The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-28
CONGRESSMEN HAVE BEEN RUB
BER STAMPS, MURDOCH SAYS
MAKE MEMBERS THINK.
THREE GREAT DEVELOPMENTS.
Members Have Been Expected to Vote
slindIy With the chairman-The
House Will Take the Responsibility
When II Elects Its Committees.

New York, Sept. 27.-The need of
completing the reorganization of the
house by taking away from the speak
er the power to appoint committees is
urged by Representative Victor Muir
dock of Kansas in the current issue
of the Independent.
This means" Mr.. Murdock says, "A
change in system. | do not believe
there are many who see how FAR
reaching that change may be. Consid-
er. in this connection, the mental ata-
tued of the American citizen toward
the house during the last ten years.
The citizen has come to regard as
normal congressional obstruction ana
delay of needed LEGISLATION and this
has usually been accompanied in MIN
by a disbelief in the adequacy OF the
desired law when finally enacted after
long postponement.
For instance, the desired changes IN
the Railroad Rate Law of 1889, changes
made necessary by court decision In
1897 were reported out of committee
in 1903. were enacted into law in 1903,
but were made measurably effective
. finally in 1910. Popular disbelief in
the adequacy of major laws, popular
doubt of the willingness of congress
to pass effective law, has naturally
, bred a conviction among many that
congress is naturally not responsive to
. public opinion, and that, consequently,
, any major action by congress must be
: forced not merely by means Of agita-
ton. but by prolonged and mayhap
threatening agitation. Now, as the
house and senate have lost in popular
L. confiendce, the executive branch oil
government has gaineu in it, and presi
, dents, conforming to the situation,
, yeer away from the constitutional
function of advising with congress,
, with a legislative program which an
, aroused and sympathetic public opinion
demands shall be carried out.
A change in the system, the com
, pletion of the task of eliminating Can
nonism begun at the last session OF
congress, will bring the opportunity
for three great developments.
"First-A restoration to congress OF
, the normal faculty of representative
body to respond promptly TO the de-
{ mands of an informed and righteous
public opinion.
f "Second-A return of power and
prestige to congress as one of the
three coordinate branches of the gov.
ernment.
"Third-The development Of new
type of congressman, who will insist
upon effective legislative action and
will fully assume individual responst
, bi'ity for legislation.
"All three of these changes are re
lated directly to the method of ap
pointing committees in the house.
None of the changes will have full op
, portunity of development II speakers
continue to appoint committees. All
three changes, in some degree, VIII
come advantageously into the life OF
the nation. if the house appoints It's
l g,,,.. a.,,,,ittnac
Mr.. Murdoch points out that under
the houses old military orsanization
with the committee chairmen, the
speakers leutenants, members were
always expected TO vote with the
committee" This resulted IN members
giving no attention 10 legislation.
"a change in the system" he says,
will be revolutionary in mental meth
ods In congress. Debate, which has
languished, Will take on new life and
Interest; issues which, for political
safety. have been made purposely com
plex and difficult in the past, will be
simplifed and clarified; legislation, as
the Joint product Of scores of studious
members, not following the direction
Of a reluctant machine, but working
willingly, in the spirit Of construction,
with information and under a sense
OF individual responsibility-such leg
islatlon will be adequate and efec'
tive"