The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-04-08
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

lowing custom which has almost be-
come an unwritten law, President Will
son sends his message to congress on
the second day of the session. The pur-
pose of the delay is to give the two
houses an opportunity to organize and
transact ali the preliminary business
necessary to start the congressional ma
chinery. Then it is also customary
for the houses to adjourn if member
has died since the last session ad-
journed.
President Wilson also followed an
other precedent He had his message
ready for delivery to the press long in
advance Of it's presentation to congress.
This was a precedent established by
Roosevelt which was not followed
by Taft The former knew the bene-
fits of wide publicity and usually had
his message ready long enough in ad-
vance so that it could be mailed to
Europe. President Taft's messages
were never ready until few days and
often only few hours before sent to
congress.
Can They Rush It7
The Democrats have been told that
the country will await anXiously final
action on the tariff. They have been
advised that suspense is the worst pos
sible thing for business. They have
been informed that business men do
not care so much what the tariff rates
may be when finally agreed upon, but
what they want is to have the agree
ment early. With all this advice the
Democrats should rush through their
tariff bills without delay.
Will they perform the rush act?
They will not. In the first place. it
i'll becomes a great legislative body to
rush. In this case we have two great
legislative bodies. The Democrats are
committed to the doctrine of free
speech. Every man is entitled to ex-
press his opinion on all subjects. At
least that is the theory.
And debate cannot be easily closed
as long as there is large number who
wish to express burning thoughts
which later may be franked to their
constituents. No; they cannot rush the
tariff. Even if the house was in
rush the senate has no means of clos
ing debate, and the senators have lots
to say.
The New Members.
l have always been fond of the new
members of congress. They know so
much; they have so many remedies for
all the ills which aff1ict the body polite
or which they think affiicts the body
polite, which is the same thing; they
are so serious; they know how pa
tiently the world has waited for their
advent into public life.
1t is a shame to awake the new men,
ber. If he could dream on and on for
the entire term it would be so much
better. But he will learn in such a
very short time that he is one of the
numerous pegs that are counted in in
the congressional game that his awak-
ening will be unpleasant.
And yet this fate is not for all new
members. Some of them have got the
stuff that makes good legislators who
rise to great occasions. Among the
new members who are seen for the
first time as the new congress assem-
bles may be future leaders of the ma
ton. Very probably president of the
United States is among their number.
Succeed Men of Prominence.
Considerable interest is manifested
in the men who succeed men of prom
inence. For instance, O'Hair of Illi-
nois as the man who succeeds Uncle
Joe has more notoriety for a few days
than he will get again in a long time
The same is true of the men who sue
ceed Nick Longworth, Ebenezer Hill,
Sam Mccall, John Dalzell, George
Foss, William Mckinley and several
other notables.
Federal Appointments.
Much interest is taken in the federal
appointments which the president has
recently made, and more interest is
manifested in those which are expect
ed. Those who believed the president
was a man to make up his mind on
man and appoint him whether or no
have been quite mistaken. Several Sc
lections have been agreed upon, and
the appointments seemed as good as
made when something would bob up to
prevent the selections.
older Men Hold Places.
The young men of the senate who
were going to overturn precedents and
not allow any senator to hold places
on two of the four or five big commit
tees Of the senate did not succeed.
The doubling up process was contin-
ued and, In fact, increased by the en-
larging of membership of some of the
committees.
1t is true that feeble attempt was
made to reduce the Importance of their
positions by shifting some of the older
men to lower places on the commit
tees, but all who desired held their
places, and the matter Of rank is not
fFnnorfanf