The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-04-07
NATIONAL CAPITAL

IN congress or a senator is a saint
would have all these decisions dis
PEELED were he to witness the office
grabbing processes hat have been GO
ing on at the capital during the past
few weeks. There are Offices pro-
vided for all members, but of course
some are better than others. One
might suppose that the new members
would move into the Offices occupied
by retiring members, but that would
be a poor ~supposition. The retiring
members We're all freshmen at n
time. But in time they moved up
'front.' and when they were finally
elected to stay at home they had ac-
CURED the best office rooms on capital
hill. Their colleagues in congress-,
like those who seek dead mems shoes.
spoke for the Offices that were to
become vacant, and when the new
members came along early in March
they had to take what was left. One
might sympathize with them, but time
will even up all things, and the men
in the dark corners this year viii
move their belongings into the bright
spots after awhile.
AS the new men in the senate and
In the house get their meals warm
at their firesides they become asser-
tive. and when congress reconVeneS
next month some of the new senator's
will have speeches ready to deliver.
In the old days of "watchful wait
ing the new members were bluifed
into the belief that they must stop,
look and listen for at least the first
session. But when Beveridge and Cum
Minis and a few others came TO con-
eress they knocked the old presidents
into a cooked hat. The country APP
plauded the rebellious spirit that re-
suited in these men smashing prece-
dents; and ever since it has been
quite the proper thing for the new
members to get into the game just
as fast as possible. This is particu-
larly desirable with a change OF po-
litical administration, since the men
who early show special ability, or
energy are apt to become h lead
ers in the new movements that are
ahead.
Retiring presidents are all alike IN
one particular, and that is that they
like to take care of their old political
COMPANIONS who have been left out
in the cold by the cruel decree of the
voters. The senate refused TO con-
firm the appointments OF President
Wilson; but there were positions with
in the gift of the executive which
didn't require the approval Of The SEN
ate. Senator Marcus Smith was
tucked away in n of these, and 9th
ers drew similar prizes. But when
a few days before March 4, President
Wilson requested the resignation OF
Obadiah Gardner from the information
al joint commission for settlement oil
questions arising on the boundary wa.
tiers between the United States and
Canada, and then offered the position
TO his secretary, Mr.. Tumulty, there
was a lot of comment about Wash
ington. Mr.. Tumulty refused, where
upon Secretary of Labor Wilson was
given the place. Now there were q
lot of "lame ducks" taken care of be
sides Mr.. Wilson; but the n in
which he was given a nice soft place
to tumble into was so notorious, that
President Harding had it whispered
to Mr.. Wilson that he should resigr
from the commission. Ordinary Tame
ducks pass by unnoticed, but wher
it comes to finding places for retiring
cabinet officers it passeth the endur
ance of mild-mannered men, even like
Mr.. Harding.
Present railroad operating costs
are too high" says Senator Cummins
whose name is hinged to the present
transportation act. So Mr.. Cummins
of the Esch-Cummins act, wants III
investigation by congress to deter
mine what is to be done about mat
ters, in order that 'the railroads may
survive" Everyone, including the
railroads, appear to be agreed thai
rates cannot be raised. The railroads
consent to this because OF the refusa
of the public to pay the freight, OIL
pay the fares. The nub of the prob
lem in reducing operating costs o
the railroads seems to center upOl
the question of reducing wages of tn,
railway employees. And sometime
over two million men are hollerinl
like Comanche Indians that cit can
be done" Meanwhile appeals of al
kinds are being made to Washing
ton, ranging from attempts to secur'
the return of the roads to government
management to efforts to obtain tn
reductions through the federal agen
cies charged with wage adjustments
The fight is a bitter one, and the pub
lie appears not disturbed in the least
l 1t seems clear that congress is gla'