Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-01
DELEGATED LEGISLATION

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Thursman, solicitor of the De-
partment of Commerce, and brother
in-law to Senator Underwood, of tariff
notoriety. has drawn up the shipping
BILL which meets with the approval
of number of Democratic legislators,
and which will be introduced in Con-
gress. This announcement of the
drafting of the legislative measure by
an administrative officeholder brings
to mind the fact that nearly, if not
quite, all the important legislative
program of the last Democratic Con-
gress was initiated outside of that
body.
When that provision of the Federal
Constitution was framed which de-
clared against the delegation of legis-
lation by Congress, 1t was the idea of
the fathers that while legislation
should reflect the popular will, it
should originate in Congress, and be
supineness of the majority of the
Democratic members of the National
legislative body has resulted
in the delivery of its legis-
lative functions largely to out
side interests. A bill is drafted by
some one, ambitious of pocketbook or
popularity; it is referred to the ap
propriate committee where it is scan
ned carefully to see what its political
effect will be. If 1t passes the political
censorship of the committee, it is re-
ported to the House, where it passes
through stuffed club gauntlet of de-
bate, gees to the Senate. and if politi-
cally advisable it is ultimately pitch
forked on to the public.
Many familiar with the present leg
islative mazes in Washington believe
that the Underwood tariff law was
framed by a number of importers of
foreign products. The free wool pro-
vision was Mr.. Bryans handiwork,
and the free sugar idea, on which the
Democrats are now backing down.
was attributable in the main, to the
President.
When the currency bill came up,
DIR. II. Parker Willis, college professor
frame the measure. DR.. Willis played
double salary roll, drawing salary
from the Ways and Means Committee,
for his free trade advice, and from
the Banking and Currency Committee
at the same time. Republican amend
ments to the bill. which made it work
able 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 fea-
lures of the Federal Trade Commission
law. His industry was rewarded by
his appointment as member of that
commission. The coal and oil leasing
law was written, in full, by Secretary
of Interior Lane after consultation
with California oil men. Not line
was changed in the House. Criticisms
of the bill were referred to an en-
ploye of the Interior Department, as
signed by Lane to act in an advisory
capacity to the Committee on Public
Lands, which reported the bill. What
he said, went. The authorship of the
Ship Purchase bill, which went on the
Frocks last year, but which has been
salvaged and repaired for the consid-
Grafton of this Congress. has been
credited to Bernard Baker, of Balti-
more, President of the Atlantic and
Pacific Transport Company. Recently
Mr. Baker made public an announce
ment that the intention of the sponsors
of that bill had been to purchase the
ships of the International Mercantile
Marine Company, in case the bill be-
came law.
Credit for the features of these bills
(and that credit is of decidedly shady
character) should go to the special in
terests which the Democrats have de-
nounced on the stump. 1t is apparent
that the Democratic Congress has
wholly abrogated the legislative func-
tions of that body. 1t is a confession
of legislative ineptitude.