The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-03-23

Take Judge CndrleS w. CrlSp, oI
the Third Georgia. Did it ever occur
to YOU that Judge Crisp is the only
member of congress from the states
of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida,
| Alabama and Louisiana on the
WAYS and means committee, the most
nowerful committee in the house, and
the committee on committees? And
did il ever occur to you that in this |!
one fact Georgia has an asset the loss
of which would be blow that a
generation, in the passing of time,
might not remedy? To get on the |
WAYS and means committee is an hon.
mr. that few members attain. 1t is |
privilege that many seek but few |
eniov. It is a positive of advantage
in legislative influence that state is
fortunate to have, and to lose 1t, when
| gained, is little short OF calamity.
am speaking plainly, and without the
slightest purpose to embarrass the
ambitions of any man. am speak
ing for Georgia and the interest OF
the voters generally.
Let me tell you of one little in
stance in this ways and means com
mittee business. Fordney has bill
before it to tax potash $3.50 unit IN
the interest of Nebraska and Califor-
MIA potash producers. Every Georgia
farmer knows what such bill means
to him. Crisp, as a member OF that
committee, has led the fight to pre-
vent the bill from being reported out,
and although Fordney is the chair
man of the committee, and it is re-
publican controlled, Crisp has so far
| prevented any favorable report. The |
| bill is pending; the fight is on; Crisp
has so far won. What suicidal pol
lev it would be to take this man, as
an illustration, out of position where
| he means millions of dollars to the
farmers of the south by remaining
there.
While | am talking about Crisp l
want to tell you something else about
him. although l went into this story
only to discuss the advantages to
state of seniority influence IN con-
| gress-
He was the author of the bill to
make the salary of the president, su-
irene court justices and all federal
| i11dges, cabinet officers and members
of congress subject to the income tax
the same as people in private life pay.
He led the committee fight and also
the house fight for the measure which
| is now a law, and it is monument to
his fairness that will stand immortal.
Something else
Crisp is the best parliamentarian
in congress. Everybody, even the re
publicans, concede that, and knowl-
edge of parliamentary law is most
deadly weapon in the house.
In 1917 and 1918, the farmers OF
the west, on account of the prices OF
their wheat and other products being
fixed, demanded that a price be tlXed
on cotton. There was bitter feeling
in the house among the northern dem
ocrats and republicans on this ques-
ton. On May 81, 1917, Mr. Moore,
of Pennsylvania, offered an amend
ment to the revenue bill to put tax
| of $3.50 a bale on cotton. 1t was
feared by the southern men that II 1t
reached a vote it would be adopted.
Crisp made a point OF order against
the amendment, argued 1t and sue
ceeded in keeping the amendment
from coming to a vote, and thus de
feated the tax. This is confirmed ~
reference to vol So, part 3, p age
1864. 61st congress, first session.
Again. on September II, 1918, ME-,
! Moore offered an amendment to tbs
new revenue bill to tax cotton S3
bale. Crisp again succeeded in de-
feating it by making point of order
against it. See vol. Sc, page 1O5O9,
65th congress, second session.
When these things are taken into
consideration. | am frank to say the
people of the Third district in Georgia
will be slow to letting a man OF
! Crisp's asset value to his district, the
state and the south, go out OF con-
gress.
have mentioned only the older
members of the Georgia legislation
in point of service-to illustrate my
argument for the value OF seniority.
Most of the delegation are younger IN
service but they are climbing, and
hold positions now that new men
would necessarily have long pulls to
/ attain.
] Take Judge Brand, of the Eighth.
He is a member of two of the most
powerful committees in the house,
put there by his peculiar ability;
They are banking and currency and
education. His defeat would mean
Georgia losing place on both OF
these committees. Would that be
good for Georgia?
l hardly think so!