The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-11-07

vifually and independently represent
certain number Of thousands of free
men. Therefore was the aggregation
Of representatives denOminated the
House of Representatives. Jefferson
indeed supposed that ours would for
ever be a government as far removed
from the plain people, as 1t could be
lremoved
Well, the House or Representatives
Is no longer a body of independent
representatives of the people. On the
contrary, It is an aggregation of nom
entities; because the representatives
have abdicated their individuality, and
independence of thought and action.
They are pawns on the chess board,
and are moved with ease by the mas.
ter mind of their own making. When
they elect a Speaker, they surrender
their independence When Jefferson
was writing and when statesmen we're
ratIfying the Constitution, they never
even dreamed that the popular body
would abdicate It's independence.
The power they committed to the
Speaker Is tremendous. Fortunately
for the country It has almost always
been wisely and patriotically used.
The Speaker appoints all the commit
tees, and. of course. all of the chair
men OF committees. This is his power.
Every other Representative must do
as the Speaker desires, or he will Sc.
cure no legislation for his people, Not
only can the Speaker refuse to grant
him recognition on the floor of the
House of Representatives; but, the
Speaker can direct the chairmen OF
committees to do nothing for any re-
calcitrant who defies his will or ig.
nores his power. No Car ever sat en-.
throned In Russia with more imperial
power over his subjects than the
Speaker may WELD over his fellow
members OF the House OF Represents
atives; each one OF them as duly
elected by the people as himself. But
Il is because the Representatives have
abdicated that this power is held by
one man. Moreover this condition
has existed so long. that gentlemen
are becoming accustomed to it. and
do not complain.
At the other end of the Capitol sits
the other coordinate legislative body.
the United States Senate. No one man
rules that body. and no one man ever
can rule IT, The committees OF the
Senate are appointed by the Senators
themselves, The Republicans will
hold a caucus and appoint a temporary
committee ION committees" Tho
Democrats will hold a caucus, and
they will designate a similar com.
mitteo, After careful consideration OF
the rights of an Senators to committee
assignments. these two Committees on
Committees. will hold a joint meet
ing, The Republicans will state
their list OF committees and the Demo
Gratis viii state their list The Joint
committees will reach harmonious
conclusions They will then report to
their several caucuses, and their work
will be ratified. or amended, Thon
when the Senate Is in session, the
Senator who shall be the Chairmen
Of the Committee on Committees, on
the majority side OF the Chamber
will offer the list agreed upon. and Il
VIII be ratified without discussion.
Thus you see. the rights OF ali Sen.
ators are courteously guarded; and
thus Il viii always be. There can
never be one-power man In the Senate.
The spirit OF Thomas Jefferson pre-
yades the Senate; and Il will forever
prevade Il, Jefferson, the Commoner.
must look lovingly upon the American
House OF Lords; the aristocracy OF tho
republic Hamilton. the aristocrat,
finds himself dominating the repre-
sentatives OF the plain people. How
anomalous; former Speaker Reed, sar
oasuoally referring 10 the long talks
OF Senators, which ar0 permitted by
the rules OF their body, said; "The
talkative Senate ID the only deliberAt'
i've body on earth" Mr., Reed spoke