davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

! The legislative power Of an indi'
vidual member Of the house of repre-
sentatives is getting TO resemble more
and more the Biblical grain Of mus
tard seed. 1t is becoming as easy to
find as the value Of y; it is almost as
real as the dodo and as difficult to
, discover as an honest man. There
iare still people however who do not
realize that in Washington there is
no odor of the sanctity Of legislative
fabrication but merely an odor OF
dead and dying cigars embalned in
steam heat. No, gentle reader. your
representative has as much chance oil
making speech on your measure,
/ simply because his noble breast pal
pilates with desire for self express
| sion as camel has Of passing through
; the needles eye, or the wicked rich
man of entering heaven.
! That Is why the deadlock In the
new house IS important. There seems
to be an almost equal number OF
Republicans and Democrats elected,
and the balance, even should the few
contested seats fall to one party or
the other, remains in the hands OF
about six members who do not belong
in either camp. Two hundred and
eighteen members are majority and
neither of the major parties is likely
to get that number without assistance.
Most people wrongly conclude that the
Importance Of this tie lies In its direct
effect upon votes upon legislation
throughout the session. That is not
! true.
Its Importance lies IN the fact that
! the majority vote in the first session
OF the house elects the speaker, and
that the speaker controls, directs and
in one way or another appoints the
whole legislative machinery OF the
house. If the Republicans choose the
speaker, he will make that machinery
; Republican and 1t will turn out Repub-
lican legislation. and i all the rest OF
the house will have great difficulty in
rejecting It, They will have great diff
! ficulty with a Republican speaker OF
! even amending 1t.
The speaker Of the house Of repre-
sentatives Is in fact an absolute
tyrant; he is worse than the Tar,
more powerful than the Sultan or the
Emperor of China, or than all the
other traditional despots put together.
Most Of their power was imaginary
anyway, but his is the real thing. In
practice he has absolute power over
debate In the house Of representatives.
Nobody can speak on the floor with
out his consent and practically that
means without previous arrangement
with the speaker, the floor leader Of
the majority, party, and the chairman
! of the committee in charge OF the bill
! The last word rests with the speaker.
You must be recognized by the
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
New York Independent puts this
charge In a rather definite form when

New York Independent puts this
charge In a rather definite form when
it says:
Among the forms Of petty graft that
exasperate people in Washington is
one Involved in the recent raise in the
salaries Of the secretaries OF members
Of the House Of Representatives. from
$500 to $4,000. If the secretaries them
object. In fact in probably the ma
jority Of cases, 1t simply amounts to
an increase in the salary Of the Repre-
sentative himself. These secretaries are
the only employees Of the Government
who are not on the payroll. and as a
result the Representative himself draws
the salary. and pays It. out as ne
pleascs. In some cases he employs a
member Of his own family: This Is
perfectly legitimate provided he pays
that member full rates for the work.
In many cases VIC understand Repre-
sentatives, who do not have much sec
retarial work, club together. hire a
single secretary. and divide the balance
numerous efforts to get these secre-
taries on the regular payroll. but so far
without success"
There Is one thing that stands out
conspicuously in giving color and sub
stance to these charges, which are
reflective on the common
honesty Of the Congressional mem
bership. The absence Of the names
of these secretaries on the regular
payroll is suspiciously confirmatiEe Of
the petty grating intimated, And
again the unsuccessful attempt to
have these names carried on the pay
roll must be taken as confession
that the secretarial allowance Is con
sidered largely as personal perqui
site of the Congressman. II there is
an honest application Of the allowance
why the hesitancy in putting the ben
eficiary on the payroll. In the very
nature Of the graft 1t would be ire
mendous Job to extract any proof oil
II
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

speaker before you can say anything,
and if he does not choose to see you,
YOU may shout at the top Of your
lungs and no one will pay any atten-
ton TO you. They will probably not
do that anyway, but If he recognizes
YOU your words will be recorded In
the Congressional Record. In one
way or another, the speaker person
ally controls the events in the house,
and can very often direct the debate
and control the vote.
But legislation is not prepared. in
the house but in the committees OF
the house, and ordinarily nothing gets
before the house which some commit
tee does not report. The committees
are all appointed by the speaker who
itee, including its chairman, from the
! party which elected him. The party
which elects the speaker therefore
, will at the same time elect Itself TO
the Craftsmanship and majority vote IN
! the whole committee system of the
house and will therefore secure COM
plete control of the whole machinery
for preparing and proposing legisla-
ton.
| Through the chairman Of the COM
imittee, it will furthermore have com.
/ plete control, except so far as the
speaker himself has it, of all the de-
batting upon this legislation which Is
done on the floor Of the house. AS a
matter of fact the house Is so organ
! lied and its machinery Is so central
lied and so extremely despotic that
! the majority party through its cleo
ton of the speaker is practically able
TO throttle the activities and ideas of
every individual member in he house;
g. he must either get in the machine and
imarch with the procession, or he can
! do nothing at all.
Another factor exceedingly impor-
liant, commonly forgotten In this con-
nection, is that the party which elects
the speaker and which becomes for
: that reason the majority party for the
whole session, also gets a majority
! of the house members on all confer
ence committees with the senate. The
: great bulk of important legislation Is
finally shaped in conference commit
tees and this practically means that
; the majority party in the house is the
only one heard when the final word is
spoken on the really important bills.
: This is the reason why there Is such
an active interest in the way a few
members are going to vote. Practl-
cally these few men can ask and
secure from either party almost any
thing they want in the line Of per-
sonal privileges, personal considera-
ition, or-let US whisper it softly-full
access to the pork barrel, to appoint
lments, and to other Legitimate" graft.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT

