The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1905-02-08
WASHINGTON LETTER. .

WASHINGTON LETTER.
3sss WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 4, 1905.
1t is frequently asserted that the pow
and influence of congressman lndlvl-
s.lly, have declined in recent years.
Is in sense is true, so far as indls-
slinately attempting to influence leg
lion is concerned. 1t is even main
ed that collectively the House aof
,gesentatives has lost prestige and
eIency within the last decade ortwo.
view of the indispensable functions
zach department of the legislative
snch of the government it is difficult
lefne or guage the leverage exercise
Sor within the grasp of either one OF
sm. So far as the individual mem
is concerned he labors under re-
,Grictions imposed lby the necessities OF
d discipline and effectiveness which have
!. grown mp in Congress in recent years,
not only on account of increased num-
Der and consequent unwieldiness, but
also because of the growth of legisla-
tive business which renders a highly
systematized and unhampered organi-
& zation essential Out of this state of
n affairs has sprung a more complete
II adoption of the committee method Of
~ expediting legislation; and it is where a
9member is a member of a committee
III aving under consideration the meas
lures in which he is interested that he is
able to WELD his greatest influence, A
bill must be reported by the committee
to whicait has been referred before it
can properly be considered by the
House, and this explains how bills may
!. be stifea in the committee, and perhaps
81 never be heard from again after being
referred to committee, may come
nth from the committee rooms mutt
M tied or changed so that its own father
oes not recognize it. The bills which
ave found early graves among the
archives of committee rooms are legion,
md with them have often persisted the
$pes of embryo statesmen, and the un-
unded faith of admiring constituents.
Int hope springs eternal in the human
east, and as often in the case of the
ut child that is laid to rest amid the
sses of June, when according to all
lie canons of optimism and benefcent
" tovidence it should have lived on to
adden the hearts of its adult worship
rs, grief over the death of first leg
lslative offspring is soon assuaged by
the fame success and influence of its
successors.
Apropos The foregoing the bill recent
ly introduced by Congressman Hepburn
which it was rumored would be report
ed to the House last:week. was defeated
in the Committee on Interstate and
Foreign Commerce, to which it had
been referred. In It's place the Com
mittee reported the Esch Townsend
Bill, which ia in substance the Hepburn
Bill shoan of certain features which are
considered Objectionable by representa-
ssss'.ses of the shipping interests. There
-+4~sL
men to go| slow in this matter in
shat whatever legislation is en-
a. be- immune to constitution IL
8. such as would cripple the
deprive it of the desired effect
q overlook the Cullom Bill of
Itch the Supreme Court in 1897
unconstitutional to the extent
Il did not authorize the substitu-
Just, the Commission on Interstate
nlng,rce, created by the bill, of a rate
me of the one which it might de-
Excessive. 1t is proposed by most
ieaJs bills introduced al this session Of
s;ress to iothe the Commission with
Ser to declare rate which shall pre-
\ until it is over-ruled by a special
1t, created by the bill for the pur
sa of passing upoa questions of the
asonableness of rates. This is prac
l~-.Sscal and tangible problem, and the in
dividuals almost universally seem to
have grappled with it in their own pc.
lrs = p Ii. H. II