Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1907-09-06
HON. J. N. NELSON
DELIVERS SPEECH
CONGRESSMAN SPOKE AT WA
TERLOO YESTERDAY.
On the Occasion of Dedication of
New Pdrk-GiVG Impression of
Affairs in HOuSe-OutlineS Pol
icy and Tells of Record.
tFrom Thursdays DaiIyJ

oiotiiAts wac LiiC pl Op~ohNi a.
Waterloo yesterday on the occasion of
the dedication of the new park there.
Mr.. Nelson took for his subject "The
Congress OF the United States and its
Work, - the same being in the nature
of an answer to the frequent query
propounded to the new congressman:
"How did you find things in Con-
gress?' He also took occasion to
defend himself on several matters
of importance and an give outline of his
policy. Reference was made to the
long previous training that is necessary
to command force and power in the
halls of congress. He prefaced his
remarks III the following words:
"Now what new member will
find in congress will largely depend
upon what he brings with him. If
he comes equipped with the seeing eye,
informed mind, the habit of study
the love Of labor, the purpose to
be right a.d to do right, he will
fnd in it field fertile with oppor-
tunIty for service to the people of
the district and to the country at
LARGE
The speaker then dwelt upon the
value of personal experience, adding
''Was disappointed in what | saw
Not exactly, but [ was surprised IN
many ways, | thought | had pretty
clear previous conception of congre IS
and the things that might be expected
to, be met with there, but how far
different is the reality from the picture
one forms beforehand.
After dwelling upon the uniform
courtesy between members and the
rules of congress the speaker then
made the surprising statement that 8
new member has no right to in
itiate legislation, explaining the same
as follows:
''Thls is a startling statement, but
it is true. The new member NAV
have come with some public bill in
his pocket that he wishes to pass, some
measure that he regards of great
public benefit. He may introduce the
bill, i. e. file it with the speaker,
but he will have no knowledge or con
troll over the reference Of that bill.
The speaker will refer it as he sees
fit. 1t will go to some committee,
and there its chance OF resurrection is
one IN ten thousand. However, let us
has friends on the committee, and
that the speaker does not interfere
to keep the bill down. He may get
it reported to the House, and placed
on calendar. Now the speaker is
in full control uf it's fate. 1t can only
be called up with the speakers con-
sent, for the speaker not only controls
the fate of the bill through the con-
troll of the floor, but, as the charm
of the committee of rules, he also
controls the order of business. Surely
the people ought to know that the
right TO initiate Legislation no longer
remains with the members, but rests
in the favor of the speaker.
Let me give you two illustrations
OF this power. Under Speaker Reed
it was desired by majority of the
members of his party to take up leg
islation with reference to the Panama
Canal. In fact, petition was handed
him signed by an overwhelming ma
Jority. But Speaper Reed ''stood
pat"
There has been a growing senti-
ment IN congress for revision of tariff.
Memorials have been received from
state legislatures. Last session this
sentiment cIystallzed. Congressman
Cooper circulated a petition among
congressman for immediate revision.
My name is fourth on that list. But
Speaker Cannon "stood pat" as to
tariff legislation. =
The right of new member to the
floor and the right to vote was ex-
planned, leading into the subject of
lone man power" going to prove the
growth and power of the speaker en-
abled through appointment of COM
mittees and the rules of the house.
The necessity of study and investIga-
tion was brought out by Mr.. Nelson
in very able manner and the fact
that the strenuous work demands
young men. Reference was made
to private interests vs. public good,
going to show that a member must be
honest, watchful and we'll informed;
that he must be steadfast and I'M
selfish in order to give faithful ser
vice to the people of his district and
to the country at large.
3 Conscience VS.. organization was one
of the points of Mr.. Nelson remarks
which he dwelt upon. The ship
subsidy, the sixteen hour bill and the
Aldrich currency bill. In the first
instance he said:
81 could not justify voting a subsidy
of millions of dollars TO shipping
trusts, under the guise of mail sub
ventions; for cloak it as you will,
in the end | be lIe7c, some shipping
trust would get the money. Hence
| voted mo on every proposition.
In referring to the sixteen bIur
railway bill he asid: Il vote: with