The bureau of foreign and domestic
commerce of the Department of Com,
.merce has just issued a statement OF
the Official figures Of the exports and
imports for the year 1916, which Is
designated as Americas greatest
wear In foreign trade" We can well
agree with that when we pore over
thu swollen totals given. The tota!
exports for last year reached the un'
precedented sum of S5.4S1, 100000,
which exceeds the total for 1915, by
s1,926, 100000 and the, total for 1913
by S2,997 100000. The exports. for De-
cember are announced as $521, 000,O OO
exceeding the previous high monthly
total, -by s5,O00,0O0 The December
Average for the five years previous
-was S263,oOO,0oo. All Of the excess
above normal is accounted for by the
extraordinary demands Of the old
world war, and which created pros
perity succeeding several years OF
Democratic made depression.
! That imports for 1915 should have
scored. "a new high record is not at all
remarkable when we consider the
open invitation to foreign trade e1
tended through the benevolent Demo
cratic tariff. The sum Of the imports
for last year amount to $685.
100000, compared with S1,779,O00,oOC
for 1915, and s1,S18,ooo.0oO for 1912
the previous record year. The years
export balance, or what is commonly
known az the balance Of trade. was
33,0S9, 100000 in our favor. That looks
Ike a ponderous achievement, but
there is a very large fly in the ONT
ment. 1t consists in the statement
that OF the total importadons It'll
percent. entered free Of duty.
This benevolent treatment OF ouI
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
RETTER FAIR THAN FIERCE

THE Senate is threatening TO make
A "day of it" discussing the remark
able utterances addressed to 1t oy
President Wilson on Monday. We can
not see where any good can come out
Of a bitter controversy. such as would
be provoked by free handed DEBATE
ON the merits or the appropriateness
i of the Presidents suggestive speech.
The Intelligencer believes that under
the circumstances the least said the
Soonest mended.
The Intelligencer recognizes the
difficult and trying position President
Wilson occupies at this time. ana
while il is inclined to think he is too
much of an idealist in his views OF the
European conflict, it does not ques-
ton his motives in his attempts TO
mi q stop TO the friShtful carnage
that is going on in Europe. 1t IS not
or il ought not to be made matter
of purely partisan effect. because II
concerns the future peace and secur-
.ity Of the whole American people. Inc
nress of the country is divided on the
rpropriety and substance OF the Pres'
,ident's address. while a part OF the
British press considers it an impudent
interference. But with all this no one
among them can successfully impugn
the we'll meaning intentions OF the
American executive.
It would be. more to the point TO
hear some alternative suggestions TOR
composing peace all long for thah
provoking a prolongation' OF the u1iut'
yterable woes that are affecting the
wearied countries at war.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

Crack"-wcnt the bat; and like a
startled deer
The eager batsman towards first base
has sped.
And now he's near it-yes. but only
''ncar"i
The well thrown ball will get there,
first. instead!
With keen despair, he secs the ball
thrown in;
With two men one-and now! His
luck is hard!
Don't touch that ball, unless your dues
are in! =
Where's your receipt" And where's
your Union Card?'
(The baseman wildly fumbles in his
shirt
To show his Union standing up to
The whizzing ball. unnoticed. hits the
dirt;
Three tired. GREATNESS runners cross
the plateO
The game Is very close. The crowd is
tense!
With two mon out the score stands
ut tie.
The balsnan swinEs-and towards the
left field fence.
High up. o'erhcad there goes Il
screaming fly!
Eager, cXpectant. sec the fielder stands!
The crowd goes GREATNESS. in excite
ncnt great
But-just before the ball has touched
his hands
He's running madly towards the CLUB
house gate!
(And, look! See all the other players
20!
What does it mean? Why have they
stopped, that way?
IFS five o'clock! You heard the whistle
blow
Well-by the Union rulcs-that ends
the Day!
--Boston Advertiser.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
MAKING GOOD PROFESSION

