The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-02-18
Railroad Men In Washington
TO Fight the Measure.
GREAT QUESTION INVOLVED.
Government Would Substitute Space
Occupied In Cars and Not Weight as
Basis For Paying the Carriers-Wets
Trying to Submit Liquor Question TO
Voters of District OF Columbia.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

road men for some time past, ana they
have been making the strongest kind
Of effort to stave off the legislation
contained In the p~ostofiice appropria-
ton bill substituting space for weight
i'm determining railroad mail pay.
But it seems likely that the legisla-
ton will pass this session. There will
be a fight I'm the senate, but few men
wish to risk the criticism that would
follow support Of the railroads, partic-
ularly when so many assertions are
made that the contentious of the post
office department are right.
One great question involved in the
controversy Is the parcel post carry
ing. If the roads can maintain the
weight system they will get more out
of the parcel post than out Of the space
system.
The Only Way Out.
There is only one way out for the
vets in regard to the proposed legisla-
ton for a dry capital. III they a
have the matter submitted to the vot-
ers of the city dry legislation might be
defeated.
The determination TO try prohibition
In Washington has strength enough to
carry If il comes to Il vote in congress-.
Not that n majority believe hat 1t
would be the best thing 10 do, but no
man representing IA dry district or par
TALLY dry constituency is going TO risk
defeat by voting against prohibition.
Already those who give dinners, large
banquets, etc. are wondering what
they will do If the Sheppard bin be
comes n law. The question of liquor
at the foreign embassies will also be-
come a vexed question.
Filling the Record.
Congressman Norton of North Da-
kota has beat all the other fellows in
the matter of filling the Congressional
Record. A short time ago he inserted
In that free for all publication more
than 100 pages Of tables and figures
showing the appropriations and ex-
penditures OF all sorts for the Indian
service for the years 1906 to 1915, in
elusive. Think of that mass OF matter
being unloaded into a congressional
publication. sent free through the
mails, and supposed to contain the
proceedings OF congress!
All Efforts TO make the Congressional
Record n real record of what takes
place In congress Is %unavailing. The
leave to print in the house and the in
PRODUCTION of all sorts of things In the
senate make il II general catch-all for
all sorts of things.
The Joke on the Moro.
When Senator Newlands attempted
to get ten millions for the education
Of the Filipinos he had only three 9th
or votes TO support him. One of his
opponents was Senator Lane OF Ore
gon.
THE people OF this country need
aid" said Lane, and no money need
be appropriated for "A people who
would he glad to pay an equal amount
to get us out of their country. | do
not think 1t is going TO make any diff
ference whether the Moros speak the
English language or their own or
whether a Moro has 400 wives or one
If he anneXes a large number the joke
will be upon him and not on us. / am
willing TO let him fight II out for him
self"
Locating the "Trickster."
Senator Bryan of Florida said that
the Shackleford road bill was referred
TO the agricultural committee by IA
sharp trick. Senator Hoke Smith of
Georgia protested that such was not
the case, that the bill had been refer
red by the presiding officer.
1.-THE chair was the trickster," re-
marked Vice President Marshall, who
had referred the bill and stood by his
action.
Levees of the Mississippi.
Millions have been poured into the
hopper for the Improvement of the
Mississippi river, but most everybody
knows that most of the money has been
for building levees and not to improve
navigation. Congressman Small of
North Carolina, a member of the COM
mittee on rivers and harbors, said so
In a recent speech. 1t Is n OF the
ways 10 StL iTOlIu the uueSllDI VI up
%propriating federal money for improve
ments. AS q matter Of fact the levee
system does not improve navigation.
Dredging would have accomplished
much more, and perhaps real dredg-
ing, such as has been done at Panama,
would have been better than levees for
the protection of the surrounding coun-
try.
Might illustrate Him.
Congressman Sears Of Florida was
making a short speech on the child la
Dor legislation, and Heating of Colora-
do sought to inject a question.
mo, | fear to yield to the distin-
guished gentleman" said Sears, "be-
cause / realize that | am just breaking
into the halls of congress-, and / fear
that by his wit and wisdom he might
Illustrate me-"