The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-06-07
DON'T CARE FOR THE HOUSE
There Are Hut Few Men Of wealth
Who Care to Enter the Lower
Branch of Congress.

The formal announcement which Con-
gresham Powers made while at home
that he would not be again candidate
for congress, although no news to his
associates and FRIENDS here, has occa-
stoned the widest regret In connection
with many similar announcements, says
the Boston Transcript, II must be taken
as one OF the signs OF the times which
do not augur we'll for the future OF the
house as legislative body.
The fact must be faced that the body
has ceased TO attract the kind Of men
that il ought to have. More than Speak
er Cannons defiance OF the senate would
be necessary to restore the house 10 the
place where seat in It will be worth
while for the really big men Of the
country. Except for the few leaders who
dominate the whole thing there is very
little for anybody TO do. The member
ship Of the house is so large and the
acoustic properties IN It SO bad that
no member commands any attention
when he speaks unless he happens to be
a born orator" The salary is pitiably
small for those who have to live on it.
Membership still has its uses as a step
ping-stone for persons who have an eye
on the senate or some other coveted
post set OF rich young men are in
consequence taking up congressional
seats. notably Pennsylvanians, much
as well 10 co people IN the cities are buy
ing up the abandoned farms Of New
Hampshire But for men OF good op-
portunities for professional advance
ment al home there is little in con-
gressional seat as an end that is worth
while. and they are fast finding II out
II they do not know It when they get
here they soon become aware OF the
fact. with the result that changes in the
delegations Of the most important states,
which ought to keep men here long
enough 10 reach places Of prominence,
are becoming painfully frequent
Judge De Armond. OF Missouri. one
Of the most thoughtful men OF the house
recently remarked TO totheTranscrfptc cor
respondent: Nearly all the work oi
this session viii be in passing appropria-
ton bills. but have you ever thought
how absolutely farcical is the place
which the house occupies in this pro
ceedlnFs? The committee may report
B bill having IN II a s., 900 item for a GER
tain purpose and If time is hanging on
he hands Of the house considerable de-
bate may develop IN committee OF the
whole over the proposal to reduce this
item TO $500 Perhaps the lower fig
ure may prevail. The bill goes TO the
senate. which promptly raises the item
to $1,000 The revised bill with scores
ofamerdmerts, comes back to the house
Three men go out on a conference com
nittee to split difference with the SEN
ate. They come back and perhaps after
two or three trials Of strength the house
votes 70 accept a certain conference re-
port which It's three representatives
have worked out. What become Of the
old debate between the $1,000 and the
$500? Not one man in the house. ex-
cept possibly one OF the conferees. and I
much doubt that. will have the remotest
notion OF what has been done with this
item The Pineville Academy Debating
society might fust as well have resolved
on the question"