Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-07-03
CONGRESS, CABINET MEMBERS
AND Department HEADS FIND
ING DUTIES BURDENsoME.
BUSINESS OF UNCLE SAM
CONSTANTLY INCREASING
Supreme Court, Interstate Commerce
Commission, Congress and Every
Other Government Department Get.
ting Scant Time For PIay-Contin-
ucus Sessions of Congress Foreseen.
Especial Correspondence.l

Washington, July 3.-Congress is not
the only part of the government that
is obliged to give more time to solving
the problems before 1t and to come
nearer earning the pay Uncle sam
gives it. Comment is frequently made
that the increasing demands for legis-
lation are making it necessary Tor con-
sress to remain longer in session than
it used to and that the tendency To-
ward continuous sessions is growing.
ms tendency has been marked IN
the last tour or tive years. but IL Is
not confined to congress. The remark
able disposition toward contradictions
the replacing or experimenting o1
state and local activities by federal
activities, the growth of the govern
ment of the United States. are having
their effect on the entire governmental
machinery This machinery has to DE
enlarged constantly and at least some
officials find their burdens constantly
increasing.
Supreme Court illustrates.
One CT the illustrations of this is the
supreme court. Its business has pc
come of enormous volume. Few harder
worked men can be found in Washing
ton than the members of the supreme
court and il is noticeable the codSt
remained in session longer this year
than usual June was nearly gone be-
fore the court adjourned for the term
And while it handed down an unusual
number Of opinions, it is still far be-
hind it's work. so much so that it takes
about two years for the ordinary case
to find it's way through the court to
decision.
And while the justices Of the su-
preme court leave Washington as
rule for long summer vacations, as a
matter of fact they each do a lot Oh
work in the vacation season.
Commerce Board Busy.
Then there is the interstate COM
rnerce commission The duties of this
BODY are growing so fast that they are
becoming onerous More and more. the
domination of the railroads is being
reposed in the commission. The COM
missioners are among the hardest
worked men in public life They have
no snaps This year. the commission
is remaining here later than usual.
partly because of the advanced rate
case. 1t is becoming difficult for the
commissioners to leave Washington for
a real vacation and one or more of
them can be found on duty here con-
stantly
Cabinet Job No Sinecure.
Some of the cabinet officials find
their volume of work of crushing size.
One of the busiest men in the capital is
| Secretary of the Interior Lane. The
business of that office is enormous and
growing BY reason OF membership on
the federal reserve board the secretary
of the treasury has had much added to
his care Expansion of the department
of agriculture has made the office of
of secretary Of the department any
thing but a sinecrre. The head of as-
riculture earns his bread by the sweat
of his brow without doubt If he gives
| personal attention to the things that
really need that attention. And this
! DEPARTMENT is only in the beginning of
Lifts expansion
! Other Departments Busy.
/ The proposed trades commission.
| though at the outset it does not seem
| likely to be clothed with large admin
| istrative authority over business. will
be a body in all probability which will
grow in authority. Once hhe COM
| mission Is established as many view
! Il. it will either be fizzle and an ex-
| pensive piece of' official furniture or
| II will reach out and obtain larger
| grants of mower from congress. WELD
ing supervision over business akin 70
that exercised by the interstate com
nrerce commission over the railroads
! If the commission really IL clothed. AZ
| II nromises To he eyentually with such
authority. it needs no proohet to fore
| tell that IT'S members will have work
| of mans size on their hands.
The postmaster general, with the
| parcel most on his hands and with gov
| eminent ownership Of telegraphs ane
| telephones threatened is another bus!