The citizen., 1913-06-27
WASHINGTON.
Legislative and Gem
eral Topics from
the Capital.
Washington, d. c.. June u. 1913.

Washington, d. c.. June Il. 1913.
The investigation OF the lobby. which
was inStgated at the direction of Presi-
dent Wilson, has brought forth many
| startling disclosures regarding the work
| the lobby, not only during the present
extra sessian of Congress, but also in the
! past. When the investigation was in
! augurated, it was reported in many
sources that it would not result in any
very serious disclosures. and neither
/ would it accomplish very much good.
! When the Investigating Committee APP
! pointed by the Senate began its work il
| cross examined the members of the
United States Senate and brought TO the
! public attention the holdings of its mem
| bers in the various corporations and the
! Investigators quizzed them as to what
| effect the proposed tariff schedule
would have upon them. Then followed
an examination of the men representing
| the various well known corporations and
industries, The investigation has led to
the fact that many of the provisions in
! the Payne Aldrich Tariff Bill, which was
passed four years ago. were in reality
written by the agents of the different cor
| porationS who had representatives at
Washington. The investigation has
shown that these provisions whre framed
in the interest of the various protected
industries and not for the general public
good. The lobby in Washington has
been exposed as it has never been be-
fore, and naturally its influence on Con-
gress has been greatly weakened, if not
absolutely DESTROYED. The work of the
Investigating Committee will, to great
extent, ease the fight that was then
planned by the Protection Senators
against the new tariff bill. Many of the
arguments that they would unqueston-
ably make against the bill have been
DESTROYED by the Investigating Com
mttee. This investigation originated
with President Wilson and it has made
ten-strike in the public mind. 1t is held
that he has absolutely proved that an
nsiduous lobby was at work in Wash
ington against the Democratic party.
1t has been announced that the new
currency legislation will be whipped into
shape within the next several weeks and
presented to Congress. 1t is the aim of
the President and his advisers to put this
new bill through Congress during the ex-
traordinary session. The Democratic
leaders believe that this extra session OF
Congress will do all that the people ex-
peCt of it and that all other measures in |
accordance with the provisions of the last
Democratic National platform can be
considered during the session which will
begin on the first Monday of December.
1855 There is no doubt that after the
extra session Of Congress adiourns and
before the regular session, the Demo |
cratic leaders will outline the different |
bills and measures 10 carry out the !
pledges and policies of the party, and |
these will be submitted for immediate |
consideration at the very beginning of the |
regular session. With the tariff and the |
currency legislation out of the way, itl
will be easy for the Democrats to con- |
slider and put through the other legisla-
ton, which they promised the people at |
the last general election.
1t is reported that the Finance Com |
mittee of the Senate will report the tariff |
bill to the floor of the Senate during the |
latter part of next week and then the |
fight will begin for its passage. The Re.
publcans under the leadership of Sen |
ator Penrose, of Pennsylvania, will attack |
and assail the measure as much as pos
sibe. 1t is reported that the Republi- |
cans are now !planning lengthy and |
windy speeches against many features |
OF the new tariff bill The measure will |
be ably defended by the Democrats, but |
it is not believed that the Democratic !
Senators will do much speaking 1t is |
reported that several of them will be Sc |
lected to present the arguments of the |
Democratic party and then permit the |
Republicans to do the wind tanning |
Before the bill is presented to the floor |
it will be submitted to the Democratic |
caucus. and. Judging from the reports |
which have been received from Wash |
ington, the caucus will stand almost |
unanimously behind it. The Democratic |
leaders believe that the bill will be be- |
fore the Senate anywhere from four to |
six weeks. AS soon as it is passed it |
will be approved by the President and |
will at once become effective.
Instructions went forth recently from
First Assistant Postmaster-G General Mr.. |
Daniel c. Roper to all ,ol the postmasters
directing them to handle daily newspa-
pers sent to the subscribers through the
mails with the greatest dispatch possible
after the disposition OF frst-cass matter.
MANY Of these publications contain
market quotations and also other COM
merclal data, which are being used fire.
Quenuy as tue OASIS OF lne SuDSCflDet
daily business operations; and the value
of this information is lost if il is und3ly
delayed in transit" explained Mr.. Roper
to the postmasterS.
He directed that upon the receipt of
mail at a postoffie all sacks labelled
Daily Papers," should be distributed
promptly and every effort made to effect
their delivery at the first carrier trip
after the receipt of the mail in the Office,
providing the delivery of first.class mail
was not delayed.
The ranking privilege, which now
COSTS the government millions of dollars
a year, would be wiped out by a bill
that has been proposed by Senator Ken
yon
Official stamps would be issued to
government officials who would be re-
qured to give strict account of their
use.
The testimony in the lobby nvestga-
! ton showed that in one instance the
sugar interests, under Senator Lodges
! frank, circulated at the governments s
! expense mail matter which would have
otherwise cost them $I6,o in postage