Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1902-01-11
WHY IOWA SHINES.
Hawkeye State Has Given Long
Terms to I,s Congressman.
Amos j. Cummings Tells Why Experienced
Men 1t the National Capital Weld
Greatest Power In Legislation for
Their Constituents.


ice is the real source of power in both
the senate and the house of repre-.
sentatives. The state or the city max.
ing the least change in its congress.
sional representation reaps the ad'
vantage in legislation. With rare ex.
ceptions, the places on important
committees are given to those most
experienced in legislation. They as
cend in grade, the same as an officer
of the army or the navy, in proportion
to their years of toll and usefulness.
1t is unwritten law, rarely disre-
garded by the speaker in making up
his committees. In the Fifty-fourth
and Fifty-fifth congresses Maine
welded more influence in Legislation
than any other state in the union.
Owing to their terms of service her
senator's and representatives DOM
mated the leading committees.
Through the effort OF her expert
enced congressman and senator's mil
lions upon millions had been appro-
priated for the improvements of the
rivers and harbors of the state, and
there was hardly town of any size
within its boundary that did not con-
tain a public building erected at the
expense of the United States. Kittery
navy yard, on her western boundary,
reveled in appropriations. Her lum-
Der, granite quarries and her lime and
cement were protected by the tariff,
and her shipyards supplied with gov
eminent work and fortified with leg
islation. She even levied tribute up
on the ocean at the expense of her
sister states. A law was enacted that
prevented the netting of mackerel I'M
til the schools reached her coasts, but
every effort to protect the menhaden
off the Jersey coast failed. Maine
fishermen and others Melted them by
millions for bait and oil. Her sardine
factories were protected by heavy
duties on the French product, and
genuine Finden haddies were driven
from the American market to give
place to the inferior product dried
on her shores.
OF the As chickens nesting under
the broad wings of the great federal
fowl Maine drew the most warmth
and sustenance. 1t was all due to the
continuous service of her senator's
and representatives Suddenly there
came change. Milliken, Dingley and
Boutelle died in harness and Tom
Reed went to New York to practice
law. Only two years have elapsed
since the Fifty-fifth congress expired
and Maine has lost the lead. Iowa
has usurped her place. The expert
enced delegation from the Kennebec,
Penobscot and Androscoggin has Civ
en- place to one entirely new. None
of its four representatives has spent
more than one term in the house. In
proportion to its numbers it is prob
ably as sparkling deputation as any
in the house, but it has no longer the
touchstone of power-length of serv-
ice. It's influence in the senate, how
ever, has been so much increased by
the reelection of Senators Hale and
Frye that it may retain many of the
advantages CLEANED by the old dele
cation.
Maine probably drew her inspira-
ton from the city Of brotherly love.
Philadelphia awoke to the impor-
lance of keeping her representatives
continuously in congress before the
war. She held Samuel j. Randall,
Charles o'Neill, William d. Kelley and
Alfred Harmer in the house of repre-
sentatives 20 years. All died in office
and all were buried at the expense of
the United States. She placed Gen.
Harry Bingham in the house over 20
years ago and has kept him here ever
since. So vital to the interests of the
city was the retention of these con-
Rressmen that political affiliations be-
csme a secondary consideration. Sam
mel ]. Randall's district was always so
apportioned by republican legisla-
ture as to return him to the house
despite all political commissions. He
served three terms as speaker and was
for wears chairman of the committee
on appropriations. Kelley. who en-
tered the house term ahead of Ran
dali. was ut one time chairman Of the
WAYS and means, and member OF the
committee nearly a quarter of CEN
fury. For IS years ne was its leading
republican, and outrnnked Maj. Will
liam Mckinley when the latter was
made chairman by the appointment
of Speaker Reed. With Randall and
Kelley holding such important posi-
tions in the house by term of service,
Il is no wonder that the industrial
and commercial interests of .Philadel-
mia and Pennsylvania were so care
fully fostered and nourished in all
tariff and other upheavals. No city