The Glenwood post., 1922-05-18
u.cIe Tets Bed Time Stories
Current Events For the 0hilAxsa
and 0rown-uys, Too
UNCLE TED TEILS HOW
CONGRESS PASSES BILLS

1t was q warm spring evening. Jasl
was yawning over his commercial &C.
ography and wondering if he would
ever have an opportunity to 60 to
Peru and search for the gold of Alta.
hualpa. Ruth was pasting botanical
specimens which she had gathered
during the day into large clipping
book. Uncle Ted had just bade his
neighbor good night after the two had
been holding forth on the state Of the
Union.
AS he returned to the sitting room
Jack SKINNED hastily through the last
paragraph on rubber resources Of the
world, closed the book with bang,
faced around and asked Uncle Ted
for bedtime story.
"Oh, I'm all ont of stories," re.
piled Uncle Ted. "I've talked myself
out with Neighbor Hale on the Den
nison 'blue sky bill which has just
passed the house of representatives. u
"What is that bill for, Uncle Tedi'
asked Ruth, giving a final pat to q
specimen Of epigae a repens, which
she had known as trailing afbutus be
fore she went in for science.
"It is to discourage swindling by
maana of the sale Of worthless stocks, >
said Uncle Ted.
"I'm glad that it's law" ex.
claimed Ruth.
"well, it isn't a law,' responded
Uncle Ted, "but it soon will be after
the senate has passed it. And, by the
way, I don't think I ever traced for
you the path of bill in congress, did
II" Both children answering "No'
to this question, Uncle Ted proceeded
to trace it.
"When Representative Voxpop has
drafted bill, he drops it into a bask.
ct on the desk of the clerk of the
house. That basket is called the
hopper. The present clerk of the
house is Hon. William Tyler Page, the
author of 'The Americans Creed,
which is, or ought to be, in every
schoolroom of the land. He has been
connected with the house for Al years,
ever since he was kid In knee
breeches. when he was n house page
The speakers clerk goes over the bills
in the hopper daily, and Voxpop't
bill is referred to the approriate com
mittce-for instance, if it deals with
the revenue, it goes to the committee
on ways and means. The bill is mum
bered, its introduction and reference
is recorded, and it goes to the govern
ment printing office where number
Of copies are printed, which are made
available in the document room OF tht
house. The committee then decidel
whether it is a matter deserving con
sideration and, if 80, if it should be
amended. Occasionally hearings are
held on it at which those interested
appear and make their arguments for
or against. If the bill is approved
with or without amendments, it is re-
ported to the house with the recon-
mendation that it be passed:
t.rhe clerk receives 1t and places it
with the committee report, on the cal
endar. If it is n public bill dealing
with money or property, it goes to thu
committee of the whole house on thu
state of the Union. If simply public
bill it goes to the house calendar: If ;
private bill, to the private calendar
There are a number of ways in whicl
it may he taken up by the house.
NAV be called up by unanimous con
sent, or by direction of the committe
reporting it, on Calendar Wednesday
or it may be passed under suspension
of the rules. As revenue bill it ma
take precedence over other measures
Or if the rules committee so decide
the committee may bring in rule fo
tate the terms under which it may b
considered, of course with the consen
of the majority.
"The time for debating the bill
determined by its Importance, the de
bate generally being commenced b
the chairman of the committee j