Pueblo chieftain., 1921-06-24
TOO MANY COOKS SPOIL THE PIE
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

BY Frederic ]. Haskin.
washington. D. C. June el.-That a
political majority may be too over
wheLninS for convenience. especially
when (. consists In large part OF new
ConErcssmen. lie fact which 10 now
being experienced by Republican load
ers and privately admitted by some
Of them.
Especially is the great number OF
Republican legislators at a disadvan-
tare when II comes to the sll-impor-
tant and always irritating husincss of
dividing up the pie. Vastly more en-
crry is always expended by Congress
mon in appointing postmasters. rev
enue collectors marshals and elevator
boys than IN studying any Of the major
measures. II is easy to md a Con
gressmAn who does not know anything
about tho naval appropriation bill. but
Impossible to md one who is no, ae-
auaintcd with all the patronage nights
in his own district in all their painful
details His reelection depends more
upon tho tact and luck with which he
manages those sAme patronage nshs
than upon anything sir1.
Now there are many tcns to be
can majority. there are also a great
many Senators and Representatives.
with constituents who expect TO he
hono-ea and incidentally rcmuncrstod.
With 800 Republican Representatives
and 50 Republican S.natora tn.
scramble at the pie counter has never
beer 40 lively.
One result Of the situation. which is
growing more acute. ts a conflict be
tween tho Republican majority IN Con
-rcss and the executive departments
OF the government. Tho 3ss Repueli-
cans IN tho senate and house arc feet
ins the squeeze from both sides. Their
consti,u"nu. who regard Themselves
as tho people who made possible
swe~p,ns Harding into once with a
tremendous majority. and the election
OF a tophcsvy Republican majority.
particularly In the lover branch OF
Congress. now are demanding rom.
recognition OF their work In IN. cam
paiEn.
The Pcsterrd Secretaries
These claims arc being taken up and
pressed ~ vigorously NJ possible by
every Republican member Of Con-
zr~ss. with sss men In wsshlns,ou
CONTINUALLY urging upon half dozen
/ csbinr; of,cerr the appointment OF this
man and that mar. thes- cabinet Of
l Nt'Ff ~" svilHs 1TasAssI 0'FNrrs y
few members OF the cabinet are rrarr
Ideally frs. OF this sor, of pressure.
/ having departments with very few poll
iticsl plums to dispense
Every cabinet of'ccr, or courEe with
! a large and important executive do.
I partm~nt to direct ana control has a
I mans size Job. exclusive OF making ap-
I rointrncnts. Win new tax program
permanent tariff hIii 20 be enacted.
and host of other legislative mat.
tcrs 10 he attended 70, Congress also
d mas plenty to do. but patronage Ia a
matter which cannot be neglected.
Hence the busy ConErcsr-nan call.
upor the busy cabinet member and
/ tire result is mutual boredom and irri-
tation.
Al least ono member Of tho cahin.,
/ has denied himself 10 about every body
| from tho capitol. certain important
member of tho house organization. OF
/ trying 10 sec this cabinet member not
/ only was refused. but Won, back to the
capitol boiling with rage when n. wa.
/ not permitted even to sec the eAblne;
officers secretary.
As a result Of this. "a ia said. when
/ tho appropriation for that department
[ IN brought before Congress. ,his sec.
/ retary may find his salary reduced
/ Congregational dignity is a touchy thing
/ Gradually. Of course. ths situation
viii &c worked out Right now 10 gs
serious one in Republican ranks
! The smaller Workers In the R.publi.
can organizations thrunut the country
/ feel that they should have jobs. after
eight years OF Democratic admins.
tration. In fact they will need them
I Their appeal. of course. is to their rep.
repentativcs and senator's. These men
take M THAR appeals and carry them
on to the departments having tn. risht
of appointment. Tho fac. ;ha, ,hsre
arc so very many Republicans is max.
Ing IL emharraslng for everyone Tho
prospect OF long drawn out sess!on
IN Washington summer Is not helping
toward good feeling anyvh.r. Along
tho line.
The situation is also mad. worse ev
the fact that there are 81, many new
msmhers OF Congress- A very large
percentage OF these men come TO
Washington for the first time with no
mean idea n their Importance and
position. They often make demands
not REQUESTS. some rags and fums
when 'hess demands are no, Instantly
coripiied with