The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1936-02-06
WA5HlN GT0N. DC.

VI
the Smith barrage was more helpful to
the Democrats than campaign
speeches they themselves could make.
Administration leaders in the execu-
tive departments are beginning to fire
also, but they are smart enough to let
the enthusiasm aroused by the speech
die down before they attempt to upset
arguments advanced by Mr.. Smith.
have no doubt, from the signs even
now cropping up, that an effort will be
made in congress to discredit the
league. 1t looks like Senator Black,
Alabama Democrat and chairman of
the senate lobby committee, probably
will dig into the leagues files to show
how it was financed to large extent
by such wealthy men as the Duponts,
among others. Such an investigation
likewise will carry an undercurrent of
a movement to do away with political
influence of such men as John j.
Raskob, former Democratic national
chairman, league director, and Jouett
Shouse, former executive chairman of
the Democratic national committee
and the league president. If that fight
gets started it will be a mudslinging
beauty.
So, summarized, the picture result
ing from the leagues dinner is that of
a major feud, as well as major polit-
ical movement, because there is real
ly bitter fight between personalities in
sight as well as the possibilities of a
third party movement.
In the situation as it now stands,
however, the Republican party holds
the key. Smith and his following and
the league membership generally can
the New Deal and most all of its
works only on condition that candi-
date and a platform, viewed by them
as sound, are put forward by the Re-
publicans. If the Republicans turn too
far to the radical side in their efforts
to match the Democratic position
(Which necessarily must be in support
of everything the President has done),
then, there is likely to be third par
ty, which would make predictions of
the outcome worthless.
Congress frequently goes off on a
tangent in which it will set about ex-
posing this or that
DtggIrg or the other among
In Secrets the practices of pri-
. vate business. In the
last several years it has been particu-
larly active in exposing to public view
secrets of corporations and individual
representatives and senators have
aries paid business executives and they
have directed criticism at private bust
ness as well for some of its other ex-
penditures.
A few years ago Senator Norris of
Nebraska, among Others spoke at
great length in criticism of our gov
ernment's diplomatic service because
of the salaries paid and the eXpendi-
lures allowed for operation of our for
eign diplomatic offices. The Norris at
tack apparently did considerable DAM
age to the diplomatic service because
it made many capable men fearful of
entering that field where highly
trained men are necessary.
But all of the time during which
criticisms have been leveled at private
business on account of salaries paid
business executives and because of
other expenses, the senate itself has
been going ahead from year to year
using taxpayers money to suit its own
purposes. For instance, Col. Edwin A.
Halsey, secretary of the senate, lately
has made public his annual report COW
ering senate operations and 1t shows
that the taxpayers money to the ex-
tent of S3,296, 1852 had been spent for
maintenance of that one branch of
congress. There are SO senators, each
of whom has an Office staff; there are
some 3O-odd committees in operation,
each with staff, and there Is the reg
ular senate organization with large
personnel. Consequently, salaries alone
take up a considerable chunk of the
total outlay, but Colonel Halsey's re-
port disclosed that general "contin-
gent expenses" of the senate had eaten
ND SOL, 900. Included in this total of
contingent expenses was an item of
$4,000 for the cost of senate investi-
cations In the last year. Almost half
of this amount was used by the NUM-
tons investigation committee headed
by Senator Nye, Republican of North
Dakota, who lately was made the sub
ject of criticism on the senate floor
because of his committees attitude.
Congressional expenditures, and the
house is as bad as the senate, long
have been spoken of
Reckless in humorous vein.
Spending Many times in past
years the senat e
has broken into print" when some
newspaper correspondent discovered
what appeared to be new means
of wasting money in order to
provide additional comforts for the
senator's For instance, 1t has been
a practice long time for the senate
to supply its members and staff with
mineral water, Washington city water
being good enough for it's half mil
lion residents but unsatisfactory, or
perhaps unhealthy. for the senator's.
Ice has to be supplied the senators
and all sorts of service must be main
tanned to enable the legislators to
work in comfort.
High priced automobiles are main