Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-14

In his maiden speech in the Senate
Senator Mclean of Connecticut this aft
ernoon mildly criticised the rule OF
courtesy which, he said, characteriZes
the deliberations of the upper house OF
Congress
Il have been member of the Senate
for nearly two years. he said. land
have been profoundly impressed with the
spirit of courtesy which governs its de-
liberations. j do not say that 1 have ever
seen the spirit abused, but it is my be-
lief that the people are not interested as
much in this time-honored and chival-
rous consideration of our individual inn
portance as they are in securing wise and
timely action on matters which concern
the general welfare
Senator Mclean referred to the wide
spread dissatisfaction which he said no
one could deny is found with the fruits of
representative government as it opera tes
today.
rs it the violin or the violinist that
causes the discord?'' he commented. HAS
the representative system failed or have
we failed to understand how to apply ii?
people can come for remedial legislation
affecting the general welfare. We spea:.
and act for them by their direction and
with their consent. We may hold with
Burke that it is our judgment and not
theirs that will best conserve the inter-
ests of the people. We may insist that
We are chosen because of our superior
knowledge and experience in legislat tive
matters. and it is therefore our duty to
resist the unwise demands of the people
as a physician would resist the use of
Injurious drugs, although demanded by
his patient.
Geared to Run Slowly.
L know that the congressional machine
is geared to run slowly and that for the
best of reasons. The 10000 or more bills
now pending in Congress present hun
dreds of thousands of questions Many of
these questions cannot be answered in
the affirmative: many of them ought not
to be answered at all The people under
stand this just as well as we do. They
know that Congress is a mill to which
chan is brought in much larger quantities
than grain. but they expect us to re-
| turn to them the best that is possible
under the circumstances They do not
want the mill to stop or account of the
chan. 1t is therefore my opinion that
when measure of great public interest
has been carefully considered by COM
mittee and reported back to this body
with the recommendation that the meas s.
ure be favorably acted upon it should be
acted upon within a reasonable time
The main part of Senator Mclean
speech consisted of arguments i'm behalf
of the passage by Congress of his bill. al
ready approved by the Senate committee
on forest reservations and protection OF
game for the protection of migratory and
insectiverous birds. He read to the Sen
ate many statements from experts tt
show the widespread devastation of crops
caused by insects and asserting that birds
which this bill seeks to protect are the
greatest enemies of these destructive
pests.
A federal Law for the protection oi
birds. he maintained, is constitutional
Its constitutionality is determined not Sc
much by the power of Congress to regu
late interstate commerce as in the power
to provide for the common defense anC
promote the general welfare.
Menace to Vegetation.
IF the destruction caused by insects
should increase during the next twenty
years as rapidly as it has increased since
| 1895. he said. cit is urged that we may
| well reach a condition so desperate that
the protection of the nation against in
| sects will be as necessary and lust fiabl.
| as is now the protection of the people
against contagious diseases and hostil,
| fleets. Congress Is today spending
| millions of dollars annually in ineffective
! efforts to protect certain portions of thu
| CouHtES the fdNdStS OF the army
worm, boil weevil. gypsy moth and Sc
| forth. No one will question the wisdom
or legitimacy of these appropriations. Ii
! federal aid can be invoked to RESTRAIN
! the ravases of migratory insects it j:
| asserted that Congress must have au
| thority to use any and all legitimat Il
| means to destroy insects more effectively
and at less expense than any other in
| strument which ii is possible for the gov
| eminent to employ. Would such pro
| lection on the part of Congress be any
| further from the anticipations of tn,
| founders than scores of other laws nov
| in force? For instance, than the law:
which defend and protect the youth o
| the country against the cOntaminatn.
| influence of unwholesome literature tn,
! authority for which is found i'm the powe
i TO establish post offices and post roads q
| Senator Mclean urged that each indi
/ vidual state has a right to expect tn,
| federal government TO protect the migra
! tory birds as a common defense agans
| crop-destroying insects. 1t is not pos
| sible for each state separately TO max.
proper protection. he urged, and there
! fore the nation must take a hand an,
! enforce a long dormant right.