Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1922-05-11
UNCLE TED TELLS HOW CON
GRESS PASSES BILLS

II
would ever have an opportunity to go
to Peru and search for the gold of
Atshusloa. Ruth was pasting botan-
ical specimens which she had gather
ed during the day into a large clipp-
ing book. Uncle Ted had just babe
his neighbor goodnight 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 a
bang, faced around and asked Uncle
Ted for bedtime story.
~0h, Pm all out of stories. replied
Uncle Ted. i've talked myself out
with Neighbor Hale on the Dennison
blue sky bill which has just passed
the House of Representatives"
What that bill for, Uncle Ted r.
asked Ruth, giving a final pat to u
specimen Of Epigae repens, which
she had known as trailing arbutus
before she went in for science.
cit is to discourage swindling by
mean Of the sale of worthless stocks
said Uncle Ted.
''Im glad that's law" exclaimed
Ruth.
well it isn't law responed
Uncle Ted, "but it soon will be after
the Senate has passed it. And, by
the way, don't think have traced
for you the path of bill IN Congress
did II" Both children answered No
to this question, Uncle Ted proceeded
to trace it.
when Representative Voxpop has
drafted bill, he drops it into a bas-
ket called the hopper. The present
Clerk of the House is Hon. William
Tyler Page, the author Of The A.
merican's 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 breaches, when he
was a House page. The Speakers
clerk goes over the bills in the hop
per- daily, and Voxpop's bill is re-
per- daily, and Voxpop's bill is referr-
ed to the appropriate committee =
for instance, if it deals with revenue,
it goes to the Committee on Ways
and Means. The bill is numbered,
its introduction and reference is re-
corded, and it goes to the Govern
'4nent Rsinting. 0fice swhspes& snumbef
Of copies are printed, which are made
available in the Document Room of
the House. The committee then de-
cides whether it is matter deserv-
ing consideration, and if so, 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 amend
ments, it is reported to the House
with the recommendation that it be
passed.
"The clerk receives it and places
/ it, with the committee report, on the
Calendar. If it is a public bill deal
ing with the money or property, it
goes to the Committee of the Whole
House on the 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 which it may be
taken up by the House. 1t may be
called up by unanimous consent or by
direction of the committee reporting
it, on Calendar Wednesday, or it may
passed under suspension Of the rules.
As q revenue bill it may take pre-
cedence over other measures. Or if
the Rules Committee SO decides the
committee may bring in a rule for its
immediate consideration and dictate
the terms under which it may be con-
sidered, Of course with the consent Of
the majority.
"The time fer debating the bill is
determined by its Importance, the
debate generally being commenced
by the chairman of the committee in
charge, and unless a set time has
been agreed upon, debate is closed
by 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
it is received by the Vice President
who refers it to the proper Senate
Committee.
.0The Senate committee may now
'pigeonhole' 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
Speaker and the Vice President may