The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1909-03-09
1t o ARE WORTH ONE CENT YOU OUGHT TO KlCk
ON A SlXTEtN SECOND CONGRESS

For about 10 seconds once In two years these United
States Of America have the house OF representatives which the
constitution calls for. and YOU, dear friend aud brother, have al
congressman.
You elect your congressman for two years. You pay him
$1,000 for his TERMS work lie serves you 10 seconds or
Whereabouts, and then-poua, your congressman is gone and
there is nothing left but the long black coat. the serious mien.
the Staooa-year private secretary, the place on the pay roll and
the mileage For legislative purposes your congressman is a
cipher during the remaining one year Sol days. . hours and
~ seconds Of his $1,000 term.
Each Of US has an interest in ono Of these chaps. and SO we
ought to know about these 10 Cor iessl seconds, which cost us
about $o2S each.
On the 18th OF March. at about ?. m, Washington D. CD
time. if You feel "a cold chill down your pine you may know that
the 10 seconds are passing For that IS the day.
Once each two years a new congress is organized. The
new members are sworn in. Then after a speaker Is elected and
some other business transacted a chap gets up and says
4 move that the house proceed to do business under the
rules of the preceding congress"
Uncle Joe will hit the table a crack with tho gavel, and
unless they do differently this year. the motion will pass-aud
the voting on that motion will be the i'rst. last and only free act
and deed Of that congress during is two years OF IFS.
The sixteen seconds are over.
The rest Of the time the house will do exactly what the
speaker orders or Permits-no more and no less. No bin can be
considered. no committee can report. nothing can be voted or.
Or debated, except What the speaker and his committee on rules
may choose.
Now you, M. Citizen. value your opinions pretty fairly
well, don't youF
You like TO have folks listen when you start on, TO save
The country" don't you2
Is your citizenship worth a cent?
Is your patriotism as big as a penny
Is your public interest unseiish enough to be measured by
lcopper coina
III not. You better join the suirage,s-and just talk.
But for one cent You can buy a postal card. and in one min
ute you can address il to your congressman and say. Vote TO
shange the rules: let the house name its own committees"
Then sign your name and address-be sure to do this-and
mail n 50 it viii reach Washington two or three days before
March Is
On March Is, IL your congressman Is less afraid OF the
speaker than he is o. you and your fellow voters. he can refuse
10 proceed under the rules II the last house"
Ii the house has sense enough 10 elect a good speaker. can't
II also be trusted TO name It's own committees,
Now. Uncle Joe and his people were a little scared. and they
have fooled Tor 1t is charitable TO put il SOP eight OF the pro-
testing Republican congressman. As matters stood there we're
enough rebels 10 end the ear rule. and then a calendar Tues
day" was granted as a great concession
Up to now nobody can call up a bill. Tor consideration.
Under the new rule. once a wek a member will be permitted
to call up a bit for debate and vote. but only il i has been
favorably acted upon BY a committee.
And the speaker continues to name the committees. so that
your cougressrnan's pet measure will be a. dead a. Ramcscs so
long A. the committee refuses to consider 1t iavorabIy.
Some lO0O0-probably morc-pcople arc going 70 write
their congressman about il IN response To a campaign wagcd by
the big magazine Success" You will be in good company III
ron join the movement.
Mind You. the issue is, Shall wc have a i6-second congress
Or a two-year congress-
Write your congressman and say. Let the house name It's
ywn committees"