Jefferson jimplecute. (Jefferson, Tex.) 1907-1926, 1913-01-09

Inc WnOle country is ADVISED
that sometime back, Congress
revolutionized it's long time pro
gram by taking from the Speaker
the power to appoint committees
and employees. The old custom
had grown so reprehensible by
trades and combines of various
sorts, that members Of Congress
felt that the body was degraded
and they themselves made re.
sponsible for the possibilities OF
engineering through commit
tees, unjustitied and unjustitiabl
legislation. In order to make an
end Of such disgraceful proceed.
ure, the members decided to as
sumo all responsibility for Sc
lectlng committees and employees
simply leaving the Speaker to
perform the legitimate duties OF
presiding officer. The testimony
of mem bers is to the effect that
the change has relieved Congress
of the odium growing out of the
old procedure, and has rendered
the Speaker powerless to domi-
nate legislation. ExSpe aker
Cannon,s Czarism forced the
the issue and the result more
than justified the revolution thst
came.
In the legislative Speakership
now on in Texas, it is said that
all sorts of combinations and
trades are being made in the
interest of man who stands in
with, not only the liquor ma
chine, but all other special sci
fish interests that want to get
measures through the Thirty
third Legislature. 1t is said that
the Craftsmanship of mittees,
clerkships and positions of steno-
graphers are being traded on in
order to put an anti in the Speak
er's chair. The statement that
this kind of thing has been going
on for years, is no justification
of it's dis creditable character.
Those representatives elect, who
engage in this kind of thing are
misrepresenting and discredit-
ing the people whom they rep
resent and the whole thing
ought to be stopped, by the leg
lature adopting the program
that is being carried out in Con
gress, with such eminent salts
faction.
OF course, when a representa-
tive trades his vote to candi.
date for Speaker, in constellation
of Craftsmanship for himself, a
clerkship or stenographer for
some relative or friend, he has
practically sold his vote so if he
had gotten 500 for it. The
whole thing is discreditable to
our law making body, and ought
to be mended without delay.
Likely, if it can be understood
in advance, that the legislature
will adopt the program indicated
it will result in electing Speak
er, man who represents the
sentiment of majority of white
Americans. This will mean the
election of an anti saloon man to
the Speakership.
The railroad interests have
given notice through the press
that it will seek certain legisla
lation at the hands of the new
Legislature. No man who is the
servant of this interest ought tC
be elected to the Speakership.
Railroad interests ought to be
treated right, as every just citi-
zen will agree, but they ought
not to be allowed to dominate the
legislature Of this State, any
more than the farmers, merch.
ants, bankers, or the liquor ma
chine should be allowed to do So
If the Legislature will take all
OF its business in it's own hands,
leaving the Speaker simply tC
preside over it's deliberations,
the result of it's coming session
will be more satisfactory thar
any in many years.
j. H. Gambrell, Supt.
Dallas, Texas.