The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1912-03-26
Congressman curiey Proposes
Change in Constitution.
MANY ARE IN FAVOR OF I
Strong Efforts Being Made 10 Stop Of.
! fsnsivs Lobbying Congress Asked
20 Acknowledge Services OF
Captain Ericsson.
81 GEORGE CLINTON.


the term Of six years and. together
with the vioe-president chosen for the
same term shall be eligible to serve
not more than one term"
This resolution Of Mr.. Curley's re-
fers, of course. to q change in the Con.
stitution which will extend the time
Of the term of the president to six
years and makes him ineligible for
reelection at any time. There Is =
good deal Of feeling in congress
among both Republicans and Demo
Gratis In favor of this constitutional
change. Speaker Champ Clark has
gone on record in favor of this
change and it is said also that Presi-
dent Taft thinks that it would be I'D.
visable. "
1t has been humorously suggested
in Washington that the president
would like to make the change in the.
Constitution retroactive and to have
the term fixed at seven years. virtual.
ly the precise time which Theodore.
Roosevelt held the highest office In
the land.
Hit at Lobbying.
Members of both houses of congress
this year have been introducing bills.
to stop lobbying in its offensive form.
Lobbying is not carried on as openly
and as hagrantly as it was few.
years ago, but it is still in evidence,
and it always will be in evidence, no.
matter what laws are passed because
there is certain kind of lobbying
which is recognized as being proper.
There is nothing to prevent men and
women from telling members of con-
gress their side of the case upon.
which it is proposed to legislate. The
kind of lobbying which is aimed at in
the various bills is the "pernicious &C
tivity kind" where representatives of
great concerns selfshly interested in
legislation use their influence to pro-
mote 1t or to retard it as it seems best
from their point of view.
Representative Charles B. Smith Of
Buffalo, an old-time newspaper man,
has introduced the most recent bill
'sfor the suppression of lobbying and
for the regulation Of duly accredited
representatives Of persons. firms, cor
porations and associations interested
In legislation before congress-:
The Smith bill provides that every
person who is employed for compen-
sation az counsel or agent of any con.
Germ interested in legislation shall hle
with the secretary Of the senate and
the clerk Of the house q paper stating
the name Of his employers and the de-
scription Of the legislation on behalf
Of which or against which his services
are to be rendered. The bill also pro.
vides for publicity Of expenses Of such
lobbying agents. Violations Of the
law shall be. according to the bill.
punishable by Imprisonment or by .
fine Of $1,000 or both. ::z y.
Congress has been asked to make
public acknowledgment Of the serv-
ices Of Capt. John Ericsson. the engt.
neer and inventor who: constructed
the Monitor. which fought the Merra-
mac in Hampton Roads early in the
war between the states. The acknowl.
edgment Of Ericsson's services 10
based not only on his work of con.
structing the Monitor, but because, %
the resolution puts it ..'his skill and
services effected q revolution in ths
naval architecture Of the world.
2, Rensws Old Controversy.
The fftieth anniversary Of the night
between the Monitor and Merrimao
has just been observed. It brought
~ho,,$ . xoaAA-~1 - a. .n1A x<n n<rn,,>va-
as to which Of the two vessels really
won the light. It is claimed for the
Merrimac that It was an ironclad aud
was built before the Monitor and that
therefore its designers were the ones
whose work effected Z revolution in
the naval architecture OF the world"
Whole volumes were written 1t the
time Of the recognition OF the flftieth
anniversary Of this sea fight between
the ironclads. Some men take one
side and some another, and it might
be said In passing that there were one
or two northern men who took the
side. OF the adherentss Of the Merfi.
mac, saying that 1t is not altogether
true that the victory lay entirely with
the Monitor. Most men, however, pro-
nounced the whole discussion sfruitless.
The senate finance committee has
been holding hearings on the tariff
bill affecting chemicals which was
passed BY the house not long ago a
New York man representing manu-
facturer Of celluloid in New Jersey
said that he was responsible for the
celluloid collar. The committee was
discussing the question Of the duty
on things which enter into celluloid
manufacture.
Are you Responsible for the cellu.
loid collar" asked Senator Kern,
sternly.
Yes. invented them," replied the
witness, "and fixed them 20 you can
not tell the difference between them
and linen collars
II have been trying to locate the
responsibility for these collars for.
some time" said Senator Kern. -
vsrsly, but with twinkls n his -
SHE PICKED THE WRONG MAN
Woman With Prominent Jaw Did Not
Get the 8eat She 90 Evl.
dAntlv 0Aainaa 49,