The Bennington Evening Banner

Congressional Plagiarism.

The custom of "lifting" a brother congressman's bills without sanction or permission has resulted in a warm discussion concerning the ethics of legislation. In newspaper work, novel writing or any other strenuous employment the appropriation or use of another man's words or ideas entitles him to credit and legal protection. Not so, however, in the legislative hopper. If one man fails to have a resolution or bill passed another takes it up, transferring such paragraphs and clauses or ideas as he wishes, without credit, and labeling the result with his name in such a way as to secure full and undisputed possession.

The only question considered is, "will it pass?" for if it does not pass it represents only so much white paper snugly tucked away in pigeonholes until the advent of the next legislator whose inclination runs to fathering bills. The pigeonholes and crypt at the capitol are filled with documents suggestive of the faded hopes of many an enthusiastic congressman whose bill failed to "get by" and is ready for the appropriation of another ambitious legislator.-National Magazine.