The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-02-05
MEMBER OF CONGRESS
HON. BEN E. RUSSELL WRITES
az WHAT ONE SHOULD BE.
Former Representative of This Dis
.nic+ Tells of the Importance of
Having an Experienced and
Influential Man in
Washington.
Washington.

Washington
Hon. Ben. E. Russell OF BAN
nridqe. who ably represented the
second district in congress several
to,.o,s contributed an interesting ar
tio1a on "A Member of Congress" to
. recent issue of the cambridge
coarch Light. Mr. Russell said:
nThe office of member of congress
:. ono Of the most important and
honorable known to the laws of the
United States. With the exception
Of limited States senator, judge of
+bo suDreme court, cabinet office, and
,rasident it is the highest Office at
tainable in our republic. A member
of congress represents population
of 100000. He represents the peo-
nIn while the senator represents the
ctate All bills to appropriate money
must originate in the house OF rep
rosentatiyes; in other words they
must originate in that branch of con-
resents the people direct In 1904
congress was composed of 1856 rep
rasentatives, or members, and 80
senator's. In a body composed of
2S6 members the reader will APP
nreciate how faithful and alert a
congressman must be to have much
influence therein.
The duties of a congressman are
arduous and responsible. AS all
laws must be voted on by him it is
highly essential that he should be
LAWYER, and a good one. There is
hardly ever a measure before con-
gress but what contains a legal prop
0sition, and the member without le-
gal learning and experience finds
himself greatly handicapped and his
usefulness impaired. 1t is also nee
essary for a member to become per-
sonally acquainted with each of his
3S6 colleagues. 1t takes years to ac-
cOmplish this, however. This per-
sonal acquaintance enables a con-
gresham to do much more for his
state and his district than he could
do otherwise. Therefore it is fact
that the states which keep their
members in the longer always are
ahead of those which change them
often. This is but natural, as man
of experience can always do more
and greater things than those with
out it in any field of endeavor.
AS a rule it takes the new mem
Der a long time to learn how to get
along in this greatest of the world S
deliberative bodies Few men jump
into prominence as soon as they enter
congress. Of course there are many
exceptions to this rule. Robert
Toombs was one of the greatest OF
GeOTgians. He was a most accom-
plished scholar, a great lawyer ana
the most eloquent orator of his day.
He was a wonder and a genius. or
course he was not long in coming
to the front in congress. Ben Hill,
when he was elected representative,
was a leading figure in the house
the first day he took his seat. But
he had large legislative experience.
He had served in the state legisla-
ture and in the confederate congress.
He was a distinguished statesman,
famous lawyer and the most splen-
did orator Georgia ever produced.
Alexander H. Stephens was another
Georgian who went to the front IN
congress by leaps and bounds.
Toombs, Hill and Stephens!-that
great triumvirate of intellectual gl-
ants, Who, in these 'scandalous
times of small politicians and two by
four statesmen, would dare to COM
pare his abilities to theirs. The dies
used in moulding this great trlum-
yirate have long since been broken.
AS all cOngressmen cannot be ge-
muses. the intelligent, painstaklng
member can accomplish much in
long term of service. Look at Maine,
PENNSYLVANIA New York, Illinois
and Ohio Indeed, throughout the.
north it is the rule to keep. their
congressman in for long terms-and
they receive in return millions IN
benefits from the national govern
ment.
The salary of a congressman is
$500 per annum, and he is al
lowed 20 cents a mile each way, go
ing to or returning home from
Washington. There is also an allow
ance of 1925 a wear for stationery.