Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-04-13

ASSEM- lOudy OeudlOi W.iiou q
Frye Of Maine has a record for long
service. He came into the senate
on March Is, 1881, just little more
than 80 years ago; and before that
he had served five terms, or ten years
in the house of representatives. He
is now, therefore, in his forty-hrst
year of congressional service. His
late colleague, former Senator Hale
came to the senate just IL days
earlier, but was defeated by Green
hacker in 1873 and was out of con-
gress two years before he came 20
the senate. TIE had 40 full years Of
service.
Not reckoning continuous service,
is Senator Shelby M. Gallon Of ILL
nois the oldest veteran in congress
now. He has been in the senate con-
tinuously since 1888 and therefore
ranks next to Senator Frye as the
Oldest man in point Of service in that
body. But Senator Cullom has serv-
ed two terms in the lower house, the
first OF which began on March a.,
1865. He is the only man now On
that body when Lincoln was presi-
dent.
One feature of the new congress
meeting today is unique. Never be-
fore has the majority Of the lower
house had so few men of experience
as majority members. This result
from the fact that the democrats,
coming into power in the house have
been in the minority for 16 years
and that during that time nearly all
of their old time leaders have been
retired. Indeed in the republican land
slide of 1894 sent most of the old
5 time democrats into private life from
p which they have never returned
5 Three Oldest Democrats
= Only three Of the democrats OF the
. new house ever sat under the gave
= of a democratic speaker. OF these
t " lillian A. Jones of Virginia ranks
r first. he having had 20 years Of con
r tinuous service, two terms of which
S were under Speaker Vrisp. Thei
= comes Champ Clark, the new speake
r who has had 16 years Of broken ser
+ vice. one term of which was unde
n Crisp. TIE 80 er is ]. F. c. Talh 4
e of Maryland. who was in the hons
II awlv ba l. ~ the Csy' Of Spe2.ei
e Randall and Carlisle. and who cam
1 back to congress in 1903 after man
a years of retirement.
e But the unique fact is that not
o single members of the new democrat
, ic majority ever was chairman of
y committee; not a singl one ever pre-
o sided over committee of the whole
II or over the house in legislative SEES
sion; not single one ever was re
3 sponsible for the conduct of any i'm
e portant piece of legislation for tn
l. house. This results from the twin in
e fluences Of 16 years of minority an
the overthrow of the old order 1
l. the democratic party. Only once be
e fore in the history of the countr
y has the democratic party been out G
power so long. and that was fror
1859 to 1875, from the beginning {
the republican party's power unit
u the reaction following the civil va
Is But after that long period the den
lie ocrats sent many men to Washinl
ie ton who had wide experience in lel
islative affairs there in the old day
he of democratic ascendancy.
l. Even in the stress of the revolution
o. airy procedure by which the demo
Ell Gratis today organize the house,
I'd will be noticed that long servic
10 counts for more than anything eli
IS. in the distribution of committee pla
e' es and positions of Importance. TT
~ 1928 new representatives and the
te new senators who began their a
re tive congressional careers today mt
U.s. be the ablest set of men that ev
rd came to Washington, but they VI
n have very, very little opportunity
ID demonstrate their ability until thu
'ie heve added years to their equipmer
Ia Even in the face of the fact that {
the committees for the / 6 years ha
De- been appointed by republican spea
ne ers. the democratic committee
IN committees in all but very few
ne stances has followed the precedent
TIC seniority in nominating men for COZ
las mittee chalrmanships.
De In the house "a of the new repi
Ice sentatives are democrats while / 2
Use the new senators also belong to
democratic party. This does not ia
of into account the noesihie breaking