Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-09-25
WHAT A CONGRESSMAN SEES
Seniueeky Letter Touching o. the Washington Doings Of Personalities
Familiar to PhIadeIphians ,
By J. Hampton Moore

abroad. Now as to Secretary Baker. Per-
haps the easiest way to size him up would
be to put him on the same platform with
Franklin Spencer Edmonds, formerly Of the
Philadelphia Central High School. He is not
unlike Edmonds in physique, In ability to
talk or in trend of mind. He has a scholastic
record not unlike that of Edmonds, is a
quick and ready speaker and practiced law
before entering public life. He was not
averse to politics, having been private sec
rotary TO Postmaster General Wilson in
1867, assistant city solicitor, solicitor and
afterward Mayor of Cleveland, o. At the
present time he is a member of the Ohio
State Democratic Committee. Thus Edmonds,
who also dabbled in politics, is a fair match
for Baker, except that his political activities
have not generally been so successful as have
those of the Secretary.
Another point of similarity: Mrs. Baker
occasionally appears in public as a singer.
while Mrs. Edmonds. who is a daughter of
Judge Abraham NJ. Better, is doing "a mans
part in the cause of suffrage. AS Baker
and Edmonds are now both in Europe, the
latter serving with the Young Mems Chris
tian Association, it might do no harm II they
should compare notes.
IF TIL people who believe we ought to
i save white paper really desire to accom-
plish something they would begin with the
Federal departments and particularly with
the bureaus and commissions that are vast
ing it, The number of publications. reports,
pdilpnletS dnu cheap departmental duNcItls-
ing matter. all tending to bolster up the pa
triotic efforts of bureaucratic rivals. has
been so alarmingly on the increase that the
waste baskets of Washington have been
bullying out at the sides. Congress has been
taking note of this waste. and If st con-
tinues there may be an inquiry into the use
less and duplicated efforts of literary patri-
OTIS to attract public attention and intrench
themselves upon the Government payroll.
The Postmaster General gets blamed for a
great many things, but he has recently COM
menced to take notice. He is calling down
deadhead issues and otherwise reducing the
''poundage" of mail matter, for that Is about
what 1t has come to be. Few members of
Congress are able to keep up with the dead
head newspapers and magazines that come
in from all sections of the country. The
socialistic stuff has already been cut down
to a large extent, but the push kept up
during the consideration of the revenue bill
and showed little signs of abatement until
"the dead line was drawn on the dead
heads. n
THE annual conventions of the Atlantic
i Deeper Waterways Association. which
have been organized in Philadelphia since
the association was founded. in 1907, invari-
ably attract a number of men from the ma
tional capital. The Boston convention this
week is no exception to the rule. In addi-
ton to Secretary Redfeld, of the Depart
ment OF Commerce, United States Senator
. ShS VI Aeo' - - ''S ~oii
mittee on and Congressman
Small, of North Carolina, chairman of the
Rivers and Harbors Committee. are in at
tendance. For twelve years these conven-
lions have been alternating up and down the
Atlantic coast to the evident satisfaction Of
the people of the seaboard States, who be-
lieve in the Improvement of our Transport
tation facilities. Beginning at Philadelphia,
in 1907, they proceeded from city to city,
north one year and south the next. until last
year, when Miami, the southernmost point,
was reached. This year, in going to Boston,
the convention attains its "farthest north"
The delegates have been a long time getting
to Boston. but they are now making the
most of 1t, and from all accounts are being
delightfully."- entertained. At every conven-
ton thus far held. no matter what the dis
lance from headquarters, the Delaware
River interest has always been largely in
evidence. They have cheerfully co-operated
with the delegates from other waterways
territory and have established an era of
good feeling along the coast.
There is a strong probability that the next
convention will be helo in Charleston, S. c.
II II is. tho famous Battery" will be as in
teresting to the northern delegates as the
Boston Common" Is this week to visitors
j from fho south