The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-22
ey ARTHUR w. DUNN.

BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. April 2l.-lSpecial. J.
Congressman Robert L. Henry OF Tex
as has proposed method which will
put it squarely up to the house az to
| whether it shall support good roads
| movement, which means the expendi-
| ture of money by the federal govern
ment for that purpose. AS chairman
of the committee on rules Henry will
have an opportunity to test the house.
for he can report the rule he has in
troduced, and the power which the
| rules gives his committee places him
in very advantageous position.
Henry proposes that the committee
on postofflces and post roads shall be
divided, the old committee to be
changed to postal service and have
control of purely postofice matters
and a new committee on post roads"
created, which shall have jurisdiction
Of roads for post routes such as used
by the rural delivery service. II such
| a committee is created 1t will 60 q
long way toward furthering the good
roads movement
Good Roads Majority.
There is little doubt about a majori-
ty of the house being in favor of good
roads and government expenditure for
building and maintaining highways.
The last house so voted on one ap-
preparation bill. and 1t IS believed that
the present house is even more deeply
committed to the project With
committee specially created for the
purpose of furthering good roads. it is
quite likely that it will be able to
bring about effective legislation.
Friends Of good roads are commend
ing Henry for selling big chance to
do something for the highways Of the
country.
White House Gifts.
or course 1t Is impossible to stop
White House gifts entirely. although
President Wilson has gone long way
toward it. Presents Of value and hun
dreds of articles Of no value whatever.
which might be called Junk" are
received at the White House. For sew
eral administrations no effort has been
made to discontinue the practice, but
after President Wilson has returned
some of them and informed would be
donors that such gifts do not please
him the run on White House presenta-
tons may be stopped to some extent
IT'S Really Surprising.
That there should be so much pro-
test against the proposed income tar
is really surprising to members Of con-
gress. why" said one Of them.
hasn't there been a constant demand
for such a tax or at least an amend
ment to the constitution which would
allow such tax? The tax was going
into the Payne law In the senate when
the fellows were switched of on the
amendment plan Both houses of con-
gress adopted the amendment by more
than two thirds vote More than
three fourths Of the states have rati-
fed it Now. does anybody suppose
the Democrats are going to disobey
what seems to be plain mandate Of
the people to pass an income tar law?
Well. they're mistaken If they do"
Gardner and the Rules.
Congressman Gardner Of Massachu-
sets was one Of the early Republican
insurgents upon the rules Of the house.
He secured several reforms or changes
and is still trying for more. Gardner
thinks the rules should be made 80 az
to expedite business, for that is their
real PURPOSE. although 1t Is often
found that the rules are used to retard
business. Though Gardner has be
come member of the committee on
ways and means he has not given up
his interest in parliamentary law. He
is regarded by Champ Clark as one of
the best parliamentarians In the house
Speaking Of Rules.
Speaking Of rules It is rather strange
that under the new order Of things
none Of the best parliamentarians
OF the house-the men who construe
the rules and whose opinions on rules
are considered worthy OF attention
are members Of the rules committee.
Clark. Underwood and Fitzgerald on |
the Democratic side and Mann. Gard |
ner and Kinds on the Republican side
are generally considered the best par
In congress-
They Like Palmer.
Democrats Of the house like A. |
Mitchell Palmer as their chairman. but |
that does not mean they follow him In |
his efforts to have the administration |
control the caucus Several times he |
has differed with Leader Underwood. |
and although supposed to be carrying |
the Wilson banner Palmer has been
bested by Underwood
Chandler Made Faces.
When Chandler OF New York made |
his speech outlining the Progressive
policy and nominating Victor Murdoch
for speaker he made a hit 10 more
ways than one. Why" said Charlie
Adamson OF Georgia. who watched
Chandler with fascination. that Eel
low not only talks for Roosevelt and |