The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-06-03
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington. June 2. [Special.] -
Decoration day is real holiday for
congress. and outside of Christmas and
New Years. when there is an adjourn
ment of two weeks. 1t is the only holi-
day which is really respected by the
legislative branch of the government
There has never been an opportunity
to test the matter on Labor day, but II
is probable that congress would also re-
spect that holiday and not hold SEES
sion. Washington's birthday and the
Fourth Of July are work days when
congress is in session, but Washington
and the men who made the Fourth of
July have no near relatives to keep
their holiday green or at least exempt
from congressional session.
1t is a tribute which is paid to the
soldiers Of the civil war this recogni-
ton Of Decoration day by congress.
More than that. a great many promi-
nent members Of congress are usually
called away to deliver addresses on
that day. At all events congress al
ways adojurns over.
Bourne 10 Not Forgotten.
BY conducting bearings on railway
mail pay, by seeking an adjustment of
second class mail rates and by consid-
ering good roads legislation former
Senator Bourne. who is chairman Of
on all these subjects.
keeps from being forgotten. Besides,
he does not allow many weeks to pass
without saying something about the
work he is doing.
Just now the good roads proposition
seems to greatly interest him. and he
has figured out that feasible plan for
good roads will add 100000. DOC, 900
to the national wealth. add forty bill
lions to the value Of American farms
and save a hundred billions to the
farmers. OF course these are stag
gering figures. but good roads advo-
Gates deal In large figures. !.
Never Will Get Through.
Senator Nelson's proposition to amend
the constitution so as to allow presi-
dent to veto items in an appropriation
bill while allowing other items to be-
come law. ought to have been provided
In the constitution originally, but now
such a change Gun never be made. 1t
Is too good and too useful. and it
striltes at the very essence Of compro-
mise and pork barrel legislation.
Too many members and senators
know that such change would enable
a president to drop out much that
smells Of pork" In bills which come
to him. and they know that the only
way they can get that pork" is to
and put It In different appro-
priation bills.
They Shy at Currency.
''Do you propose to pass currency
ask those who have heard
.umors to the effect that President
Wilson is rather anxious to have some
hing done. "Why. it will keep us
here all summer" they plaintively re-
mark. OF course, but II they were not
,ere all summer they would be draw
ng their salaries. Their clerks would
,e drawing salaries. the employees of
congress would be drawing salaries
Ind the people may want these men
o pass currency legislation IL such leg
station is necessary.
Came From the South.
Both Senators Newlands and Pitt
nan are natives of Mississippi: so also
re Chamberlain Of Oregon, Clarke Of
Arkansas and Gore Of Oklahoma. That
; quite a number Of statesmen from
ne commonwealth. Three senators.
'hafroth Of Colorado, Myers Of Mon
ana and Catron Of New Mexico are
latives Of Missouri.
The south has quite number Of her
ons serving northern states In the sen
te. Thomas OF Colorado is from Geor-
ia, Lewis Of Illinois and Owen of Ok
ahoma from Virginia. Poindexter of
from Tennessee. and Fall
Z New Mexico and Bristow of Kansas
rom Kentucky.
MeAdoo Getting Advice.
i udt was SclNaluiy dA iuuOyullOu Oh
be part Of Secretary McAdoo, asking
Employees to give him advice about
ow to run the treasury department.
II bet he gets 1t too. for there are a
It Of old fossils in the department who
eel quite sure they know more about !
INNING 1t than any secretary who was |
yer there. And in some cases they |
re right. /
But what McAdoo will get mostly is !
dvice from barnacles. old men and |
'omen. who have been complaining of
20 much air or not enough. or Of the
'ay the light comes In or OF the per-
ons In the room and lot more to the
ame effect. They will tell him much
bout the details Of the department.
Must Not Threaten.
Employers are to be punished If they |
lreaten labor II bill introduced by
congressman Pepper Of Iowa should
ASS The threats relate to politics
I'D include such innuendoes as are