The Washington herald., 1917-12-18
Sly Shots at the Solons.
By THE OBSERVER.

Five o'clock today, just as the shades
OF night are beginning to steal over
the National Capital-or perhaps half
an hour or 50 after they have stolen
the fate OF John B. Corn will be de-
cided in the Lower House. That is,
1t will be told then whether thirty-six
States will say to twelve other States,
which may contain almost as great a
population as they, whether they shall
be dFy-orz whether that shall be a
matter for the States themselves to
decide.
Economy has been the slogan OF
dominant political parties in many
States during the past two or three
years-it Is no wonder that some of
the members. such as Representative
Madden, occasionally raise their
voices over petty expenditures here
and there. When all other issues fail,
economy Is good club with which to
knock votes on the trees.
Representative Greene, OF Massa-
chusetts, makes the startling declara-
ton to his colleagues that his only
committee representation is on the
marine and fisheries body. Moreover,
he says this takes all his time. The
large increase In the number Of fish
has necessitated overwork for the
COMMITTEES, apparently.
Representative Lenroot thinks that n
new slogan may be, II the Democrats
increase House patronage. Buy a lib
erty bond-the Democrats want to en-
large the House patronage list"
Strange the subject cannot be dis
cussed without bringing this into the
equation. '/*..
After much debate the, House agreed
to advance legal fees for Clerk South
Trimble to defend himself in a suit
brought BY q defeated Congressional
candidate from South Carolina, who
claims that his election contest papers
were lost by Mr.. Trlmble. The facts
are said to be that the papers were
never filed with the latter.
The Non-partisan League Repre-
sentative. John Baer, Of North Da-
kota, gets q good committee assign
ment on expenditures In the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. Likewise he Is
given q place on the Territorial Com
mittee.
Congressman JUL declared that II
the House didn't choose to defend its
clerk a new industry might spring up,
that Of suing the clerk Of the House
OF Representatives. We suggest that
the commercial economy board Of the
national defense council could rap
idly put this out OF business, how
ever. under authority recently granted
Tne clash between committees over
reference Of the woman suffrage
amendments broke in the House Satur-
day, and the members had time to
thrash over many delicate points
about that rather stupendous ques-
don. Some time was taken In the
proceeding, but surprisingly no one
mentioned the fact that It cost so
much a minute to operate the House,
and that, accordingly, Il had cost the
country . startlingly large sum Of
money to settle the mooted point.
Senator Weeks and others VIII prob
ably make some effort to modify the
oill, IN which Senator Hollis Is so
keenly interested, to, allow the Treas
ury to buy so. 900 Of Federal farm
loan bonds. This measure will come
up this week and interest in 1t will
be keen throughout the agricultural
and stock raising sections Of the
country.
Quartermaster- Gen. II. @. Sharpe
viii be before the Senate Military Az
fairs Committee, this week, to exn,ain
some Of the alleged defects of his or
ganfzation In equipping the soldiers for
winter weather. If Secretary Baker
has been to blame for delays in this
department the committee expects to
discover why he was--and just how
badly the delays worked to the dis
advantage of our men.