Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1912-10-03

A review of the Congressional Re
cord f-r the past few years shows
that ,n3 member of either branch oil
cong shas been more successful
than Senator Borah of Idaho in Sc
curing the enactment of legislation,
and important legislation at that.
Ird deed, a careful study of the record
fails to show that any senator or rep
resentative has passed as many i'm
portant bills and resolutions in late
years as has Senator Borah of Ida
no. His record is one of repeated
victories, many of them hard-fought
and achieved only with the greatest
difficulty.
Comment of Senators.
So successful has Senator Borah
been with his bills of late that it is
a matter OF comment among sena-
tors. Not long before adjournment,
one CT the senate leaders, who has
been in public life for nearly 80
years, remarked to some of his col
leagues that Senator Borah IS the
most successful man in charge of
bill that has been in the senate
since | have been member of that
body" And this was praise, indeed,
for that senator had served with
many of the biggest and mcst intlu-
eltial men OF the past generation.
+3enator Borah's success has been
due tc Sc eral causes. To begin with
he ha- always advocated legislation
that is Just and needed. Working in
a good and proper cause, he has
been untiring in his efforts, and has
concentrated his efforts On one
measure after another, never press
ing two big bills at the same time.
When he has worked his bills
through the senate, he has personal |
ly pursued them in the house when
ever they met with objection, and 4
he has succeeded not only in over |
coming the opposition of house men, |
bers, but frequently has overcome
opposition from the government bu- /
reaus and departments which repeat
edly have sought to defeat some
of his most important measures.
Labors for Country.
Senator Borah is one senator who
has not confined himself TO legisla-
ton affecting his own state. He has
labored in behalf of the entire west,
and in behalf of the entire country,
and his success is echoed I'M Presi' Z
dent Taft's speech Of acceptance. in
which he cites four of Rorah {
bills as distinct and notable achieve
mcnts. The president mentioned the
three-year homestead law, the child
ren's bureau law, the eight-hour law
and the law giving early patent to
homesteaders on government recla-
nation projects. Moreover. the pre-
gressiVe platform, adopted at Chi
cage. committed the new party to
three Borah measures, two on the
statute books, and one, the popular
election of senators amendment which
is now before. the states awaiting
ratification. The progressiyes spe iii /
oally endorsed the Borah children's
bureau law and his eighthour law.
ThT, fear Homestead Bill. a
From ts1western viewpoint, Sen
ator Borah's greatest achievement
was the Fassage this past session of
the thrse-year homestead law. which
Ros only met opposition in-the houses
/ Y from the interior department,
:, NeroElpanicn law, granting title to
on government pro /
jects, also passed this session over !
objection.
From n national standpoint Sena- Ii
tor Borah's creates achievement was I
the forcing through congress for the 4
first time of resolution submitting
to the states for ratification an I
amendment TO the federal constitution
providing for popular election of SEN
ators. For years and years efforts |
have been made, and by great men, 1
b get such resolution through /
congress. but it remained for Sena-
tor Borah to compel reluctant SEN /
ate to submit this amendment. and
the credit for that victory belongs to S
the junior senator from Idaho.
Helped Important Measures. /
Among the senator's other achieve S
lnents was the defeat last session of {
an Alaska government bill which
would have denied the people of q
Alaska any voice in their govern
ment. The defeat of that bill was
by the passage of another
bill giving them local self-goverument S
to large degree. Senator Borah (
Continued on page six)