Following the growing custom or
large corporations looking to the per,
sonal welfare and comfort OF their en-
ployes, which is coming to be sort
of industrial social service, the Colo
RADIO Fuel and Iron Company has tax
on rather an advanced step in making
nroyision to care for the eyes ana
teeth of the school children in Its min
ing camps. In undertaking this work
the company announces that it will
co-operate with It's employees and with
the public school authorities In the
communities affected.
The Colorado laws require the
school authorities to make e1amlna'
lions of pupils and report to the par
ents any serious defects, especially
Of the eyes or teeth. The COLORADO
Fuel and Iron Company recently de-
cided. in order to make this work as
effective as possible in its mining
communities, to go even beyond the
legal requirements by cooperating
with the school authorities through
its medical department, and making
provision not only for making the re-
ouired inspections, but also for nav
ing the necessary work done. Ar
rangements are being made with the
boards of education to have the In
spection work done during school,
hours as a part of the regular educa'
tional course. The dentist and oculist'
travelling separately, will visit all the
camps in turn, and it is expected that
.bav will reach each mine about twice
a year.
The Colorado Company is the first
to undertake this modern speciadza'
ton of dental work among the child
rem of employees, and seems to be an
other earnest step Of the Rockefel-
Ter interests to make good in the pro-
fession OF a changed attitude towards
labor, as it supplements some radical
changes that have been effected in
the industries they dominate.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
THE WEST LIBERTY NORMAL DORNITORY

domitory School which about to be
appropriation for that
purpose fire owing to the la
available for its construction The erection OF
designed would be an OBVIOUS
1t would nothing snort
rentyive girls in building liable 10 a
sudden and tragedy and assuming an
attitude that lightly From pecunary point OF view
building Of this character parsmoy OF the
fire protection that exists IN west
because structure total loss OF the
prery would needless under these circumstances "
These the West Liberty ouons Out
al cnres Of its the State in other
10 hoped that the legislature authorities having
q, The Normal Schools impressed OF the necessity OF MAKING w
which they would De neo noas
,psnnse for afford the poecon hat
suggests AS been let for the west 0e
torv and preliminary for construction nave On a0
there no time provision for the chane
1t is emergency case na' '' "
followed by woeu results if neglected
" dsvs mast when fire proofg reached the pelecuon las
TODAY there was some erecting unprotected ouAosS
has been cautious " nae ~
fire In fact IN en vi ou e
Pennsylvania building as that at present
. ue by would be up Can west virginia w
remit any of her progressive spirit IN TINS 1nS'
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
Ripping Rhymes
THE ADDING MACHINE.
BY WALT MASON

watched wonderful machine
count up five miles of figures; the
operator, all serene. just pressed
some keys and triggers: it didn't
sweat or tear its hair, it didn't make
blunder; it counted all the figures
there. and put the product under. A
set of books used TO keep. when |
was young and husky, and home
ward YEARLY Id creep when dusk
was growing dusky. counted fig
ures all day long. above my ledgers
bending, and always got the derned
things wrong. and sorrow was unend-
ing. And when the long days work
was DER, my troubles home I'd carry,
and there. Respondent. sick and sore,
I'll raise old Ned and Harry. My chill
dren were afraid Of me, and so was
old dog Rover: my wife would often
climb Il tree until my crouch was over.
But now the keepers of the books are
not worn out and weary; they seek
their divers ingle-nooks with faces
glad and CHEEKY. A thing of springs
and bolts and nuts shears work OF all
it's rigors; thing with brass and iron
CUTS counts up the dizzy figures. And
ever thus. in endless ways. invention
makes things lighter. and brings some
sunshine to the days Of every tolllng
Brighter.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

al which time resolutions were adopted
tavoring scven-months terms for rura
schools. levy for teachers salaries
| and - more stringent compulsory school
attendance.
CHARLESTON. w. va.-The West
Virginia legislature will consider at the
present session q bill aimed to prevent
ure will require the installation If
safety devices sufficient TO insure all
passengers against falling car as well
as against any possible way OF falling
out Of the car. Delegate w. w. Carder
of Hampshire has drafted a bill which
I he believes will cover all the questions
| in point.
! CHARLESTON, W. Va.-The state de-
nartment of health is circulating bull
lctin on the subject Of vital statistics,
In which 4 statisticfan connected with
one Of the companies is literally quot
cd. He says:
Other southern states have gradual
+ ly adopted model vital statistics Law
and it Is TO be sincerely hoped that West
Virginia will do likewise. The state is
one of great promise. but the attainable
! future development will be long deferr-
. ed unless the true facts regarding health
and longevity are thoroughly under
| stood by the public ut large"
HARRISBURG. W. ya--1'he Balti.
| more and Ohio railroad has obtained
rights OF way and sought highway alter
! alton privileges from the Harrison
| county court for the construction Of Il
branch line twenty miles up Elk creek
from this city. The line will eventually
be extended 10 Philippi.
CHARLESTON, w. va.-Proposing to
! remove the word mot" and change
| "and" to or, Senate Bill No. A., af.
. fecting the building and loan association
business In West Virginia, has induced
! a storm Of protest from interested per.
sons all over the state. This bill is
! to amend sections 231S and 2319. chapt.
er So, West Virginia code. Of 1906. The
measure provides that the affected part
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
OUGHT TO BE ON PAYROLL

