The Colorado statesman., 1918-08-03
BIG THINGS ARE BEING DONE
AND SUCCESS OF TROOPS Is
CHEERING.
PENR0SE HAS AN OUTBREAK
His Desires Thwarted, the Pennsylva-
nian Stirs Up Things in the Senate
Women Asserting Their Rights to
Official Positions.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

more smoothly. 1t has taken long
time to get the immense amount of
military machinery in motion, but ap-
parently everybody about the war de-
partment is now satisfied with the way
it is running. There is a hitch now
and then, and some little criticism Of
unimportant matters, but the big
things are being done and the main
fact is that there are over a million
soldiers in Europe and that every
month sees many thousands more add
ed to the number. There is some ques-
tions as to whether the methods pur-
sued are the best, but upon the whole
the results speak for themselves and,
what is more, the conduct of the Amer
lean troops, their fighting qualities, the
successes they have achieved, wipe out
everything in the past in regard to
mistakes and mismanagement.
Even though the weather has been
all that could be asked, cool and COM
Portable. 1t did not prevent the rising
of temperatures in congress, particu-
larly in the senate. There has been
considerable display of temper, one of
the principal outbreaks being by Sen
atOr Penrose. The big Pennsylvania
senator wanted a recess; but he did
not want the bill passed for govern
ment control of telegraph and tele-
phone lines; he was very much op-
posed to the prohibition provision in
the agricultural survey bill. Not hav-
ing his way. he expressed his opinion
very forclbly, and when Penrose goes
on the warpath he generally bags
something. With a strong personality.
impervious to criticism, master of him
self, with a command of language
either vindictive or sarcastic, he can
generally make the fur fly" when he
decides to start something" in the
senate. There was no more interesting
occasion during the present session
than when Penrose went on the war
path after the recess flasco. Several
of his opponents were winged during
his onslaught.
As the woman suffrage program ad-
vances there Is every indication that
women are going to assert their rights
to official positions. A recent state
ment from the National Woman's
Trade Union league, announcing the
appointment of woman as the assist
ant chief of the new woman's bureau
in the department of labor, pointed out
that until traditions are broken, and
men acquire the habit of putting wom-
TN n 1p,fp pieft. 4 iun nd SIIl M
sitions as readily and as frequently as
they put men in such places, the wom-
ans bureau has big work cut out for
it," The new appointee also insists
upon equal pay for equal work by
women and men. That has been the
general rule in employment in the gov
ernment departments.
Senator Borah of Idaho did not like
the way business was proceeding late
in the afternoon on the day the senate
voted to take a recess. He said that
if they did not get order he would take
the floor and hold it until order was
restored. 81 do not propose to see
legislation pass in this way" he said.
1--WE are holding caucuses, double eau
cuses and joint caucuses here in the
aisle and considering the question of a
recess while legislation of vital impor-
tance is being pushed through in the
confusion. One of two things must
happen We will either legislate in or
der or we will not legislate at all"
And then Senator Overman of North
Carolina, chairman of the committee
on rules, considered that it was good
time to shut up shop and moved an
executive session.
Congressman Hersey of Maine made
some observations in the house when
the census bill was up, which were de-
scriptive of the feelings of TREASURY
watchdog" Hersey was acting as one
at the time and was barking at the
expenditures provided for in the bill
He remarked that President Wilson
was under an lawful responsibility"
and that to-day, in another room of
this capitol. sits the great committee
on ways ana means to provide for the
largest revenue bill ever enacted. The
responsibility of the Democratic lead
er, Mr.. Kitchin, is tremendous, but the
responsibility of the president or of Il
great leader is not so great and Inn
portant as that of the humblest repre-
sentative who honestly attempts at
this time to be watchdog of the treas
ury'" So that is how 1t feels to be
one of the pack.
No one has mentioned the close
shave by which recess was defeat-
ed. 1t really hung upon decision
of Speaker Clark and 1t might
Just as we'll have been made the other
way In fact, the speaker at one time
decided the question the other way,
but upon parliamentary inquiry by
Congressman Barkley of Kentucky. he