly
uncovered the other day the method by
which he triumphs over time and haste.
He has system which he exposed in
the course Of some contemptuous re-
marks OH the Houses eight hour labor
bill. Mr.. Hepburn naturally has only
scOrn for any one who suggests limiting
mans daily opportunity to work or
talk to a mere pittance of eight hours.
He is for an ampler day both for himself
and for others. Here IS the gist Of his
philosophy:
Under strict Interpretation Of the
Biblical injunction the law ought to
compel every man to work all the time
for six days. A day. under the laws Of
nature, consists of the daylight 1t Is
the light that makes the day; the words
are synonymous in their meaning The
period of daylight Is varied by the sea
son. A wise power has provided that
the sun should shine longer during those
days when mans duties were more
pressing, when he must raise the crops
upon which to feed the world during the
winter season. He needed more time to
plant and cultivate them and harvest
them, and the days were made longer
In the winter time il was not necessary
to have such long days. ] am merely
making this suggestion: 7 am not criti-
cisng the arrangement OF the universe;
it suits me, and | could not arrange il
half so well Ilaughterl. but | am call
ing attention to it. We are very apt to
glide along through this world on false
premises.
Thus the Hepburn secret is out He
is a daylighter, willing and anxious
either to plough or to deliberate so long
as the sun hangs above the horizon. But
he SHES at continuing under the glare Of
artificial light. That would not be Bibli-
cal, nor for sun-up-er would 1t be prac-
teal. If the Senate wants to escape
from the benumbing spell Of the Idaho
Senator's flow Of thought, or near
thought il has remedy. Let it meet at
sunset and sit till sunrise Then every
body may join the happy getaway
scheduled for June 10.