The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-19
CONFIDENCE OF AMERICAN PEo-
PIE HAS NOT BEEN Be
BRAYED BY CONGRESS-.
MANY LAWS or FAR-REAcHING
IMPORTANCE PLACED UPON
STATUTE BOOKS.
DEMOCRATS ASK VOTERS TO DE
eide WHETHER PRESIDENT
OR CONGRESS WAS
RIGHT.

That the pledges of the Democratic
party have been. entirely fulfilled, SO
far as could be done by Democratic
House Of Representatives having a
Republican Senate and a Republican
President to contend with, is appar-
ent from glance at the laws which
have been passed by the present Con
gress and the bills which have been
passed by the House Of Representa-.
tiyes only to be killed by the Senate
or vetoed by the President. Sum-
marizing the work of the present Con
gress, Representative John w. Davis,
Of the First West Virginia District,
on the final day of the recent session,
addressed the House, calling attention
to the large number of important
measures which had been acted upon
by Congress in fulfi1lment of party
pledges. Referring briefly to each Of
the more important general measures
passed, Mr. Davis said:
sMr. Speaker: fall of the
gaveI today will mark the end of the
first regular session Of the Sixty-sec-
ond Congress. 1t was convened in
special session on the 4th day of April,
1911, and sat until the 22nd day Of
August in that year, a total of 141
days. It's first regular session began
on the 4th day OF December, 1911, and
will close today on this 18th day of
August, a total of 267 days, or a grand
total Of the two sessions of 408 days.
Few Congresses in the history of the
Republic have been in more contin-
uous session, and believe it no ex-
hggeration to say that the body over
which you, Mr.. Speaker, preside, has
never been surpassed in an earnest
desire to carry out the will of the
people.
People to Pass on Record.
This House is composed at present
OF 394 members, Of which 230 are
Democrats, 1859 Republicans, 1 Inde-
pendent, Socialist and 8 vacancies
a Democratic majority Of &c. The
Senate, on the other hand, is com
posed Of SO members, of whom 81 are
Republicans, 43 are Democrats, and
2 vacancies. Yet, notwithstanding
this difference In the makeup of the
two Houses, many laws of far-reach-
ing import have been placed upon the
statute books, and but for the oppo-
sition of the Senate and the vetoes Of
the President, many more would have
been made effective. Within a short
time the people of the United States
will be called upon to pass Judgment
on the work of their servants. 1t
Is a wise provisio in our Federal Con-
stitution which calls for frequent ex-
pressions of the popular will. This
fall the people will determine whether
the work Of this House has been q
fulfillment of party promises; they
will decide as between the House and
the President, which has best reflect
ed the public will | believe their
judgment is already prepared and
awaits but the occasion for its ex-
preston.
I IF this Government is to be truly
representative, there can be no high.
er duty for any member of Congress
than to cultivate an intimate acquain-
lance with the desires and needs of
his constituency. He is their
Waterman on the tower an dthey
have the right to expect from him
not only faithful service, but from
time to time information on those
matters Of government affecting their
interests. / feel accordingly, Mr..
Speaker, that am Justified in enter
ing upon the Record summary of
the work of this Democratic House.
Such a summary must include both
measures enacted into law and those
which having passed the House were
halted by the Republican Senate or
vetoed by the President
"Cannonism" Abolished.
Under the first division the follow.
ing may be enumerated
Il The rules of the House of Rep
resentatives were revised and liberal
lied in the interest of free speech and
action on the part of the peoples
representatives Autocratic power
was taken from the Speaker, and
'Cannonism' is a thing of the past.
%. Useless employees kept on the
rolls of the House by political favorit
ism were dropped, and as an example
OF the economy which begins at home
(Continned on page %