The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-01-22
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

by ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, Jan. %. = Especially J.
The stage where legislation can be
passed only by unanimous consent has
been reached unless 1t develops that
some great emergency measure IL to
be rushed through. This applies par
ticularly to the senate, for the mem
bers Of that body have the power of
unlimited debate, and the men who
want to defeat any legislation can ex-
ercise 1t with good effect. Not many
bills will be allowed to pass that do
not have the consent Of practically all
the senators.
Any small group of senators can
stop legislation that Is now presented.
1t has been demonstrated time after
time that the last few weeks of a short
session are controlled by any flibuster-
ing group Of senators that may deter
mine to act. 1t begins to look as II
the leasing bills, water power bills
and other general conservation meas
ures will be among those to be killed
at this session OF congress.
a Good Postal Service.
Congress has for many years shown
a determination TO furnish the
try a good postal service. Neither the
house nor the senate has attempted to
be niggardly In the matter of making
appropriations that are necessary to Sc
cure good service. Curiously enough,
the economies which have been detri-
mental to the service have generally
been practiced In the postofice depart
ment with a view TO cutting down ex-
penses. Nearly every administration
has tried to do something along this
line.
The fact that the postal service
comes In close touch with all the peo-
pie Is one reason why congress feels
the necessity Of furnishing the people
the best that can be provided.
Ought TO PopuIarixe 1t.
we should popularize the postal
service" declared Congressman Mad
den OF Illinois, who has given Il great
deal OF study to every phase OF he
postal system and knows as much
about 1t as any man in congress. 1T
comes In contact with all the people,
and they are interested In 1t more than
they are In any other branch OF the
national government"
. lie was speaking In favor of a pro-
vision to afford promotion to various
!. clerks and pointed out that these clerks
when they enter the postal service
!. have to specialize along certain lines
and get no time to study any other
!. phase of business life, and IL they
should leave the service they would
be unable to obtain employment In
any general business OF the country.
AS a matter Of fact, very few postoffice
employees leave the service until after
they are too old to work elsewhere.
Moon and the Magazines.
Probably there Is no greater critic of
the magazines and periodicals In con-
gress than Congressman Moon. Speak
ing on the postoffice appropriation bill,
he berated the members of congress
who feared these periodicals and asked
the members to stand up and insist
upon increasing the rates of second
class postage. While he was talking
the question was asked, IF the zone
system was adopted, how many pub
lications would 60 out of businessY'
+ Il think" said Moon, lit would be q
? good thing for the country If a ma
jority would go out of business"
Another Explanation.
Although it Is getting late there ma Y
be interest in an explanation OF H$-
t publican defeat last fall, particularly
when made by a Democratic senator, a
western man and a keen observer. Sen
ator Thomas of Colorado, when oppos-
ing a bill which had the support OF
Clifford Pinchot, quoted a statement by
Pinchot to the effect that the old guard
had for a second time cost the Repub-
lican party d national election.
",That may be true" said Thomas,
'but Pinchot's support of the ticket was
, the old guards accessory before the
fact. When Mr.. Pinchot announced his
support of tie Republican nominee the
heart of western Democracy beat higt
, with joy. The conviction in my sec
ton of the country at once arose that,
in the event OF the success or Mr.
=. Hughes, who was supported by Mr.
! Roosevelt, Mr.. Pinchot or Mr.. Garfield
would probably be called to administer
9 the affairs of the interior or agricul
tural departments or both. As Demo
, Gratis we utilized that situation to the
: best OF our ability, and / want to say
: here that 1t gave Us thousands OF votes
: in the public land states. Mr.. Pincho
and his prominence as a supporter o.
the ticket of the old guard contributed
e most powerfully and benefcially t.
that most fortunate result"
Kent Has Reformed.
n Il have beer a hunter all my life,
: remarked Congressman Kent, discuss
e Ing the preservation Of birds, land