The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-04-03
SAYS CONGRESS IS
GETTING RESULTS
Speaker Clark Denies That Either
House Is Dawdling In It's Work
Shows Bills Passed.

WASHINGTON, April 5. = Speaker
Clark replied last night to criticisms
that congress is dawdling in its work.
In a characteristic statement he de
nounced such a criticism as Z" a bald
and malicious lie, - outlined what has
been accomplished, and asserted that
the present house had worked more
steadily and industriously than any
within his service of - years.
Commenting on attempts to create
an impression that congress sought to
thwart the desire of the President to
bring about an adjournment in time
for the pilitical conventions in June,
the speaker declared that s'everv hu-
man being with two ideas above a Hot
tentot knows that congress is Just as
anxious to adjourn before the conven-
lions as the President is
''There has been much loose talk,
some of it idiotic, some of 1t malicious,
about the dwadling of congress- said
his statement $50 far as the
house is concerned there is no truth
in it. L am not undertaking to speak
for the senate because I know nothing
worth while touching the state of its
business, but the business of the house
is farther advanced than usual at this
date. OF course, it is necessary to pass
the appropriation bills. Otherwise the
wheels of government would stand
stock still, and they must be carefully
considered both in committee and in
| the house.
''The house has passed two of the
great supply bills-the legislative. iu-
dicial and executive, and the Indian
and is now in process of passing the
river and harbor bill, also two de-
| ficiency bills. Two more have been
reported. Three more are about ready
! to be reported.
THE house has passed the Hay
military bill, the immigration bill,
three conservation bills and a multi
tude of bills of more or less impor-
/ lance
NO house in the % years that |
have been here has worked so stead
! lily and so industriouslv as this one.
/ 1t has not adjourned over a single
day since it convened on Jan. 3, a re-
markable record, and has worked five
six and seven hours a day, with an oc-
| casional night session. When two more
hours a day are counted in for commit
tee work it makes a good day 5 work
/ to say nothing of the time necessary
for department work and correspond
ence.
THAT s the record-a fine one-and
vet the public is constantly misled in
to believing that congress is not work
ing at all. It is a bald and malicious
lie.
"Of course some of the critic,
without any responsibility could pass
bills carrying a billion dollars in {
few hours, but members who are re
| sponsible cannot pass bills that way
and the taxpayers who foot the bill:
do not want them passed that way.
cone other thing: Some of thes,
wiseacres who want important meas
ures far-reaching in character ant
vital to the republic passed while yop
wait. seek to create the impression tina
the President is anxious for congress.
to adjourn before the conventions ant
that congress is wickedly thwarting
him. Every human being with TIVE
ideas above a Hottentot knows tina
congress is just as anxious to adjourn
before the conventions as the Presiden
is. Why in heaven 5 name should con
gress desire to remain IN Washington
even one day longer than is absolutel,
necessary for the proper transaction
of the public business.