The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1913-03-28
MADE F0G|Es GASP
WILSON'S PLAN TO VISIT TIE
CAPITOL OCCASIONALLY
sREAks PREcEpENT.
NO REASON He SHOULDN'T
ANY President Who Sought TO infiu-
snce Legislation Could Do u Much
More Privately by Conferences 10
White House.
az GEORGE CLINTON.


hint that he may go on occasion to
the capitol where he can be In toucn
with legislation. created It's ten days
stir, and 1t will create another ten
days stir, and perhaps more, II after
the extra session convenes he car
ries out his limited intention.
II does not seem that there would
be anything to create special interest,
let alone undue excitement. In the
expressed desire OF the president OF
the United States to sit for FEW
hours each week under the same
dome OF the capitol where he would
BIZ in easy reach of such members as
might like to consult him or as ne
might like to consult. but anything
which breaks precedent In Washing
ton raises comment, stir and frequent
ly strong opposition. There is MOTH
ing In the Constitution or laws OF
the United States to prevent the pres
ident from making his office any
where that he wishes In the city OF
Washington, and II his desire Is to
have branch ONCE In the capitol,
nothing can be done to prevent It, ana
very likely there is no reason except
that of tradition and precedent why
1t should be prevented
Has No ulterior Motive.
No one in Washington has been
found to say that he thinks for an In
slant Mr.. Wilson has any intention
OF coming over to the capitol to make
his will dominant" They think that
his desire in the matter Is entirely
democratic, and that II is born Of a
wish to be In closer and more re-
sponsive touch with the members than
would be the case II he spent all his
time In the White House while con-
gress is In session. This feeling Of
an utter absence OF any untoward In
tention on Mr.. Wilson's part has not,
however, prevented criticism. and 1t
has come not only from members Of
opposition parties but from members
of his own party. The thing probably
will prove after little to have been
only tempest In teapot.
II the executive authority ever Is
used wrongfully to influence legisla-
ton, 1t can be SO used at the White
House just as readily as at the cap
itol. In fact, the observer of years
In Washington knows perfectly well
that IL a president wants to make his
viii felt he is much more liable to
attempt 1t at distance rather than
from the capitol, where all the mem
bers In a way would be watching him.
Every day OF the parts of the year
when congress Is in session scores of
senators and representatives go to the
White House, some on their own er.
rands bent, and others called there
by the president who wishes to con.
suit with them upon matters OF legis-
lation.
When the president wants to see a
member alone he takes him into his
private office and closes the doors
! What passes there no one knows, un
less the president or his visitor
chooses to disclose 1t. and the visitor
never will disclose 1t unless the pres
ident gives him permission, for such
conferences always are held to be con
fidential.
Federal Protection for Birds.
BY an act OF the last congress
Just three days before adjourn
ment the whole system of protec
ton OF the wild birds OF the Unite,
States was changed. This bill will q
into effect at once. but the existing
state laws will remain as they are un
til the department OF agriculture hal
prepared new federal regulations TO
the governing of the protection o
game and insectivorous birds in al
sections OF the Union. This matte
is of interest to every sportsman an,
every market man. to every farme
and to every bird lover. no matter Il
what state Of the Union he lives.
1t should be said that the fedora
laws win have no control OF non-m
gratory birds. whether they be gam
birds or song birds. This limits tn
action OF the law very little. however
because comparatively few birds n
main within the borders OF any on
state through the twelve months {
the year. One or two examples ma
~ given. however, or birds whic
probably must depend hereafter. 10
the protection of their lives and {
their families from actual extinctio
on the action of state legislatures
The ruffed grouse. called the partridg
in many states and the pheasant
other states. is non-migratory Dir,
at least II probably will be so d
! cided to be by the department OF agr
. culture. The prairie chicken also
: non-nagratory and 1t probably ais
! must depend upon state protection
but nearly all the other birds of Il
United States, game. insectivorous al
, uong. are migratory and hereafter wi
be protected by Uncle Sam.
|. Scope OF the Measure.
Here Ia section OF the bill whiS
i shows definitely what 1t is intend,
!. to do:
"All wild geese. Wild swans. brar
Wild ducks, snipe, plover. woodcoc
! rail, wild pigeons. and all other mgr
tory game and insectivorous bir