Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-08-28
Is Our Congress Overgrown and Undergrad?
Courage and Frankness Marx
The Budget Directors Character

culiar army OF ex-officials. pathetic group,
in Washington, known as the lame ducks"
II their party happens to be In power they
may be we'll taken care Of. In the majority
of cases they remain in Washington until
their ambition Is Slapped and they are willing
to accept almost any position which Will
keep them In Washington and save them
from the humiliation Of returning to
humble position at home.
With this probable fate attending MEM
bers, 1t is extremely natural that Congress
sional career no longer has the fascination
for able and forceful men it once had. Men
who have proved their capacity in. the
ordinary walks of life prefer to continue In
the pathways chosen, while those conscious
of their own ability are prone to listen to
the call of the financial and business world
rather than to take chances where the pit
falls are so numerous.
This Uncertainty Fills
Congress With Inferior Men
The result is that Congress Is icing filled
with men who have nothing to lose by COM
ing to Congress and with everything to
gain. The effect upon the personnel Is
plainly evident. A test of this can be made
by asking any person close to you to name
five members of Congress outside of the
delegation from his own State. In former
days men Of the breadth and depth of Nc
Kinley, Blaine, Springer, Garfield and Conk-
lin were proud to serve In the House. To-
day Theodore Burton of Ohio and Bourke
Cochran of New York probably most nearly
approach a national reputation.
Members Of Congress realize what is the
matter with their organization. They know
In their inner consciousness that 1t is this
falling off in quality which has enabled the
executive to encroach upon the legislative
branch Of the Government.
They are aware also that the remedy Is
within their own hands. They know that
the membership Of Congress should be re-
duced in number and that salaries should
be generously increased.
But the very realization of the falling off
in the character Of Congress makes mem
bers timid. From time to time by an indirect
method they vote themselves additional COM
pensation. This is done through increased
allowances for clerk hire, for postage or for
that mythical thing known as mileage"
Whenever the question is raised some
demagogic member. some individual who
would probably be overpaid If he received
half OF the salary now accorded Represen-
tatives, declares the people will not permit
members to vote themselves money, and the
Others who oppose increased salaries are
the few rich members, who habitually turn
their salary checks over to their secretaries
and feel remunerated by the distinction of
their position
The movement to increase the salaries of
members Of Congress. Representatives say.
cannot be led by members themselves. The
movement must be started back home by the
voters. who are really to blame for the
present situation.
The present Congress probably has a
higher degree Of average intelligence than
any recent Congress. But 1t is pitiably lack
ing in outstanding personalities. Its strong
men are already yielding to the lure of the
business world or are fretfully taking
thought of the morrow and of what it may
bring forth.
The tendency of the present situation IA
to bring about not only lowering of the
average Of ability. but 1t makes tinid Con-
gress and develops men who have not been
delivered from the fear Of political death.