New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17

q.
sons prospects for this cherished American
institution. Every one knows, Of course in
general way, that a committee has been an.
pointed to report, on expert statistical eyi.
dence. that the cost Of living is high, and even
the most uninitated realize how bitter party
feeling will run on the proposed radical legis
lation for a two-and-a-half cent piece. b.,
the snuous inside workings, the political aby.
rinths that must be threaded for a clear IN.
sight into the days news--of these things the
layman is wofuly innocent. While am no,
myself expert, ! feel peculiarly qualified %
draw the wells from the most secret counsels
of the nation. have been re-reading The
Congressional Record" and have been going
over with great care the letters our Congress.
man sends me from time to time,
All know about the great dongs in Wash.
ington learn entirely from the personal at.
tentions of the Representative from my dis.
trict. He writes in a spirit Of friendly conh.
dence vast national secrets that | might yea
lifetime and never know. Besides which he
sends me back numbers of "The Congressional
Record free Of charge, in which find many
SURPRISING lltIUo bioS AANfNA N~NtaA ~ ~ le-
ported in any other publication. It's very de-
cent of him. for if it weren't for his ministra.
tons | should miss all the important proceed.
ings of the season. There are committees Of
which he has been chairman that never re,
into the papers; he attends meetings Of such
crucial character that the President evidently
thinks it better for the public not to be told
about it just yet. Some of the speeches that
he makes take up reams and reams in "The
Congressional Record" and provoke, in pa
rentheses at the end Of every paragraph (pro-
longed Iaugbtcr and opplause)
In the first place, it must be pointed out, il
my Congressman is at all typical, that the
fathers at Washington undertake too MUCK
Consider my Representative. Not only does
he watch with unfaltering devotion the inter.
ests of the district-never was shepherd or
his secretary more careful Of his lock-but be
looks with cosmc vision beyond the lampposts
that bound his constituent lambs. He prom
ised his district just two or three weeks agc
that despite the petty worries Of rivers and
harbors, eggs and railroads, he would never
forget the principles of
(a) American freedom,
(b) Humanity,
(c) Eternal Justice.
He would continue, as ever, TO battle for the
right as he saw it, whatever his chances Of re.
election. Inclosed his district would please
find speech about the conditions Of the nax
tive population in Patagonia,
This speech is good example, not only Of
my Congressman's eloquence, but Of the whole
temper of the House. 1t shows the great, deep
heart of America triumphing over the post
office appropriations and ringing with splen
did challenges. II quotes feelingy from The
Gettysburg Address, Burkes Reflections on
the French Revolution, the State Archives and
the collected works of Felicia Hemans. l.
moves richly and variousy from puncture 70
puncture of laughter and applause. There
are, it is true moments in it when, had been
present, l should have wept, but in the gal
eries of Congress and in the Government
Printing Office one can only laugh or applaud
Out of sense Of decorum one restraints ones
tears.
My Congressman never promised new SUD
treasures in his little notes, but trust him in
plictly, and know that the leaders can depend
on him in a critical juncture A man who has
vision enough to sense the needs Of the peops
in Patagonia will not be blind 10 the aesthetic
demands of the folks in his own district.
Some Congressman less gifted than my Rep
resentative, lacking the initiative TO introduo
bills, only make motions; there are one or Two
who specialize on motions for rollcal!s, ana
some who dedicate thensel 10 the vital task
of making motions to adjourn. One lawmaks
hopes to make a reputation among his con-
stituents this session by adhering Loyalty m'
political doctrine which has not OF late year
received much editorial attention. This ksp
resentative will, it appears, steadfastly ma"
motions for recess and adjournment; and whN
he expects considerable opposition from US
conservative wings of both parties he fes'
sure that the radicals will sympathize with nS
plans
All these Paramount Issues threaten
crowd out the persistent evils that cal "
remedy. Buried in the back numbers OF INV
Congressional Record" are the urgent bills lot
the widows of the veterans Of the Second sel
mole Indian War. There are thousands y"
postoffices crying 70 be built, and wnoie ~
sion ought to be devoted TO the report Oh y.
Committee on Mileage which threatens III "
minds of some Congressman to eclipse s'
trifes as railway legislation and the e0''
food.
My Representative assures me that a. -.
nority member of the Sub Committee o. '~
Committee on the Disposal Of Useless -