It has long been matter OF com
mon report that the office OF private
secretary to members Of Congress
was more decorative than necessary
With many inconspicuous members,
mere figureheads. the position cannot
be otherwise than a mere sinecure. 1t
has also been whispered that these po,
sitions are mostly graft for the Con-
gresham, and recent issue OF the
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

foreign competitors in trade tells the
story in large measure Of the present
plight of the United States Treasury
which is now seeking to recoup us
emptiness by imposing additional tax
alton on the people supplemented BY
bond issue, which is only another
form of taxation. Had Republican
protective duties existed instead OF
the It'll percent; free list the Treas
ury would not have been as ya~nlng-
~ empty as it is today. And the Dem
ocrats still obstinately refuse to re-
sort 10 that equitable way OF raising
revenue. The tariff a tax! Wnat mas
free trade proved to be?
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

The British and German boats have
played another game Of tag in the
North Sea.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

This Is the time one dreams Of strut
ting at Palm Beach only to awaken to
shovel snow.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

That was large and juicy melon
that Bethlehem Steel Just cut.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

An imaginative Wheeling correspond
ent of foreign papers has put Mondny
nights boxing exhibition under the
patronage of Society"
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

The corrupt practices act now pending
in the Senate. is an invidious distinc-
ton. It does not apply to the sup
preston Of suffrage In the South.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

You have to hand 1t to Lawson for
his endorsement Of leak" prober Whip
Plies efficiency.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

1t would be more practical in Presl-
dent Wilson to preserve the integrity
of the Monroe doctrine at home oe1ore
attempting to thrust 1t upon the "oria'
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

fiinched visibly when the Congressional
probe was inserted.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25
uN1oN1zEp BAsEBAL[lsl7 MODEL

President Wilson has begun the win
ter drive on Congress.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

If we jollied the living as much as
We affect to honor the dead this would
be a happier world.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

I With Pershing away the Mexican
mice will again begin 10 play.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

to investigate the leak" that disturbed
the placidity Of the Ohio river.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

We should like to hear Col. George
Harvey's remarks CT the recent addi-
ton to Sir Joseph Porters naval staff.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

A $4,000 inauguration is rather a
paradoxical starter for tho CornwcI
regime of simplicity and economy.
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

So far there has been no effort made
The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-25

Balsa wood is the lightest of all
lumber.
Arizona sentinel., 1917-12-13
the dance after the show.

the dance after the show.
 At the first performance in the Gan dolfo Theatre there wasn't standing room when the curtain went up for the first time on the minstrels. Prob ably never before in the history of Yuma has there ever been such an outpouring of loyal, patriotic, sympa- thizing citizens gathered under one roof. All of the proceeds, less the etc., were advertised to go to the Red Cross
 That was quite enough to make ev- erybody who could dig down in their jeans pockets for a big round dollar and they did it not only willingly, but with an enthusiasm seldom shown il anything of a theatrical character. IL was for worthy cause, every dollar of it was to be spent on our boys Somewhere in France" or for some other branch of the noble and patrio- tic work being done all over the world by the Red Cross.
 As a result of this first performance upwards of $500 in actual cash was placed to the credit of the local chap ter of the Red Cross, and every one who put up his or her dollar got full, value for every cent contributed
 The performance at the Women's clubhouse in Somerton was just as good as it was the previous night The admission fee had been reduced to soc, and the only reason they didn't take in more than $100 cash was be cause the hall couldn't hold any more It was packed, for the wide-awake wo men of that splendid organization turned out in full force and made their ''worser" halves turn out with them determined that Yuma should not be more loyal than they in their patriotic zeal to help the Red Cross. Because of the lack of space on the "stage" several of the real catchy" features had to be eliminated, notably Steve Power and Max Czuczka's 'Peddler's dream" stunt that brought down the house at the Gandolfo Theatre How ever, His Honor, Mayor George Mich elsen again made good" as Major Doyle, the Banker, in a thrilling melo- drama entitled "The Cowboys Sweet heart" Mrs. Edna Vernon taking the part of the bankers daughter and her husband taking the part of her sweet heart. In this masterpiece the honor able mayor demonstrated beyond the preadventure of doubt that he is some