Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-12
Member of The Associated Press
-GA5e
NOT PRESENT.


There Las been no statement from
Congressman Thomas j.. Scully as to
whether he intends TO become a candi-
date for reelection this fall or not.
If he finally decides to run it is evident
that he viii a a lot of explaining
to do. The people of the third con-
gressional district who have paid any
attention to affairs at Washington
have wondered whether they really
rave any representative in congress.
While IT is realized that the average
member Of congress does his most
effective work in the committee
rooms the fact remains hat a MEM
Der is expected to be recorded as vot-
Ing once in awhile.
Mr.. Scully has been VIGOROUSLY
absent from congress at roll calls and
when votes have been taken. Usually
he is found paired" with another
member. This means that he has made
his attitude on the question known
and has balanced his vote against an
other member who would vote on the
opposite side OF the question. These
votes thus cancel each other and with
1t so understood neither member at
tends when the vote is taken.
Mr.. Scully has the reputation of be-
ing absent more than any other New
Jersey congressman and 1t has even
been said that his record of absence
Is surpassed by but very few in the
whole congress.
While It is to be granted that a
congressman has his private business
to look after. and with congress In
almost continuous session 1t Is i'm
possible for a man to be on hand all
the time, still 1t would seem hat it
would be possible to maintain a better
average than Mr.. SculIy has especially
when tho salary of a congressman is
$500 a year.
1t Is significant that the represen-
tative from the third district is the
only New Jersey congressman who is
not classified as being for or against
organized labor, Decision of the Ameri-
can Federation officials to oppose all
candidates for public office who are
regarded as foes to organized b
has resulted In the opening of a cam
paign against seven New Jersey mem
bers of the House of Representatives.
The only member of the New Jersey
delegation who seems to be in lou
is Mr.. ScuIly. Those who have follow
ed Mr.. Scully's career at Washington
are not surprised to find that he Is
listed by organized labor as mot hav-
ing voted"
AS a matter OF fact. a careful ex-
animation of the Congressional
from the beginning OF the
second session of the Goth congress OF
ent time fails to find q single instance
when Mr.. Scully answered to his name
either at a roll cali or in a vote on
hills. We can't believe that Mr..
sculIy is kept so busy in his committee
room that he has not time to answer
TO q single roll opening day. An ex-
animation OF the Record for the pre-
s-sious session also shows Mr., Scully to
: &hs4almost continuously absent.
mssIt is all well enough to do committee
work, but tho folks back home like
10 see their representative on record
once in Il while and know that he puts
in at least soms OF his time on tina
floor Of the House participating in the
moking of the laws OF The nation.
In fact. we doubt very much if Mr..
Scully wants to be congressman. 1t
swell knows that two years ago
when the first result of the election
: was announced he was not inclined
10 make a contest until the EVENING
NEWS insisted on a recount, refusing
70 concede Mr.. Seully's defeat. His
-~1rontinued absence from the sessions OF
congress seems to bear out the I'M
preston hat Mr., scully lacks interest
in his political job. Under the cir
cumstances we hardly look for him to
~rek a reelection although his name
as always prominently mentioned in
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