The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1912-04-05
AFFAIRS AT
WASHINGTON
Matters Concerning the Law
Makers and Events of Impor-
tance at the National Capital.

Washington, d. c., April l.
A determined effort is being made
IN congress for the presidential
preference law to be tested out
in the District of Columbia. and
the measure of Representative
Norris, of Nebraska, is meeting
with favor. A good many mem
bers of congress. who have heard
many criticisms of the operation
of the primary laws, particulars
ly in New York, are anxious that
some sort of a practical test be
made in the capital where the ap
plication of the system will be
directly under the nose of con-
gress Should such bill pass
and prove popular, it is altogether
likely that other portions Of the
country might, yet adopt the prim-
ary system for the choosing of
their delegates.
And now the democratic mem
bers of congress are talking
about abolishing another branch
Of the government, namely the
Department of Commerce and
Labor. The Tariff Board has
practically exhausted it's funds.
The democratic policy appears to
be one Of false economy through
holding up appropriations for all
kinds Of public work, and they
even extend their activities in
the matter of cutting down ex-
penses to the throttling of some
Of the mos. valuable institutions
of the government.
The three-year homestead bill,
a measure which reduces the time
Of residence upon the homestead
Hands from five to three years
passed the House few days ago
with some amendments to the
Borah bill, which had already
passed the Sena e. The measure
having gone to conference and
the differences existing between
the two houses being such as one
would suppose could be speedily
adjusted, this aid ITO homesteaders
throughout the country may be
classed among the most bene
ficial of the legislation in the
present session Of Congress.
Mr. Pickett, of Iowa, made a
telling speech during the debate
on the sugar schedule and called
attention to the movement that
had been under way for many
month, whcih evidently has been
financed by some sugar refiners,
for the express purpuse OF elimi-
mating their only competition
the beet sugar industry. He
viewed the growth and up-build-
ing Of the sugar beet industry
and made strong plea against
wiping out this great institution,
which has been created by the
protective tariff.
The bill for extending the
time Of paylnen to settlers on
the Cheyenne and Standing Rock
reservations in South Dakota, ano
which was engineered through
the senate by Mr.. Gamble. has
passed the house through the eff
forts Of Congressman Martin and
Burke, with some valuable amend
mems. 1t will be absolute boon
to settlers, and at the same time
give full justice tc he Indians.
who are the original holders Of
the land
The row over the Everglades of
Florida still occupies a good deal
Of attention here in WASHINGTON
It has been suggested that some
of the Land companies selling real
estate in the Florida Everglades
should peddle their wares by til
quart instead of by the acre. as
much Of the land is under water
Efforts have been made to Sc
cure some sort of action in con-
gress affecting the activity of
postmasters Throughout the coun-
try, in reference to their conduct
in the campaign The present in
dications are that any legislation
Of that kind will come after elec-
tion. instead Of before.