The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-31
GREATEST FARCE
OF PRESENT DAY
Traffic in Government Publica-
tons May Result in
Investigations.
Especial to The Times-Dispa tch. ]

Washington, August 3O-Congress
could not possibly begin n more praise
worthy or laudable undertaking Mt this
time than to follow up the suggestion
OF Representative Ferris, Of Oklahoma,
that an investigations Se made of traffic
in government publications.. especially
TO ascertain what members of Con-
gress If any, are engaged In selling or
swapping different kinds OF publica-
tons, what revenue they derive there
from, and what other persons, either
semiofiicially connected with Congress
I or otherwise, are carrying on this bust
ness
For years past II has been no secret
here that many persons were each year
reApinG a nice little harvest in the
traffic Of government publications,
which they, of course, received free.
the people paying the bill. No one has
ever investigated the matter, for the
reason that 1t has been winked at much
like the long continued farce that has
surrounded the yearly appropriation of
thousands of dollars for free seed graft
and the payment to members of 20
cents mile for railroad travel in
coming to Washington. While spas
modic efforts from time to time have
been made by certain members to cut
out not only the mileage graft. but also
the free seed proposition and the traf-
tic in government publications. II has
always been realized that the day is
far distant when these things Will come
to- an end.
concerned. SO much has been written
about them that the <ubject has long
since become hackneyed and hoary with
age, but there are few persons who
have paid enough attention to the
traffic in congrcssionns documents and
government publications for the matter
&c ever get squarely before the public
AS about the greatest farce Of the pres
emit day. 1T is true that not many MEM
bers of Congress are engaged in this
book store business as a side line by
any means. In fact, there are not few
who legitimately send to their consti-
tuents every page of printed matter
that they can get their hands on with
out swapping with their neighbour
members unless it happen that par
ocular man has constituency which
has no need of certain documents, then
: IL trade is made. On the other hand,
IL has been limited here for many years
that there have been certain persons
who each year made neat little pile
in the publication business.
Trades Here nnd There.
There certain men working in
Washington who in one way and an
other are said to do thriving bust
ness in all kinds of congressional pub
LEGATIONS. They are just as busy day
in and day out as any drummer on the
road. making trades here and there.
Il
lotment OF such matter that another
will not need. and generally doing a
stimulating traffic in these publica-
tons.
Just what kind of publications and
of what value the government gets out
each year and distributes TO members
OF Congress is not known to the gem
eral public, and doubtless never will
be. These publications vary all the
way from the o9ne-page ieaiiet on eradi-
Mexican pink boil worm to the costly
and handsome volumes of American
history, congressional biographies and
other publications that would grace
and adorn any up-to date library. In
they would cost you IL pile of ready
cash because Uncle Sam. through his
agents, never sells on credit, but the
nifty .Congressman is able to pull them
over to his constituents free of cost
Only last year Senator Fletcher, of
Florida. chairman of Congressional
that book dealers were doing a land
Office business in buying government
publications at small cost and then
selling them at good profit He put
the lid OH, and as a result the Superln-
tendent of documents was ordered
promptly not to sell but one copy of
the same publication to the same per
this traffic. but it is believed that il
Congress follows the suggestion made
by Congressman Ferris not few mem
bers may be brought to the bar and
made to disclose what information they
may have regarding the government
free book business in Washington az
a side line, The traffic and swapping
wholesale sending out of pumpkin.
squash and tuTnin. seed; grapes In fact.
anything that would keep the Con
gressmen in touch with the people az
home has never squared exactly with
'' p. H MEG.