The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1938-06-30
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National Topics Interpreted - GIL1I%1l2
by William Bruckart WTYT5THTX
National Washington, D. c.

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or little relief check. That's some
thing which congress can't very well
deny, even though the members
hide behind the Presidents ample
frame by saying that Mr.. Roosevelt
asked for the money.
With respect to the nations finan-
cial condition, it seems to me it is
high time to be worried. Congress
and the administration ought to be
worried until there are deep creases
in their collective brow. And, there
are some who are worried, men
like Sen. Carter Glass, the Virginia
Democrat, who knows something
about finances since he was once
secretary of the treasury. Senator
Glass appears to fear collapse is
approaching.
AS an indication of how far into
the depths the nation has fallen
=, financially, atten-
Joos ana ton may be di-
Pensions rected at several
minor circum-
stances which taken singly mean lit
tie but which taken collectively bulk
large. The Seventy-fifth congress
added something like $500 new
names to the pension rolls. While
these names were being added
through passage of pension bills in
a steady stream, new bureaus and
the consequent bundle of new jobs
were being created by congress at
the request of the President, or
sometimes just becase a senator
or a representative had the idea.
Those jobs, of course, carry salary
checks. They are jobs scattered
throughout the country in many in
stances-feld offices, they are des-
ignated. It goes without saying that
each office had to be fully stated,
and so there were clerks hired here
and there. Most of the new jobs
were not placed under civil service
by the laws which congress enacted,
and so they constituted political
plums to be picked when most need
ed in campaign year.
And no review of the Seventy
fifth congress ought to omit an item
that seldom has been noted in the
history of earlier congresses. The
representative and senators met so
many times and talked so much
when in session that a month ago
they had to increase the appropria-
ton for publishing the Congressional
Record, the official newspaper" of
proceedings in congress. The ap-
propriation-a mere drop of water
in the vast sea of expenditures, be-
ing only $500, 000-was necessary,
the government printing Office re-
ported because the last session of
the Seventy-fifth congress used up
about 10000 more pages than had
been estimated as needed for the
session. One really is not being IA
cetious or humorous at all in saying
that 100000 really has "gone with
the wind"
So, we have seen a congress, in
which the President in his 1885 cleo
ton achieved stupendous major
ity, look to that President for guild
ance in most subservient fashion.
We have watched it seek his inner
most thoughts and strive to execute
his ideas. None thought, believe,
that there was ever possibility of
a revolt. Yet, it did revolt. It
fought back and won on a number
of occasions, only to turn again to
him in the final hours when an
election is in the offing and where
scores of members believed that
only the Presidents personal popu-
larity would carry them through.
Unique is hardly the word to de-
scribe the Seventy-fifth. Personally,
think the Seventy-ffth probably
passed out of existence with rec
ord that is not equalled for slime,
cowardice and petty politics.
And, thus, the members 60 into
their biennial dance to attract votes.
They have started their circuses al
ready in many contested areas;
some primary battles already are
behind us, and others lie only few
short weeks ahead. Political fences
are awaiting new posts and new
promises have to be made. It will
be funny story if and when it ever
can be pieced together, which, of
course, it never will.
We, here in Washington, have lis
tened to the demagoguery almost
two solid years. You folks out there
can have them for awhile. I hope
the office-seekers tell the truth about
their jobs in Washington. I some
times think it would be a vote-get-
ting program for a candidate for
the house or the senate to 60 out and
tell exactly what has been done
how little worthwhile, mean. And
then to follow that with a declara-
ton that he was going to go back, if
reelected, and see to it that a real
service for the nation is performed.
Wouldn't that be refreshing?
G Western Newspaper Union.