The Washington herald., 1917-10-09
Ola II. G. of l.. ARatn,


Gentlemen. do not forget the H. G.
OF L. while you are away"
That was the form of farewell sew
eral members made to their fellow
members before they left for their
homes following the Congressional ad-
L journment.
The admonition, however. in the
opinion of number of those who were
admonished. was entirely unnecessary.
The members believe they will not be
allowed to forget the living-cost prob
lem while they are among their con-
stituents. For their constituents will
be thoroughly alive to 1t, and will per-
sist in bringing It to their attention.
There is agreement. however. be-
tween many of the home-visiting
statesmen to look into the matter with
care-with exceeding care. in fact
and to be able to do something more
than talk in glittering generalities
when they return here for the Decem-
Der session.
Most of the investigators will obtain
prices on food products at this time,
year ago and six months ago. They
will investigate the conditions which
| caused the price increases-and price
| decreases. IL there are any-and they
will endeavor to gather every iota Of
Information they can which will be
helpful to them in dealing with the
matter later on.
"Pork Is Fish"
Congress could not end without
reference to pork Discussion of the
river and harbor bill. a measure ap-
propriating 1908. .Ooo, 900, this year for
the purposes of further waterways
work brought on the debate. and while
Senator Ramsdeil chafed at the re-
marks, Senator Kenyon proceeded to
| give expression to his views.
But before he sat down the Iowa
Senator turned q new legislative trick.
He denominated the pork bill the
barrel being denounced henceforth we
shall expect to hear orators condemn
the fish pond. The measure, Senator
Kenyon insisted, was passed because
the supply of meat was low and II
was necessary to stimulate production
therefore the swine had to give way
to the finny tribe, where the most
encouragement can be given at the
lowest cost" per encourage"
Some Congressman are ready to
believe that this sort Of legislation
Is likely to continue quite as long
as we said the Record would. They
say that 1t makes no difference what
party is in power, there will always
be home districts to look after. The
logic always Is, 1.-THE next district
got something-let's have ours" II
Is an ailuring cry for the member
who is in-and a cry that can be
popularized to keep him in. IL he Is
successful enough to get something
for his home district
To make a long story short, we
have always believed that pork was
continued because IT Is popular. The
folks back home may pretend to
kick and shout about 1t, and politi-
cal parties may resolve" about II
at their State and national conven-
tions, but bacon is pork. we must
remember. and the man who brings
home the bacon" gets there.
Long Live the Record.
There is no use trying to abolish
the Congressional Record. The docu-
ment will stay. probably as long as
there is a Congress which has af-
fairs to record. Members may poke
fun at 1t, and outsiders may Join with
them. but the Record goes merrily
on.
And. seriously speaking. there is
need for II. 1t Is necessary in order
that the members themselves may
know what Is going on-and what
has gone on. (We mdke the distiDc-
btion. you see.) And It 10 necessary in
order that the people back home
may know. too. For they keep closer
watch OF Il than most people inn
agine, and while the percentage OF
those who peruse It In entirety is ad-
mittedly very low, nevertheless the
number Of those who are informed
through other media what the Con-
gressional Record says in relatively
very, very large.
Congressmen admit that now and
then the Record II resorted indis-
creetly as the final resting place. as
It were. Of some gem which might
ind no other place Of intermant. But
II II offers an occasional ground for
such charity buriaiss - also ofrem