The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-07-31
CONGRESS- ABUSES
ITS PRIVILEGES
Both Branches Would Restrict
Sending OF Franked Matter.
FIGHT is ON EVERY YEAR.
Nothing ls Ever Done, However, TO
Prevent All Kinds of Political Docu-
ments Going Through the Mails Free.
Republicans Say Democrats Are
Stealing Thunder.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

Hepupttcans say Democrats Are
Stealing Thunder.
BY ARTHUR W.. DUNN.
Washington, July 31.-[SpeciaI. /
About once a year the senate wakes up
TO the fact that the government pays
quite heavily for sending franked mat
ter through the mails. The house.
having a larger membership and many
members with little to do, gets to the
subject with more frequency.
Discussion of the subject furnishes
entertainment for a time. Nearly
everybody agrees that the -extrayagant
use of the Thanking privilege should lao
curtailed; that the Congressional Rec.
ord should not be made the vehicle for
carrying all kinds Of literary illusions,
that every crank should not be permit
ted 10 have his ideas printed as "A gov
eminent document and sent broadcast
over the land free OF postage. Every
body agrees, but nobody does anything.
The senate had its annual upheavsl
on this subject a few days ago. while
the house has had several discussions
over the use of the Thanking privilege
and the government printing office for
the circulation Of political matter.
"Thefts OF Thunder"
During the greater part OF the time
that Roosevelt was In the White House
William J. Bryan was constantly ac-
cusing him Of stealing my planks"
and using them I'm forwarding reform
legislation. Republicans rea lie that
the Democrats, and particularly the
president, have been retaliating. espe-
cially IN the matter Of preparedness.
The Democratic party has gone fur
Their In expenditures for military prep
aration than the Republicans would
have dared to go had they been in
power. The Democrats have gone fur
Their than the most rabid OF militarists
advocated a few months <
Why Make a Changer
Democrats in the house might well
ask. why make a change" 1t was
only the other day that Minority Lead
er Mann spoke in the most fulsome
praise of the manner I'm which Chair
mar Hay had conducted the affairs OF
the military committee. About the
time the agricultural bill passed Mann
complimented I'm glowing terms the
services OF Chairman Lever. ON sev.
eral occasions he has praised the work
OF Chairman Adamson of the interstate
and foreign commerce committee. Not
long ago Stevenson OF Minnesota hand.
ed out compliments to Chairman Moon
OF the ~postoffice committee.
In view OF these Communications the
Democratic leaders may we'll inquire.
What is the use OF making a changer"
National Guard Complaints.
Complaints Of national guardsYmen
about their food. which is the same as
that furnished the regular army, and
about delays in receiving their pay
remind those who were In the thick OF
1t that the Spanish war brought many
similar complaints from the citizen sol.
diery Of the country. The guardsmen
like to have things fixed up pretty
we'll, particularly when they are going
into camps and have no prospect OF
lighting.
Spanish War Pensions.
During the consideration OF bills on
the senate calendar the house bin for
p~ensioning Spanish war widows was
reached, and Hoke Smith OF Georgia
objected to 1t.
DO you expect there is going to be
A u AnnA1tftnN - Ait In ~ - n
rose of Pennsylvania.
Undoubtedly" replied Smith. II
have vigorously opposed 1t and shall
do so again"
And yet 1t is expected that the bill
VIII pass unless there is a filibuster.
Not Menaced by Graveyards.
1T is admitted" Senator Clapp OF
Minnesota told the senate when speak
ing of military preparation, that Eng
land cannot possibly have war with us.
Our proximity to Canada prevents 1t.
The advocates OF this military extrava-
gance are driven 10 admit that we are
In no danger from the rapidly filling
~graveyards of Europe, and so they
finally fall back upon the possibility of
an invasion by Japan"
Peaceful In the Wasatch.
Utah is one of the states which Presi-
dent Taft carried I'm 1912, and there
does not seem to be any doubt about
the Republicans carrying 1T this year.
In that connection IL seems that Sena-
tor Sutherland has a comparatively
easy task in securing a return to the
senate. He went to Utah not because
1t was politically necessary, but be-
cause he wants to seek the peace which
Is found In the Wasatch mountains.
la Toilette Unconvinced.
When Senator Borah was making his
great speech for war preparation, and
IL wnS ono nf thn hnn4 hnnnd - 49,