New-York tribune., 1902-09-08
THE WANING HOTSE.

IhE hAAIAG HOCSE.
In other columns of this issue will be
found q timely study of certain influences
which have contributed TO diminish the
power and credit of the House of Repre-
sentatives as a factor in American political
life The writer sees at work in the politics
of his own State-AIassachusetts-te
which combine to weaken its representation
in the popular branch of Congress, which
break the continuity Of that representation
and dilute and enfeeble its quality. On a
larger scale he finds these influences operating
TO lessen the efficiency and impair the au
thority of the House of Representatives as
joint agent in the federal government. Three
processes, our correspondent argues, cooper
ate to impoverish the popular branch-to make
it a mere training school for craftsmanship,
not a storehouSe Of political talent and po-
ltical experience. These processes are elm
ination, promotion and rotation, and in the
face of an attrition so vigorous and constant,
the writer urges. ii is surprising, not that the
influence of the House of Representatives
grows less. but that it retains any genuine in
1uence Is all.
Our Boston contributors especial familiarity
with Massachusetts politics leads him. perhaps,
10 overemphasize the Importance of the drafts
made on the House through promotions to the
Senate or the Cabinet Both Mr.. Hoar and Mr..
Lodge as is we'll known, won their way to
the Senate after conspicuous service in the
popular branch, and only recently the Massa-
chusetts delegation in the House lost a most
valued leader through Mr.. Moodys trans
terrence TO a Cabinet post. But probably not
half a dozen Representatives have left the
House TO enter the Cabinet in the last twenty
FIVE wears. while promotions from the House
e-jI HOY he-
come in our own days noticeably less and
less the rule. OF the ninety seats in the Sen
ate. less than one-third are filed by former
REPRESENTATIVES. and barely twenty are held
BIZ politicians translated directly from the
lower branch Most Of the older Republican
leaders in the Senate served their apprentice
shin in the House. among them Messrs. Allison,
Aldrich Hale, Frye. Hoar and Cullom. But Of
the newer Republican leadeTs-Platt, Of Con-
nectcut; Proctor. Spooner, Quay, Foraker,
Hanna Elkins and Fairbanks-all began their
legislative careers IN the upper branch Though
Mr. Elkins was once a Territorial Delegate);
While Of the real spokesmen on the Demo
cratic side-Vest. Cockrell. Morgan and Teller
(and after March next Arthur P Gorman)-
none ever had a seat in the House
Elimination-defeat through the accidents of
the struggle for denomination and reelection
weeds out of the House many useful and prom
ising members The foolish system Of rotation
ends the careers OF more. Yet, in the main, it
is death which robs the House of the leaders on
whom the burdens of legislation fall. For in
from a third to half of the nearly four hun
dred districts into which the country is ap-
portioned continuity of service has begun to be
welcomed and encouraged, and no Representa-
tive of exceptional capacity and integrity need
suffer in these more liberal minded and enlight-
ened constituencies from the destructive proc
esses which our Massachusetts critic so clearly
and so instructively depicts His own example
of the power a State ike Iowa may WELD in
legislation through adherence TO the settled
policy of returning a delegation which has proved
its usefulness shows what may be done TO neu
tralize the forces always at work to lower the
efficiency of the House. But his coupling Maine
with Iowa also suggests that a State may suffer
an eclipse Of power through causes wholly un- |
avoidable For. since the resignation of Thomaa |
B. Reed and the deaths OF Nelson Dingley ant |
Charles A Boutelle. Names representation in !
the House. though still respectable. is in no
sense commanding. Certainly, II cannot be |
contended seriously that Maine. with her pres
ent House delegation OF one or two term men, |
bers. outweighs in influence ''New-York or |
Pennsylvania" each represented by a group of |
legislators of varied experience and acknoWl- |
edged power.
Unquestionably the House has suffered a de-
cline IN political prestige within the last decade.
But TO a certain extent the causes of that de-
cline are to be sought in the revolution In prac-
flee and methcds-forced upon it In 1S9o-to
whose consequences 1t has not yet been able
wholly TO adjust itself. Whether it can regain
its lost authority is still question. There can
be no doubt that IT suffers. and will continue 10
suffer, from the depicting and weakening in
fuences on which our correspondent enlarges.
And vet il is still to be hoped that it will never
lose. in broad sense its true and natural char
acter. We trust ii may continue 10 be. as it is
still, a body not very unfairly representative of
the great constituency which ii serves.