South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-17
TO FORM BUREAU
TO AID MEMBERS
Some Opposition to Experts to
Write Laws But All Feel
Need of Reference Bureau
to TabuIate knowledge.
RY VICTOR ELLIOTT.

III NI3lON
WASHINGTON. April 17.--F'irst aid
10 puzzled congressman is proposed in
"a plan FOR legislative reference bU-
rc8u now before congress. The bureau
IS intended to be a labor saver for
members OF congress as well as a bu-
reau OF information. II is believed
generally that specialists are better
qualified than the average member of
congress TO draft laws but opposition
10 the idea exists and is based on the
belief that congress. intent upon know
ing what "A law means before IL Is pass
cd. would spend as much or more time
Than il no. consumes drafting laws in
finding out what the laws meant that
were drafted by an Independent bu-
reau.
II is proposed that the bureau be
established in connection with the Ii
brary of congress. as that enormous
collection OF books and papers offers
the greatest reference field in the
United States. Eight or more experts
woun- be employed 10 head tn various
divisions Of the bureau. each division
chief being an expert with respect to
a particular subject.
The compiling Of legislative data,
the briefng of information and con-
ference with the president, members
Of congress and other officers of the
government are comprised with the
proposed duties of these division
chiefs. Legislative reference bureaus
have been established in dozen states
md bureaus Of similar purpose have
been provided, in numerous universe
les.
Would Employ Expert.
One of the most interesting suggeS-
tons made in connection with the led
eral legislative reference bureau is that
there should he a division chief in
charge OF international law and for
ign relations. There are perhaps a
half dozen men in congress who can
qualify as experts in these subjects;
he counselor of the state department
ordinarily an expert; by chance
here may be other experts in that de-
1artment and by the same fOrtuitOus
circumstances an authority on inter-
national law NAV find Judgement in
my of the other departments Of gov
arnment. But the number at the most
Is small and the members Of congress
have indicated that they would appre
eiate a source OF complete. cOmpTehen-
sive and unbiased Information.
How Laws Are Made
a law is now made something in
his fashion. a member introduces
bill setting forth his means of reach
ing a certain condition To be corrected
or created. This is referred to a COM
mittee which not only considers the
efficiency OF the measure but the policy
# enacting it. 1t also undertakes the
important work of determining
whether the proposed law will not &C
cOmplish things which the author did
not intend. Having gone around the
bill like "A cooper around a barrel. the
measure is reported to one branch of
congress. After more or less delay il
IS taken up on the floor. The same
process. differing IN degree, which was
pursued in committee, is followed. AT
ter passage the bill goes 10 the other
branch of congress and the same rou-
tine is followed
The legislative reference bureau, ac-
cOrding TO its friends, would cOntrive
more complete and accurate bill in
the first place, would hasten legislative
routine. and would relieve members
Of the arduous work of individual re-
search. IT might lead 10 shorter ses-
sions Of congress. they assert It's
opponents say that the present cum
beTSQme but fairly searching process
is as good as can be devised. This is
progressive legislation in the sense that
10 is n new departure, its opponents
assert that It is progressive i'm name
only because IL would accomplish moth
ing beyond affordinc ready and con-
Nenlent catalogue OF references to
which members might have access
10 is proposed that the bill drafts
men shall make no suggestions as TO
the contents of the bill, that their
work shall be merely clerical and
technical and their duty shall not be
10 furnish ideas. The first require
ment, IL is pointed. is that the drafts
man shall have command of accurate
English. that he shall be an able law
Yer and "A master of legal diction.
There are members. however. who pro-
lose that the bill drafters be given
much broader field.
Support Bureau Idea.
Speaker Clark and Minority Leader
Mann have paid tribute 10 the value of
a reference bureau I'M speeches i'm the
house and recently Senator Root put
forth a series of questions during de-
bate which met AN affirmative answer
nom senator Cham beTlain and other
members OF the majority party. Dur
ing a discussion OF the extreme diff
cclty OF obtaining a quorum of a GER
tain committee Senator Root said
Il observe that the senators are
broadening il from the question re-
garding the public lands committee in
"A question regarding the committees
generally OF this body; and III is but
one step 10 the question which I pro-
pose-whether our methods OF trans
acting the public business are not
breaking down, whether our arrange
ment for the discharge Of our public
duties does not imperatively demand
revision: whether the business of the
country is not becoming SO vast and
complicated that we must have new
parliamentary institutions within these
bodies OF congress for the performance
Of our duty p"