Evening journal., 1915-12-30
DgMOcRATIC DELEGATED LEGIsLATION.


A PRESS announcement informs the public that Al
IA bert Lee Thurman, solicitor Of the Department Of
Commerce. and brother-in-law OF Senator Underwood
Of tariff notoriey has drawn the shipping BILL which
meets with the approval OF number Of Democratic
legislators and which will be introduced in Congress.
This announcement the drafting Of the legislative
measure by an administrative ofice-holder brings to
mind the that nearly IL quite all the
legislative program of the last Democratic Congress
was initiated outside Of that body.
When that provision OF the Federal Constitution
was framed which declared against the delegation Of
legislation by Congress, il the idea Of the fathers
that while legislation should reflect the popular will
il should originate in Congress- and be threshed out in
that body. But the supneness Of the majority OF the
Democratic members Of the national legislative body
has resulted in the delivery OF its legislative functions
largely to outside interests bill is drafted by some
one ambitious Of pocketbook or popularity; it is re-
erred to the appropriate committee where it is scanned
TO what political will be. If II passes the
political censorship Of the committee It is reported to
the House, where it passes through stufed-club
gauntlet Of debate goes to the Senate and If politically
advisable it ultimately ptch-forked to the public.
Many familiar with the present legislative maze in
Washington believe that the Underwood tariff law
framed by number Of importers OF foreign pro-
ducts The free wool provision Mr. Bryan's handi-
work. and the free sugar idea, which the Demo
Gratis now backing down, attributable, in the
man to the intransigeant Woodrow, who evidently took
his advices from the seaboard sugar refners Accord
ing to the testimony Of these rehners they de-
sired 10 put the domestic industry out of busi
ness for the large Treasury deficit they would
have succeeded.
When the currency bill came up DR.. II. Parker Willis
college professor and financial theorist called
to frame the measure Dr. wills played double salary
role drawing salary from the Ways and Means Com
mtee for his free trade advice and from the Banking
and Currency Committee at the time Republican
amendments to the bill which made it workable were
forced into it in the Senate. Willis was rewarded for
his efforts by being appointed secretary to the Federal
Reserve Board.
The Clayton antitrust law is laid at the door Of
Samuel Gompers president Of the American Federation
of Labor A lawyer George Rublee. is said to have
been responsible for many OF the features OF the Fed
era Trade Commission law. His industry
warded by his appointment a member Of that COM
mission.
Thelanti-narcotic laws originated with Dr. Hamilton
Wright OF the State Department self-appointed dele
gate to the European Opium Congress. The coal and
oil leasing law was written in full by Secretary Of
Interior Lane after consultation with California oil
men. Not a line changed in the House Criticisms
Of the bill were referred TO empoye of the Interior
Department assigned by Lane to act in advisory ca
pacity to the Committee Public Lands, which re-
ported the bill What he said went.
The authorship Of the Ship Purchase bill, whidh
went on the rocks year, but which has been sal
vaged and repaired for the consideration of this Con-
gress has been credited to Bernard Baker of Baltimore
president the Atlantic and Pacific Transport Com
pany Recently MT Baker. made public an announce
ment that intention Of the sponsors Of that bill had
been to purchase the ships OF the International Mer-
camille Marine Company, in case the bill became a
law.
Credit for the features Of these bills land that credit
is OF decidedly shady character should to the spe-
cal interests which the Democrats have denounced on
the stump. It is apparent that the Democratic Con-
gress has wholly abrogated the legislative functions of
that body It is a confession OF legislative inepti-
| tude.