Milford chronicle., 1922-05-19
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
UNCLE TED TELLS HOW
CONGRESS PASSES BILLS

was yaWul1S over HIS NOtAiiAANA OAss.
and wondering II ne would
ever have an opportunity to go TO re-
ru and search for the gold OF Atshuai-
pa. Ruth was pasting botanical speci-
mems which she had gathered during
the day into a large clipping book.
Uncle Ted had Just bade his neighbor
good night after the two had been
holding forth on the state OF the IN
ion.
AS he returned to the sitting room
Jack skinned hastily through the last
paragraph on rubber resources OF the
world, closed the book with q Dang,
faced around and asked Uncle Ted
for a bedtime story.
"Oh, I'm all out of storles' replleu
Uncle Ted. "I've talked myself out
with NeighbOr Hale on the Dennison
blue sky bill which has just passed
the House of Representatives.
'rWhat is that bill for, Uncle Ted?'
asked Ruth, giving a final pat 10 a
specimen of Epigaea repens, Whlcn
she had known as trailing arDutus
before she went in for science:
"It is to discourage sWindling by
means of the sale OF worthless
stocks" said Uncle Ted.
"Im glad that's a law" exclaimed
Ruth. ,.a
"Well it isn't a law" responded
Uncle Ted. "but it soon will be atter
the Senate has passed it. And, by the
wav don't think I ever traced for
YOU the path of bill in congress; uiu
II" Both children answering mo 10
this question, Uncle Ted proceeueu lO
trace it. w., hos
"When Representative Voxpop mas
drafted a bill, he drops 1t into pas
ket on the desk of the Clerk OF tne
House. That basket is called the mop
ner.' The present Clerk of the House,
IS Hon. William Tyler Page, the au-
thor of THE Americans Greed" which
is or ought to be, in every school-
room of the land. Hhe has been con-
nected with the House for Al years,
ever since he was a kid IN knee
breeches. when he was a House page
The Speakers clerk goes over the
hills in the hopper daily, and Vox-
mons bill is referred to the appropri-
ata communication instance, II IL
deals with the revenue, it goes to the
Committee on Ways and Means. Inc
hill is numbered, it's introduction and
reference is recorded, and 1t goes 10
the Government Printing ONCE where
a number of copies are printed, when
are made available in the Document
Room of the House. The commlttee
then decides whether it is a matter
deserving consideration and, If so, IL
If should be amended. Occasionally
! hearings are held on it at which those
] fn9lT
guments for or against. II the Dill Is
approved, with or without amehu-
ments, it is reported to the House
with the recommendation that II pc
"Tbe clerk receives it and places it,
with the committee report, on the Cal
endar. If it is a public bill dealing
with money or property, it goes to the
| Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union. If simply a public
hill it goes to the House Calendar; IL
a private bill, to the Private Calendar.
There are a number of ways in which
it may be taken up by the House. IL
NAV be called up by unanimous con-
sent. or by direction of the committee
reporting it, on Calendar Wednesday,
or it may be passed under suspension
of the rules. AS a revenue bill it may
take precedence over other measures.
Or if the Rules Committee so decides
the committee may bring in rule for
it's immediate consideration and die
tate the terms under which it may be
considered, of course with the con-
sent of the majority.
"The time for debating the bill is
determined by it's Importance, the de-
bate generally being commenced by
the chairman of the committee in
charge, and unless a set time has
been agreed upon, debate is closed by
a motion for the previous question
If the bill is passed it is certified by
the Clerk, and the certified copy is
carried by him to the Senate where 1t
is received by the Vice President who
refers it to the proper Senate Commit
tee.
"The Senate Committee may now
'pigeophOle' it, approve it as it stands,
or amend it and in due time report it
back to the Senate. Having passed
that body with amendments, if these
are agreed to by the House, the Speak
er and the Vice President may sign
it forthwith and it is presented by the
Committee on Enrolled Bills to the
President. who may sign it, when it
becomes a law, or veto it, when it re-
quires a tWo-thirds vote of both
Houses to pass it over the veto. If he
should not return it within ten days
it becomes a law; or he might kill the
bill by means of the pocket veto,' il
opportunity afforded and he chose to
do so. For example, a bill presented
for his signature eight days before
the adjournment of Congress, and re-
tanned by him, would fail to become a
law.
"But it may be the House will not
agree to the Senate amendments, and
then a conference committee is called
composed of members of both Houses
who attempt to reach a compromise
If they succeed, the fact is reported
These conference committees have a
heavy responsibility and their powers
are being curtailed.
"With one exception, provided fol-
by the Constitution, a member OF
either branch of Congress may intro
duce a bill, but it must, of course. pass
both Houses and be signed by the
President before it can become law
unless passed over the veto. That eX-
ception relates to revenue bills. The
Constitution declares that 'all bills foI
raising revenue shall originate in the
House Of Representatives.
"There, kiddies, you have the path
of a bill through Congress, and now
want you to give me an illustration ol