The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-02
AN ALL AROUND BILL.
for Sundry Civil Pur-
poses Include Some Surprising
as Wen as Some Interesting Items.


easy money or cake TO get bet that
Of the 100000 or so voters in this
favored land there are 500 who could
prove that they have read every line
Of the ia pages Of the sundry civil
appropriation bill now about ready
for the Presidents signature. And at
that there are more than 500 members
Of Congress. Outside of Congress,
aside from occupants of the Senate
and House press galleries and a few
Washington officeholders, II is doubt
full IL there are 500 men or women
voters in the country who even know
what expenses are appropriated for in
the bill. Yet II is a rare bird OF a bill
and worth knowing.
Its popular name. suniry civil,
should perhaps explain in a general
way its many strange purposes. but
like the word scissors the name OF the
bill II said often enough ceases 20 have
any meaning whatever. Many must
read in the papers something about
this bill yet remain quite uninformed
that 1t appropriates salaries for fish
pathologists and for the repair OF the
White House greenhouses; that it
provides the pay for three school
teachers who teach something, the
seals, perhaps. on the Pribylof Islands,
and sets aside funds to keep the Union
Station plaza fountain here spouting
pure water. Every one should know,
but all too few can know, that the
bill appropriates $4,000 for an astro-
physical observatory which makes
necessary observations in high alti-
tudes." What has made these obser-
vations necessary the bill does not re-
veal. But that Is not the only thing
the bill keeps readers guessing about.
It appropriates a lump sum of $780,
900 for the Tariff Commission, specify
ing that this sum shall be used, be-
sides for salaries and expenses, for
the purchase OF professional and scien-
tine books" A charitable provision
because the House Ways and Means
Committee and the Senate Finance
Committee do not intend to permit the
distinguished gentlemen on the COM
mission to do anything whatsoever
about the tariff, SO it is an act OF
comfy. as they say in the Hobbies OF
the Hotel CrilIon. to give the COM
missoners an ample supply OF good
hard reading to keep them out OF
mischief.
II Is remarkable bill. II has some
good points; comparatively good. The
House total for the 1920 bill, S4s3.-
sl4,s50.s5. is S3s7,257,OOs.3O less
than the bill which failed and a trife
Of I,545,277,S45.44 less than the
1919 bill.
Books were just spoken Of. The
bill favors books. There is the s4s,-
600 appropriated for chronological re-
searches among the American Indians
| and the natives Of Hawaii" which
should supply a lot of valuable
reading matter on the origin of How"
| and Aloha as used in a ceremony
or social rite among conyivials before
July /, 1919. Even for a list Of books,
international catalogue OF scientific
| literature" $500 is appropriated.
Where the books are which it will TAX
| thousands OF dollars to catalogue is
not related in the bill, but there is
some reason to think that the item re-
| fers to the books which Col House
carried over with him, and which are
still stored in Paris pending the release
Of tonnage by the completion OF demo-
bilization.
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has an impressive lot OF items
for body whose instrumentalitiAs
have not been functioning so that you
could notice il for a long time. There
is $4,000 for each of its nine-count
EN-, nine-commissioners $1,000, 900
ito regulate commerce" and 5000
OF that is for books, by the way TO
further enable the commission 20 en-
force" something or other, 5000, 900 !;
ito enable the commission to keep in
| formed" on their job. 2313,s00; to
make a physical valuation OF the
| property OF common carriers" whether
pre- or post McAdoo value not stated.
| 81 500 900; 10 promote the safety OF
employees and travellers" s2sS 600
Not bad pickings. as Uncle Joe might
remark.
The fish pathologist has already been
mentioned, but no less whimsical il
must be 10 non-taxpayers to note that
the Bureau OF Fisheries has a fishery
food laboratory, preparing and printing
book on dietary for fish disposed TO
| dyspepsia, no doubt. II also has a
culturistsr apprentice fish messen-
gers" Somehow one thinks of an
apprentice fish culturist as wearing an
Eton collar and playing craps with
an apprentice fish messenger when the
fish pathologist is sitting in at a game
| Of modest limit with the Ash archi-
| tcct. $4,000, fish craftsman. 81 200, fish
librarian, $1,000 and the chef OF the
fisheries food laboratory, 81 900. II. R.,
el16, rage 40. lines II, Is. 16 and II.
1t is a bill OF great variety. On page
| le3, line Is, you discover that the cost
CT printing farmers bulletins teaching
| farmers wives how to make cottage
cheese is only 5000 900. but for send
ing out these precious instructions
under the addressed franks OF Sena-
tors, Representatives and Delegates in
Congress" 5000 900 is slipped out OF
the Treasury. Proper allowances are
made for the White House and its
grounds. within the iron fence" the
grounds get $4,000. outside the fence,
81. 900; for care. repair and refurnish-
ing the White House and driving OF
horses and vehicles. by contract or
otherwise as the President may de-
termine," $4,000; fuel. $4,000, main
tanning White House greenhouses
1000 repairs, $4,000: reconstruct
ton, $1,000; lighting White House
$500; travelling expenses OF the Pres
ident, TO be paid ION his certificate
solely" $4,000.