The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-09-01
BY JONATHAN WINEIELo.


WASHINGTON, Sept. president
Wilson recently gave new evidence Of
his domination of congress by block
ing the senate plan for recess. The
Democratic senators practically had
decided to recess after the passage OF
the tariff bill But President Wilson
sent an envoy in the person of his
private secretary. Mr.. Tumulty, TO the
halls of congress and Tumulty advised
Democratic senators that the presl-
dent was opposed TO the recess. The
senators capitulated and il therefore
seems certain that congress will con
tinue the present extraordinary SEES
sion until the converting OF the resu-
lar session in December.
President Wilson, by this action.
scored another point in gaining popu-
larity in Washington. Business in
terests, especially hotel and shop men
want congress TO remain in session
and they greeted the news of the
presidents triumph over the wishes of
the weary senators with applause.
There are almost innumerable reasons
why the business men of Washington
desire that congress shall remain in
session and this desire by the business
faction is reflected throughout the
city.
II Makes a Difference.
Washington, without congress, has
been described by the word dead"
Washington, with congress in session,
is very much alive and wiggling. 1t is
simple to understand, therefore, why
there should be great rejoicing among
the members of the Chamber of Com
merce and the Board of Trade, when
the president virtually hands down o
mandate that congress shall not take
a rest but must stay on the job"
throughout the rest of summer,
autumn and winter.
An alleged humorist once unkindly
described Washington as a country
village when congress is not in SEES
sion and as country village with a
county fair when congress is in SEES
sion. Whether this be a knock at
Washington or at congress, is irrele-
want, but the observation is in a way
important because it is descriptive of
the National Capital, although some
what adversely so.
The description might be criticized
as unfair, or to be blunt, untruthful,
but at the same time no bona-fide
resident, or real, dyed-in-the-wool ma
tive can deny that the description con-
tains an element of truth. Also, it
cannot be denied that business picks
up when congress comes to town. All
kinds of business picks up and the
hotel men and shop keepers, without
the aid of newspapers or heresay, can
tell when congress is in session mere
receipts.
They Keep on the Job.
OF course, even though congress be
not sitting, the executive and judicial
branches of the government are at
work and the executive branch, which
keeps plugging away almost constant
ly, furnishes the National Capital with
big share of its activity. The ex-
ecutive branch, with its ten depart
ments, employs thousands and il is
these thousands of clerks and other
employees who really keep Washington
on the go and business on the move
throughout the year.
The treasury department alone, with
its thousands of employees. would sup
port a small town and the departments
of State, War and Navy are equally
as large in the number of employees.
Even the little department of Labor,
which was created at the tag-end of
the last Republican administration