The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-17
In part Mir. Clark said:

In part MT. Clark Sald:
 < As 1 understand. 1t, this great and Important Congress is non-political body convened for the laudeble pur- pose of discussing non-political prob Slems with the intention of promoting the happiness, prosperity and comfort of tho American people; and God knows there are many far reaching questions affecting the public veal which human ingenuity has not been sufficient to twist into partisan poli- tics.
 T am aware that there is wide spread belief that the chief delight of the Congress of the United States is to flout public opinion. That may have possibly been true as to some Congresses, and may be true yet as to certain representatives,; but l take much pride in the fact that the chief delight of the House over which l have the honor to preside Is to ascer- tain and do the will of the people who elected us. Any other theory of action lin representative government is ab- solutely preposterous, if not criminal. Of course, there are some congress? men who are elected by predatory in- .terests and who serve them rather than the public, but I am happy in the belief that their number is dimin- ishing and will continue to diminish suntil they are reduced to the mini mum or rooted out entirely S4 Citizens Careful : At the present time the average cit izen is more carefully scrutinizing the votes of representatives and senators than ever before, which Is well, and are relegating the uhfaithfu1 and in- capable to the shades of private life, which is also well. Consequently pub lie men are growing more and more chary about running counter to public opinion and of ignoring any proper demand of the people. That this is a healthy state of affairs is the belief of every lover of our country and our kind and Is certain to have a whole some influence where it is most needed. '"Of course, in legislating we are hedged by the limitations of the constitution, and iii the matter of appropriations we must. to use a homely but sensible expression, cut the garment according to the cloth; that is, we must not, as wise men, per- init the disbursements of the government to exceed it's income except in the rare case of such dire necessity as preparation for war or the maintenance thereof. We cannot afford to impair the credit Of our government. now the best of all the nations of the earth. by constantly re- curing deficiencies. Already the expenses Of the government about equal it's reve- nues. Some of us are exercising our wits 4 and exerting our energies to cut down the disbursements of the government
 Economy
 q know that economy is one of. the driest of all subjects, but when I was q boy back in the hill country of Kentucky heard an old rough and ready country doctor say that the most sensitive nerve in the human anatomy is the nerve lead. ing to the pocketbook, and he was en- tirely correct. is
 without doubt there are cases in which new burdens might be assumed or old ones greatly enlarged advantageously by the federal government for the common good. such as public improvements of n necessary and enduring character. because we are building for the future as well as Tor the present, for our children and our children's children as We'll as for ourselves.
 .'I am in favor of developing all of our resources to the utmost. It is our duty and Il should be our pleasure so to do. By so doing, in a hundred years from now we would be easily first among the nati 3lis of the earth and the rest would be spramblng among themselves for sec- ond place; but nevertheless wise man looks before he jumps and is not fond os taking leap in the dark.
 The serious question in beginning new enterprises or in greatly ausmenting old ones is to devise ways and means to
 
 stated that the, disbursements of the fed eral government just about equal it's revo- nues. In fact, it is difficult to make bilckle and tongue meet at the end of 1 the year. ss.y ~ e5 ln z "Thcre are only three, ways known among men whereby the money need ed for new undertakings or for the enlargement of beneficial old ones can be obtained: By economy; by levy ing new taxes; by increasing the pub lie debt by borrowing money by a new Issue of bonds. It Is exceedingly gall ing to taxpayers to have their bur dens increased even if they are to be the benefciaries thereof. and it is very distasteful to members of Com gress to increase them. To issue bonds is simply to postpone the day of pay ment. TQ economize Is puzzling and difficult task.
 Tt goes without saying that of the three ways mentioned of obtaining the money needed for starting new enter prises or enlarging old ones, the most uesif .l,Ic way is tu economize if it be possible. Those of us charged with the responsibility In the House have beun carefully and prayerfully consid- eriug the subject. We concluded that economy like charity should begin at home. Consequently we topped of about 100 supernumerary and useless House officials, thereby saving to the treasury about $o00,00O per annum-a mere drop In the bucket ir is true, but nevertheless q beginning fin the dif- \ ficult but patriotic and Humanitarian work of economizing.
 Investigating Committees
 We elected two special Investigating committees. one on the sugar trust and