The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-08-25
tBy smith D. Fry.l

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-When a
man attains the dignity and honor OF
membership in the senate of the@Unit'
ed states by hook or by crook or by
cash, or by all three, and is not &C.
quainted with the constitution of this
republic, he should not be too bashful
nor too pompous to seek and secure
an Introduction.
| 1t is not strain upon the memory
to recall the time when a senator from
Ia state in the Mississippi river valley
introduced complete full-fedged tariff
ib,.. in the senate, and soon afterward
endeavored to deliver speech in sup.
port of his bill Then forth trooped the
political enemy in force and vicously
attacked him all along the line.
He was driven, bounded, literally
laughed out OF public life; and it was
la pity too, for he was good fellow.
But he was not acquainted with the
constitution Of the United States m
which provision is made that all re"
enue producing bills shall originate
in the house of representatives. Moth
ing could be more absurd in congress
sional life than the introduction of a
tariff bill in the senate, and every SEN
tional provision.
Very recently the newspapers hay
printed an alleged authorized state
ment from a senator that he will in
troduce In the senate bill for the
revision of existing tariff laws as soon
as the congress shall convene In reg
MAR session, or be convened in ex-
ltraordinary session. He is good
fyin O.
him acquainted with the constitution
concerning the provisions OF which ne
needs enlightenment.
Yet 1t is all right for the senator
to formulate a tariff bill fully setting
forth his protectionist purposes; nut
he should have it introduced in the
house of representatives by some
CONGRESSMAN from his own state. Thu;
he would be proceeding along con
stitutional lines and at the same time
be receiving credit for his work wher'
It will do him the most good polite
ally. There Is everything In know
ing how to do things.
No newspaper man worthy OF the
profession ever gives away his sources
of information. nor ever neeolessly
assails public men. Otherwise one
might give the ldulcS VI many
yes scores of them. who have become
members Of the national house OF rep
while entertaining the
idea that congressional procedures are
simply enlarged city or town council
procedures. Thus beginning they
blunder on for a term or two, when
the people discover that they are not
getting anywhere. and then back 10
the minors they 60
In our public schools and colleges
the constitution is not properly taught.
II at all. Very few school teachers
comprehend that instrument. In pres
idential years, after elections. they
talk about "the electoral college,
whereas there is no such thing. Ia
order that our people may all have
better understandings of federal pro-
ceIures. the constitution should be
carefully studied and taught in all OF
our educational instittions.
THAT a senator should blunder Is
NOT so dreadfullv surprising when the
very learned man now incumbent OF
the white house occasionally plnnses
into unconstitutional procedure or ut
terance. Not long ago he sent WORT
from New HAMPSHIRE that upon MS
return to Washington the position OF
this government will be announced
THAT recalls Cardinal Richelieu's curt
inquiry: What court grammar maze
YOU a plural?'
0,r government is a trinity. IT IS
legislative. executive and judicial Inc