The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-03-15
Washington Letter.

Washington, Mar. IL Especial Cor
respondence) What the people of the
country are thinking about, and what
they want done or left undone, is often
very forcefully indicated by the petit
tions sent to members of Congress and
presented by them in open session.
The right to petition is one of the
guarantees of the constitution, and,
in recognition of the Importance Of
that right, the presentation of petit
tions is made the first order of busi-
ness.
A typical example of this form Of
expression of the public mind may be
seen in one days record of petitions
presented by the duly chosen represen-
tatives of the constituents who felt
impelled to ask a "redress of griev-
ances." Whether one approves or
disapproves the views taken by the
petitioners, it is worth while to note
what the people deem important sub
jects and what action they think Con-
gress should take. Here are some of
the petitions, briefly summarized:
Senator Gronna of North Dakota,
presented petition. sent to him by a
farmers organization, praying for
the enactment of legislation fixing the
prices of all commodities during the
war" Evidently the farmers were dis
satisfied that the price of what they
sell should be limited, while the prices
of what they buy are left to free COM
petition.
Senator Jones, of Washington, pre-
sented petition sent to him by a
patriotic league asking that the earn
ings of all aliens in excess of the pay
of private soldier in the army shall
be confscated to the use of the gov
ernment. This was probably designed
to get the earnings of enemy aliens,
rather than the earnings of aliens
whose countries are allied with the
United States.
Senator Mclean, of Connecticut,
presented a remonstrance against the
adoption of the so-called Borland min
imum 8-hour provision. 1t should be
explained that in the government SER
vice in Washington the general prac-
tice is to begin work at a. m, take
half hour for lunch at noon, and
quit at 4:30, making a day of seven
hours. Representative Borland wants
minimum day of 8 hours establish
ed by law for government clerks.
Senator Warren, of Wyoming, pre-.
sented resolutions adopted by organi.
cations of miners asking for the es.
tablishment of Department of Mines
At present there is Bureau of Mines
under the Department of the Interior
From a similar organization he pre-
sented petitions asking for govern
ment control over all industries of the
country.
Representative Dyer, of Missouri
presented resolutions of the Mer
chants Exchange, of st. Louis, pro
testing against any increase in th'
guaranteed price of wheat.
Representative Fuller, of Illinois
presented petitions from live stool
shippers organization asking that jur
lisdiction over freight rates be left il
the hands of the Interstate Commerc
Commission.
Representative Dale, of New York
presented petitions from numerous OF
ganizations asking for the repeal o
the war revenue provisions regardin
rates of second class postage.
In all instances, petitions are rt
ferred to appropriate committee
where they receive more or less cor
sideration. In most instances the p,
titions are given but little attentio
by the committees, but are effective
giving the individual member an idt
of the views and wishes of his CO..
stituents. esftft
The 1920 Census Bill provides for