The Penn's Grove record., 1911-02-24

Clark is never boastful-that he was
the man who unified the Democrats In
the house, found a p%rodigious majority
Of them against him. The Democratic
party from top to bottom is against a
tariff commission. It looks upon a
commission as a mere device to post
pone tariff legislation, a cheap plan
inaugurated by the enemies OF imme-
date tariff reform to put. of to the
last possible moment legislation for
which the people as a whole are cry
ing. Any tariff commission created
by this congress will be appointed by
William H. Taft, a pronounced protec-
ZIONIST. Under the resolution essen
TALLY an ex-parte commission. Or to
put it in language more understand
able by the whole people, a packed
commission. The president would De
more than human If he did not select
for that commission men wholly !
accord with his w political IDEAS.
True the bill provides that he shall
appoint two members OF b minority
party-the Democracy. But there are
Democrats and Democrats-and then
some other Democrats! When the
president selected his cabinet officers
and advisers there was much TODD
made about the choice of Dickinson
for secretary of war, and MacVeagh
for secretary of the treasury. Both
were. labelled Democrats, though 1t
had been many years since either a
voted a Democratic ticket. At a meet
ing of the National Press ] not
long ago Secretary MacVeagh de-
voted his entire time to a political
eulogy of President Taft, although the
custom of the club is to avoid any
sort of political discussion. Gov.
Woodrow Wilson was present n
spoke at some length. but although
himself a big figure in the eye of the
American people and the Democratic
party, said not one word which could
be construed as partisan. But the
presidential appointee is always par
tisan and, like the OK, knows his mas
ter's crib. So, too, in all probability
would be the members of any partisan
tariff commission.
Caucus Action Criticized.
The determination of the Repub-
lican caucus the other night to
hold down the number of repre-
~sentatives in congress to be pro-
vided for under the recent census
to 391-the exact number provided
for under the census of 1900-is hard
ly likely to be put through the house
except after ome rather vigorous
comment and criticism. In it's favor
is set up the basic proposition that
there are too many congressman al
ready. That might be answered fair
ly by the assertion that there are too
many of some sorts and not enough of
others.
Congressman Who Actually Work.
There are too many loafng con-
gressmen and not enough workers like
Mann of illinois with few of whose
views I agree, or Underwood OF Ala
bama. These men-and a score of
others on each side politically of
the chamber-work. They are forced
to work the harder because there are
so many lesser figures who do little
or nothing except talk politics. Men
of the Mann and Underwood type
would be welcomed to the service of
great industrial corporations at five
times their present salaries. But pub
lie life has it's charms and Its COM
pensations. Neither Of these men has
enriched himself by public service;
each has to fight for his political life
every two years. Yet both stand
stoutly by their guns, battling for an
tagonistic causes, but seeking the
common good.
House Membership Relatively Small.
1t is not the numbers, but the sort
of representatives in congress that is
important. The Republican caucus
was very apprehensive that a larger
house would mean more disorder,
more difficulty on the part of the
speaker to maintain control. In an
earlier letter / pointed out that among
the great nations of the earth u ma
tional legislature is n of the small
est. It is smaller than the British
House of Commons, and when the
population of the respective countries
is considered 1t is smaller than the
legislatures of Germany, France or
Austria Hungary. It's turbulence is not
due to it's size, but to its furniture.
That seems rather a flippant state
ment, but If the plan to decrease the
size of the chamber were adopted,
take out the desks and substitute
benches as in the English House Of
Commons, eliminate the aisles which
serve for loafing spots and noisy con-
yersation, and furnish ample writing
and smoking rooms within prompt call
of those who stay in the hall for bust
ness strictly, there would be room
enough and better order.
Proposed Limitation Works Injustice.
The real injustice of the Republican
caucus plan for holding the house
down to it's present number is that it
denies to growing states their right
full increase in representation in the
congress, and actually deprives some
states that have stood still, or not
made an increase in population COM
mensurate with the general increase,
Of some Of their present repre-
sentatives. If the caucus resolu-
ton presented by Mr.. Campbell
is enacted into law, Missouri
will lose two congressman; ILL
nois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska,
North Carolina, Ohio. Tennessee, Vir-
ginia and Wisconsin, one each. 1t
| will not be overlooked that with the
exception of one state all these com
monwealths elected last November in
creased Democratic delegations to
congress-. Under Mr.. Crumpacker's
bill, and this gentleman is a very
loyal Republican in a state which left
him alone as it's Republican repre-
sentative, New York would gain 6,
Pennsylvania 4, California and Okla
L1-co o T1fi-@fc Hoccoohy,cnffc Nov,