The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-08-22
DOWN AT WASHINGTON
Interesting Notes from the National
Capital by 6. A. Wood, Special
Reporter Correspondent.

on expenditures in the war Depart
ment.
Senator Mark Smith, of Arizona,
has a notion that the abolition OF
the Congressional Record would do
away with the long sessions Of con-
gress He believes that members
desiring to speechify should be re-
CURED to hire reporters and print
their remarks at their own expense.
The Nevada warden who is having
his trouble finding some one to eX-
ecute man under death sentence
ought to apply to the gun men OF
New York.
Reports say that Legg of Mime
sofa defeated Middleton of Iowa for
the golf championship. He ought to
if his name spells anything.
Because of strenuous objection
on the part of Senator Smoot, per-
mission to print the speech of Rep
reseItative Taylor in behalf OF
woman's suffrage as public docu~
ment was refused.
Still dilatory in the passage OF
appropriation bills, Congress has
had recourse again to the "contlnu-
ing resolution to tide over Septem-
Der | those departments whose sup
ply bills are still pending.
BY a vote Of 50 to II the demo-
Gratis of the house in caucus have
agree to support an appropriation
for one battleship in this years
naval program, and the senate is
expected to accept this compromise.
With the assistance Of insurgent
republicans, the democrats OF the
house passed the steel bill over the
presidents veto by a vote OF 173
to 50. Representatives Haugen and
Woods, of Iowa, were among the IL
republicans voting for the bill.
The army appropriation bill,
vetoed by the president because OF
personal legislation contained there
in, has been again passed by the
senate with the offensive provisions
eliminated. The measure carries an
appropriation of $4,000, 900.
By a vote of sc to 10, the senate
has passed the house cotton bill,
lettes substitute, representing the
recommendations of the tariff board.
Mr. LaFOllette and eight other pro-
gressjve republicans, including both
the Iowa senators, Joined with the
democrats in passing the bill.
4 complaisant senate has kindly
provided the campaign committees
of the various parties with ammunl-
ton by agreeing to print as pub
lie documents the notification
speech of Senator Root and the ac-
ceptance of President Taft, the noti-
tication speech of Ollie James and
the acceptance Of Governor Wilson,
and the acceptance speech OF Col.
Roosevelt.
President Taft has cigned bill
which will enable settlers on re-
| clamatlOn projects to obtain patent
ard water right certificates, and
| therefore a marketable title to their
property, in three years, instead OF
ten years, as under the old law The
new law is intended to prevent the
holdings of undeveloped land for
speculation.
By a vote CT 121 to II, the house
has ousted from his seat Represen-
tative T. E. Catlin, of Missouri, re-
publican, because of violations Of
the Missouri law governing cam
paign expenses. The charge against
Mr.. Catlin was that he and his fam
lily had spent $4,000 to elect him
when the law prohibits an eXpend-
ture by candidates OF more than
$662.
Five boy scouts, of Burlington,
Iowa, accompanied by scout
master, arrived in Washington
Thursday, having covered the entire
distance from their homes on BIZ
cycles. The boys left Burlington
June II and covered 1900 miles,
their itinerary including Chicago,
Cleveland, Buffalo. Toronto, Albany,
New York and Philadelphia.
So far, Iowa is leading all the
states in naming city delegations to
! the fifteenth International Congress
on Hygiene and Demography, which
meets in Washington September 23-
%. Burlington, Council Bluffs,
Creston, Des Moines, Dubuque,
Garner, Glenwood, Grinnell Harlan.
Hampton, Iowa City, Maquoketa,
Ottumwa, Rock Rapids, keokuk and
Waterloo will send delegates.
The senate has passed resolu-
ton, previously favorably acted up
on by the house, which calls for
comprehensive investigation OF the
patent Office and it's administration
with view of determining whether
present methods, personnel and
equipment and the building now oc-
cupied by the patent office are ade-
quate. The Investigation is to be
made by the commission on economy
and efficiency, and $4,000 is appro-
priated for the purpose.
Because of provisions abolishing
| the Commerce Court and establish
| ing a seven-year tenure of office in
the civil service, President Taft has
| vetoed the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill, carrying
the salaries Of government employees
from the president down and includ-
ing members of congress. An at
tempt by the house to override the
presidents veto of the bill resulted
/ in vote of 1873 to 107, twenty
short of the requisite two-thlrds.
The department OF agriculture
estimates that this years corn crop
will aggregate 2,S11, 100000 bush
els, the largest in the history Of the
country with the exception of the
years 1906 and 1910. The wheat
crop, estimated at 6SO,0OO,OOO
| hncbo1c will rank fifth in size dur