The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-01-31
COMMITTEE KILLS
PUBLICITY CLAUSE
Effort 70 Have Federal Judgeship
Nominations Made Public Fooled
Overlook Chance to Make Amends
VALUE OF THE PARCEL POST
Cong. Lewis Tells Of It's Advantages
Postal System Not Operated For
Gain As is Express Business

Postal System Not operated For
Gain As is Express Business
From Congressman c., H. Tavenner.
Washington January 31-subject
to popular election as it now is, the
Senate mas hard time getting over
some of its Bourbon tendencies. For
instance the Senate recently allowed
to be killed by parliamentary tech
nicahty the proposition to have the
President make public the endorse
ments of candidates for federal
judgeships. H..
This proposition was adopted by
the House in bill providing for an
extra judge for the eastern district
of Pennsylvania. Some Of the Repub-
lican leaders thought to make trou-
Bile for the Democrats by proposing
this feature as an amendment to the
bill. For years the House Democrats
have been insisting upon this sort of
publicity.
Pass In Hurry
But the amendment created no en-
barassment, for the Democrats
promptly adopted the amendment.
Then the bill went to the Senate. The
Senate committee on judiciary kill
ed the publicity provision, and the
bill was passed one day in hurry,
most of the Democratic Senators un-
aware that the publicity provision
has been stricken out ."
Their chance to make amends came
the other day. The House had re-
fused to agree to the Senate action.
When the motion was offered in the
Senate to again name conferees, SEN
ator Norris, progressive Republican,
offered an amendment to instruct the
conferees to insist on the publicity
of endorsements :.
AT once point of order was raised
against the Norris amendment. Tech
nically it was out of order, since the
rules of the Senate provide that
when that body has once acted on. a
proposition, the same-proposition can
not again be raised in adopting In
structions for conferees.
% Majority Afraid
. A little more courage and the Dues
ton Of order could have been waived.
Here was a majority wishing to do a
certain thing, but still so saturated
with the traditions of what has al
ways been the reactionary branch Ct
congress that it was afraid to do that
thing. Vice President Marshall
could do nothing but sustain the
point against Norris.
1t was in vain that Norris quoted
the words of Secretary of State
Bryan. 1t was in speaking on this
same point of publicity Of endorse
ments of judges that Bryan said:
"A law was passed making it a
criminal offense for any corporation
to contribute to a national campaig n
fund. Then came the demand for
publicity as to individual contribu-
tions. But even this was not all that
was needed, and the House of Re-
presentatives has gone three steps
farther in the matter of publicity.
The first asked the President to make
public the recommendations, written
and verbal, upon which. he appoints
United States judges" And then he
reeited the other steps. 1922
Value Of Parcel Post
The American Express Co. is tell
ing the people what a fine institution
the express service is-"an exclusive
ly American idea" The retort of Con-
gresham David J. Lewis, of Mary
land, the author of the parcel post
law, is a gem.
"There is no doubt that the express
service is exclusively an American
idea" said Lewis, "but that does not
make it thing to be desired. The
real difference between the express
company and the parcel post is the
motive. The express company is run
for profit: the parcel post for the
good OF the country. The express
company does not get off the main
lines Of travel. Parcel post will use
dog sled and cross leagues of AL
askar> SHOWS to care for a lonesome
miner. Express management alb
serbs from-25 per cent to one-third OF
the gross receipts in needless expen-
ses. Parcel post substitutes the
stamp and keeps serenely on, more
interested in making good than in
1T 80, /