Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-18
FEW SENATORS
HAND IN THEIR
RESERVATIONS
Senator SpOOner Is
an Exception
Instances Are Recorded Where Men
Elected to Congress Have Re-
tired with Fortunes All
but Gone

Special Correspondence OF The Herald.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March g.
The resignation Of Senator Spooner Of
wisconsin calls attention to how few
men sever their connection with that
body during their terms. It is nothing
unusual for a senator to decline
reelection, but seldom do they retire
with any part of their term to their
credit,
There have been a number Of such
instances, however, in the past, prob
ably more before the Civil war than
since. This is partly explained that
the position of a senator is growing
more and more attractive from the
standpoint of prestige and influence
It's membership increases very slowly
while the population of the country
its wealth and business are increasing
by leaps and bounds. The two SEN
ators from New York, for example,
represent about as many people as the
entire senate at its organization.
The designations at the outbreak of
the Civil war were the most dramatic
Next in public interest were those Of
Conkling and Platt. Since then only
few senators have resigned, except to
man, Blaine, Carlisle and others re-
signed to enter cabinets; Fairbanks re-
signed to become vice president. For
mer Senator Clark of Montana once
resigned, but as he was serving under
an appointment, the legality Of which
was questioned, that scarcely counts.
Why Burton Resigned
Former Senator Burton of Kansas
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1t is probable the late Senator Mitchell
of Oregon would also have resigned,
but leath claimed him first.
OF all the motives by which senators
have been actuated in resigning it is
not now recalled that any save Spoon
er have bluntly stated that they did
so to increase their income. That
designations are not more frequent on
this account speaks well for the men,
bership of the senate, for many Of
them are Door men.
Scarcely one could not increase his
income were he inclined, either by re-
turning to private life or by accepting
employment while in the senate. Yet
the senator who becomes wealthy while
in that body is the rare exception.
On the house side it will be remem-
bered that both Speaker Reed and
Speaker Henderson resigned to return
to the practice of law. Reed was not
losing much, if anything, as speaker,
but he was accommodating nothing.
During Henderson's four years as
speaker he spent probably $4,000 d
year more than his salary, which made
large inroads on his modest fortune
Both of them died within a few years
after their retirement and neither left
much of an estate.
A question of interest at this time
is whether former Senator Spooner will
join the lobby in Washington. One
would think that it would be regarded
as perfectly reputable for a former
senator or an eX-representative toI
practice before congress. Take Mr..
Spooner's case. He has been a dis
tinguished senator for years. He has
delved deeply into many national prob
lens and has elucidated' them before
his associates and the country at large.
Just why he. should be debarred from
appearing before committees of con-
gress and arguing case in behalf Of
his clients, merely because he was
paid to do so. does not appear any
from the bench, should be forbidden
to practice law in the courts. :
Yet, If Mr.. Spooner should attempt
to do so. he Will be subjected to all
manner of unfavorable criticism,
termed a lobbyist" and be ciassed
with former Senator Jones, former
Senator Thurston, former Senator
Faulkner and others, who represent
special interests here from time TO
time.
In this connection 1t is somewhat
remarkable that those who object to
lobbying" and encourage sensational
writers to infiame the country against
them never distinguish between those
who attempt to influence legislation in
an open and reputable manner and
those who pursue other tactics, ex-
cept to attack the reputable men and
let the others go free. For example,
Mr.. Faulkner never made any secret
of the fact that he was employed by
certain railroads when the railroad rate
bill was under consideration. He ap-
peared before committees, filed briefs,
presented and examined witnesses,
gave out interviews and compiled
statements which were presented to
members OF congress and to the public
in general.
On the other hand Judge Cowan of
Texas, quite as able an attorney as
Mr.. Faulkner, pursued the same course
as did Mr.. e. p Bacon of milwaukee,,
who represented hay and grain ship
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men.
Faulkner Denounced
Yet Senator Faulkner is called a
lobbyist" and denounced in unmeas-
ured terms, while no unfaVorable ref
erence is made to the others. 1t would
seem a fair proposition that the rail-
roads should be permitted to present
their case to the congress and to the
public in the same manner as the ship
pers of grain and cattle.
There is practically no subject Of
Importance before congress that is not
supported by some interests and OPP
posed by others. The pure food law
was headed by the department of agri-
culture and supported by associations
In all parts of the country, appealing
to the press in the most sensational
manner by eXtraVagant charges against
the manufacturers of food products.
The latter had millions of dollars In
vested In their business and they did
not wish to sit idly by while profess
sional agitators and sensation mongers
drove congress TO extreme legislation.
Consequently they appeared In person
and by attorneys; the subject was
threshed out for some years before
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