The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-04-18
What the Times. Union Don't Print.
(By H. C. Sparkman.)


Washington, April 15.-If Claude
L'Engle has his way one long estab-
lished precedent in Washington will
be Knocked out. He contends that
precedence has no place in the gov
eminent of the people, and that in
the transaction of public business it
should be first come first served.
But House Resolution 3S explains
itself as follows
Resolved, That precedence has no
place in government of the people,
and that the custom prevailing by
which Senators go ahead of Members
of the House in transacting public
business in the governmental depart
ments is Objectionable to this House,
and that continuance of this prac-
tlce will be regarded as an atfront to
the House. That it is the sense OF
this House that in the transaction Of
the public business there shall be no
order of admission of members of
Congress to any government official
or department other than the order
of arrival at the departmental Office,
specific appointments previously ar
ranged excepted.
L'Engle also thinks that so long as
we have special departments and COM
mittees to look after the health of
hogs, cattle, horses and other domes-
tic animals we should at least have
a congressional committee to look |
after questions relating to the public
health and happiness of human be-
lngs. To cover this point he has in
PRODUCED the following resolution,
known as H. R. 80:
Resolved, That Rule Y be amended
so as to add to the standing commit
,ees of the House a Committee on the
Public Welfare and Happiness, to
consist of eleven members, and that
Rule XII be amended by adding the
ollowing: "All proposed legislation
'elating to and affecting social ana
living conditions, the public health
nd sanitation, woman's suffrage, and
he promotion of the public welfare
hall be referred to the committee on
he Public Welfare and Happiness"
There should be no secret caucuses,
ommittee meetings or gatherings of
ubllc officials to transact public bus
ness was contention of L'Eng!e
uring his campaign, and though the
pen caucus advocates were defeated
l the democratic caucus, he hopes
have the doors of committee rooms
pened to the press and the follow '
lg resolution, H. R. 81, covers the |
round thoroughly:
Resolved, That Rule XXXV be /
mended by adding thereto the fol- :
wing: Cali Representatives of the +,
ress who are granted the privilege .
reporting debates and proceedings >
the House shall also have the priv !
eye of reporting all proceedings of Il
| committees of the House and shat
I'VE at all times access to all COM
ittee rooms when committees are
public business"
Along the same lines of open tran in
ction of public business is H. R. 80, &C
quiring committees to record and SC
Iblish the vote of their members on m
bills and resolutions referred to
EN-, and to give the names, interest
presented and compensation re-
lved by parties appearing before
mmittees for or against any bill.
lis is in line with L'Engle's success sn
effort to put the lobbyists out Of Pc
siness at Tallahassee, and will have di
e same effect here, for when it is IA
own what interest lobbyist rep or
5ents and what compensation he re ca
ives his influence in ways that are at
rk and devious will be destroyed Or
The resolution is as follows: ca
n 81
II be amended so as to read as an
lows: "All reports of committees, by
cept as provided in clause fifty.six til
Rule XII, together with the views va
the minority, shall be delivered to tn
: clerk for printing and reference
the proper calendar, unde" the III ra
.tion of the Speaker, in acCol dance ne
tn the foregoing clause, and the ".
les or subject thereof shall be en- lis
ed on the journal and printed in tn,
: record. And each report Of each bu
shall contain the names Of luz
'se members of the committee who ia,
ed to report the bill, resolution, or Nc
mortal favorably, and the names
those members of the committee sta
o voted to report unfavorably, and pu
names of all persons, together wit
h the interest they represented and rec
compensation they received, who do;
oeared before the committee in ad- IN,
,acy of or adverse to the bill, re- Ce
utiOn, or memorial reDorted 20