Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-06
FREDERICK HASKIN

Washington, D. c.. July 3.-The
Sixty Seventh Congress is now thrse
months old so far as Its active WORK
Is concerned. New members TO the
number of 12c-a record crop OF baby
Congressmen-are by now well started
on the road to the knowledge that there
is a tremendous difference between
State Street back home and Pennsyl-
vania Avenue in Washington. Their
Importance in their own eyes has
steadily shrunk since their advent
here They have not reformed the
Government, restored Liberty Bonds to
par. shaken the Capitol dome win
fiery oratory, or accomplished any
other of their many dreams. one ex-
cellent reason is that the Congressional
system does not permit 1t, ana they
have not had a chance.
A famous New York editor, when
asked some years ago what compensa-
tion a Senator received, replied. Five
thousand dollars year and the privi-
lege of membership in the greatest
club in the world" House member
ship has never been defined so CON
cisely. 1t might well be compared 70
the public schools OF England. The
new boy has to go through many soul
crushing experiences before he finds
his proper level.
Trace the career OF new member
He has come successfully through a
campaign on top of successiul
primary fight He is the big man OF
his community. The fates have put
upon his shoulders the responsibility OF
| leaping to the quarterback OF the Shir
of State, Wrestling the wheel from the
{, incompetent hands which have held
1t. and guiding the vessel safely away
from the perilous shoals which
threaten.
| The President has called a special
session of Congress. The rookie. who
ordinarily would hask in the sunshine
of home town adulation for more thar
a year before. coming TO Washington
packs up his belongings and prepares
TO go to the Capital to put the Govern
ment on its feet again.
On the Way to Glory
The boys parade to the station, bear
| ing their standard bearer aloft OF
their shoulders Banners and a brass
, band go before. and worshiping con
| stituents follow He makes n speech
the last one he will make for many
months. He is wildly cheered. and Is
presented with floral horseshoe. paic
for Jointly by the John q. Smith
Marching Club. the Volunteer Fire De
partment, and the gentleman who ex'
poets to be appointed postmaster.
The trip TO Washington endures too
long for this statesman TO keep hi,
identity secret, In the smoking room
or the dining car he finds occasion t'
tell one or more-preferahly mOre-oi
his casual train acquaintances that HI
is a Member OF Congress on his was
to Washington. Polite interest 1.
aroused. Perhaps he is told what Con.
gress ought to do about the tariff, ant
certainly he gets lots Of advice about
knowledge OF taxation is what they
have to pay on the fifteenth day o
March each year and quarterly there
after.
The prideful Young man alightS n
the Union Station in washington. Witl
4 lordly air he indicates to an ap
preaching Red Cap porter that he vii
permit him to carry his bag. The por
ter appears to be making for him
respect and suhssrvience evident on hi
ebony features He goes right on by
though, and eagerly snatches two sui
cases from fat shoe drummer wh'
makes Washington twice a month. an,
is always good for a quarter tip. Thii
is the first tiny pIn-prick in th'
balloon OF pride
Eventually securing porter ou
hero emerges from the station an,
views for tn" first time the inrnir!n.
| labors henceforth, the particula
welkin designed for ringing to the ora
| tory bubhling within him. Reluctant,
he withdraws his gaze. honors the per
| spring porter with n wcll-worn dim
| for which he gets scant acknowledge
| ment. and starts away to n hotel
where Were the R-por,erss
zAt the hotel he gets -cant attention
| He manages to let the room clerk know
that he is a Congressman. The clcrl
merely looks bored. Eventually room
| is assigned to him All evening IN
rookie Representative remains in tn
| lobby or In his room. He wants to b
accessible To the reporters.
Now comes his first real Jolt. No
| only do the reporters somehow fail I,
| find him. but there is not even a lin
/ In the morning newspaper noting hi
I arrival Everyone has not been 81
sliEhted. he finds. The Speaker ha
| been persuaded to give his ideas OF tn
| problems with which Congress mus
wresrlo. The floor leaders views oI
the legislative program are set forth
Tho Chairman OF the Ways and Mean
| Committee has had something to "a!
/ about revision OF the tariff and taxa
I ton.
I The tyro legislator spends his firs
/ day in Washington trying to find
| boarding house. Tho tircd-lookini
women to whomhe applies do not bow
| down at his feet when tho new maj
acquaints them with the fact that h.
/ Is one OF the Members OF the sixty
| seventh Congress. The only result Il
a boost in the price the landlady wal
| about TO quote.
| The forruniitiax NJ tho onoptpr -