The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-03-24
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Washington. March 24-fSpeclaLl-
Legislative delay continues In spite Of
the warning which different men have
given. Much time is devoted 20 dis
cnssions which might be rclegated TO
n debating society for all the good
they do. Many hours are given to talk
upon bills where there Is a foregone
conclusion that they win either be
changed or defeated. But members
insist upon expressing their opinions,
and thus tho time is consumed without
any results.
The senate discussed up and down,
round and about, I'm and out and in
every possible way the whole subject
OF water power sites and the relations
Of the government and the states TO
the various correlated questions. Yet
II goes blithely on with another bin
which viii cause tile same ground TO
be covered. although 1t is almost Ger
tain that neither bin can become n law.
House Goes Forward.
The house decided TO take one adj
vanced step and consider the military.
bin before IL took up the immigration
bin, but that was because the emer-
gency I'm Mexico caused n speeding MP.
Otherwise the house would have de
voted n great deal OF time 10 n bill
which has been vetoed by two presi-
dents and would he vetoed by Presi-
dent Wilson a second time. II is al
most certain that the immigration bin
will not become "A law at this time.
President Wilson, In addition to the
reasons he had before, viii add the
further reason that while the war Is
going on I'm Europe II is not the best
dime to pass nm immigration measure.
Subject of More Talk.
As II the senate did not have enough
to talk about now Senator Hoke Smith
has proposed an amendment to the
rules providing for limited cloture or
n system Of cutting off debate when a
majority of the senators decide they
would like 10 stop the talking. As a
measure of %prolonging debate there Is
scarcely n subject that could be pre-
scented that is as full of possibilities as
a resolution to close debate. just now
there are too many bills pending which
certain senators desire 10 Kill 10 permit
much Roadway i'm the direction of clo-
ture.
He Works Too Hard.
Here Is another overworked senator.
II arrive Mt my office every morning at
z O'clock" Senator Myers of Montana
told the senate, "and seldom retire be
fore midnight, every minute of those
hours, except the necessary time for
meals, being devoted TO public bust
ness"
And the Montana senator has n cam
paign for reelection coming on and
would, no doubt. like to devote amy
spare time to keeping his political
fences in repair.
Austin's Varied Experience.
Congressman Austin OF Tennessee In
opposing the Borland amendment to
Increase the working hours of clerks
In the government service told the
house OF hts varied experience as n
government employee. '"Twenty-elght
years ago" he said, Il came TO Wash
ington as the secretary of the congress
man In the district I now represent. l
was afterward an assistant doorkeep-
er, clerk in the postoffice department,
I'm agent of the treasury department.
clerk In tho war department and con
nected with the department OF justice
and was consul general in Scotland be
fore my election as a member OF con
gress."
HorIand and Brain Fag.
Jim Mann went after Congressman
ira hours for the government clerks.
''Brain flag" was the burden of Mann's
theme. He pointed out defects In the
amendment, mistakes by Borland and
other shortcomings, each of which he
nttributed to brain flag on the part OF
the Missouri member. Mann said Bor
land was working too many hours and
advised him to restrict himself tC
seven solid work hours.
Admonished by Mann.
When Victor Berger was the only
Socialist member of the house Minor
fly Leader Mann took especial care OF
him and saw that he got time for de
bate. Now he looks after Congress
man London In the same way, al
though he has found 1t necessary Il
admonish the Socialist at times. When
ever there is an effort to arrange time
for debate I'm the house London bobS
up and tries to get time from botf
Ades. He did that n day, and Manr
said:
"You must not try TO hold up eaci
side of the house each time we hav,
debate. We have treated you fairly"
Il know you have" replied London
but l want five minutes from the Re
publican side and five from the Demo
cratic side"
"You should make these arrange
ments privately" admonished Mann.