The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-02-13
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.


Friends of Governor Wilson have been
feeling around to find out if it is posi-
BILE to repeal the provision of the Pan
anna canal bill which grants free tolls
to American coastwise ships. The gov
ernOr would like to have that done in
order to relieve his administration of
rather severe diplomatic strain at the
very outset. And yet one of the best
friends the governor has in the senate,
Senator O'Gorman, is strongly opposed
to the repeal. advocated by Secretary
Root.
But there will be no repeal Con
gresham Mann replied to Roots
speech and killed the proposition by
remarking that the transcontinental
railroads had been getting busy trying
to bring it about. After that remark
there was not the least possibility of
repeating the free coastwise provision.
Use Of Patronage.
Use of presidential patronage came
In for drubbing during the debate of
the six year presidential term. Sena-
tor Lodge did not think that patronage
had so much to do with influencing
nominations. which shows that he has
not been very careful in his recollec-
tons. Benjamin Harrison was renom
mated by the use Of patronage. MT
Taft was helped to the nomination in
1908 by the use of patronage and was
IN tn ho
Senator Lodge thought that the great
est misuse of patronage was in inf1u-
encing legislation in congress, In that
regard he should be well informed, for
he knows how Cleveland. Mckinley.
Roosevelt and Taft have used or re
fused patronage in order to carry
through measures they wanted enacted
into laws.
NonpoIiticaI Lines.
There was no politics in the adoption
of the amendment to the constitution
limiting the term of the president to
six years and making him ever after
ward ineligible. Republicans of nth
factions voted for it, as did Democrats
those who voted against the resoln
ton. There was a bit of the personal
in the vote.
No Roosevelt man voted for the reso-
luton, but several anti Roosevelt men
voted against it. So it was hard to dis
cover much, save that Roosevelt fig
ured little. 1t was evident that the
anti Roosevelt men in both parties
would like to make it constitutionally
impossible for the man from Oyster
Bay to be president again.
Biffed the Lawyers.
Discussing some subject relating to
the government, John Sharp Williams
said: 'Thus far Jefferson went. Thus
far 1 60. Thus far every man with
common sense goes unless he is mere
lawyer and nothing else, and the mere
lawyer and nothing else is the most
dangerous man to free institutions.
Especially If he is constitutional
lawyer" interjected Poindexter Of
Washington. who has had many Tits
with the constitutional lawyers Of the
senate.
Big Appropriations.
1t has become evident that If this
session of congress should complete all
the appropriation bills by the 4th Of
March the total will equal that Of any
other previous session in spite of the
efforts toward economy. Naturally the
expenses of the government increase
year by year, more particularly when
new institutions like the postal savings
banks and the parcel post are added
to postoffice expenditures and there is
a demand for larger public building
bills and increased river and harbor ap
preparations.
A Pleasant Pastime.
Providing for the increased needs of
the government. the house committee
on appropriations adds new employees
and rearranges the employment OF
men In the government service. I'm
der the strict rules Of the house this Is
Legislation on appropriation bills" and
subject to point Of order And when
those bills come up in the house sew
eral indefatigable economists get busy
and knock out the provisions.
1t takes much time and discussion.
delays business, and all that. but 1t
makes record for the watchdogs
Then the senate puts all these in
creases back in the bill, and when the
bill goes to conference the house con
ferees quickly accept the senate pro-
visions. and the bill is just where ii
was before the raid upon it. I'VE are
boys grown" once remarked John
Sharp Williams when member of the
house.
Many "Swan Songs"
Every time Uncle Joe Cannon makes
a speech these days the versatile re-
p0rters refer to 1t as "swan song
Pretty soon the venerable ex-speaker
viii have as many swan songs as Patti
and Bernhardt have had farewell
tours" Mr.. Cannon speaks whenever
be has anything to say. which Is not
infrequent
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