The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-07
InattsntIOn and Talking Due 10
Overcoming.
POWER IS CONCENTRATED.
Not so Out of 400 Members Seem to
Have lnterest-Rody Has Had Too
Many Members For Twenty Years.
Champ Clark Used to seoId the
Legislators For lnattention.
BY ARTHUR W. DUNN.

Champ Clark scolded the house u
great deal during Ills two yours serI-
ice as speaker. principally, on account
Of the disorder which prevailed, due tO
the fact that members kept up Il run
ming fire of conversation among them
selves IL they were not particularly
interested in the business before the
house. For the most purt not more
than so Of the nearly 400 members
ever seemed to care what was go
ing on.
Another reason for the seedlings was
the fact that members would not stly
III the house. and much time was con-
sumeh in calling tile roll, to keep 81
quorum present. at any time II man
could get up and make the point Of no
quorum, compelling a count, and II,
there were not 200 members in sight
the roll had to be called.
Where the Fault Lies.
Champ Clark and Leader Under
wood may look back and recall that
when they forced through an increase
in the number Of members Of the
house they contributed to the very
conditions which prevailed during the
congress Just closed. The house is too
large. It has been too large for nearly
twenty years.
II has lost its effectiveness. 1t has
concentrated the power in few men.
The others do not care much about
what happens as long as they keep
their records straight on most ques-
lions and get through their local meas
urcs. Until there is a reduction in the
membership OF the house there will
still be great disorder and lack of ut
tendance.
Cause Of Absences.
The house Office building is one OF
the most prominent causes of absences
Members tire of dreary talk, which
amounts to very little, aud go to their
offices. They stay there, and the quo
rum disappears. One can't blame
them, for the business Of the house Is
In the hands of a few lenders who are
ragged by rather lightweight states
men making regulations for themselves
in cndeavoring to establish economy
records, Under such circumstances the
majority retires, and when some man
gets angry because he loses his point
he makes the point Of no quorum. and
the roll must be called, taking up hall
an hour
Holding Up the Majority
The close Of the three months short
session shows the same traits of hui
man nature and the same lack in our
governmental machinery. In the house
the rules are such as to finally grind
out results, but the senate showed that
one man could say. "Give me what |
want or will force this bill over to
the extra session"
Many senators availed themselves OF
their power to talk and defeat the sup
ply bills and secured action on mems
ures that would have been lost. There
was no real necessity for passing all
the appropriation bills. because they
couId have been considered in the OK
trn session, but the desire to get them
through made the managers consent to
the various "holdups" Of the closing
days.
IJnderwood's REGARD For Clark.
"No man on this flo has a higher
regard for the speaker than myself
dramatically declared Leader Under
wood Il few days before the adjourn
mcnt.
III he Ind thought of that" said n
man in the press gallery, "at one psy-
Geological moment during the BaIti'
more convention he would have made
Champ Clark president"
But it was Just ut that moment that
Underwood thought the tide was rum
ming his way.
Congressional Death Rate.
It was j. Hampton Moore who
thought that he had discovered why
there were so many funeral occasions
in the sixty-second congress. and in
set Of resolutions the member OF
Philadelphia attributed 1t to the poor
ventilation OF the house. Perhaps
there may be something in the suggcs'
ton, but most Of the men were not
very regular attendants upon the SEES
slons of the house.
Several of them were rather old In
years, and others died on account OF
causes which could in no sense be at
tributed to services in the house. But
every person about the capitol will APP
prove the efforts of Moore.
Professional Contestants.
Men who contest congressional seats
ore generally allowed $1,000 as attor.