The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-02-20
LAME DUCKS FARIEG
nAngN AT nAplT0I
DnUEB r. JNENEUE
PRESIDENT IS NOT TAKING
CARE OF DEFEATED SENA-
TORS AND CONGRESSMAN.

WASHINGTON, ID. C.-"Lame
ducks are out of luck" is the comment
of unofficial observers at the national
capital, who see the end of the sixty
seventh congress approaching with
some sixty defeated solons of the
"lame duck" class on the anxious seat.
What is to become OF the lame
ducks who will be left towering on
the horizon when the gavels fall on
March 4th continues to be the great
unanswered question. 1t seems likely,
however, that the lame duck brigade
will have to retire to private lie on
that dav. as the white house is stead
fastly declining to take care" OF limp
ing members of the senate and house
by giving them the coveted comfort
able berths at lucrative salaries in led
eral boards. and bureaus.
The news which percolates from
the white house that the president is
preparing TO leave Washington i'm
mediately after congress adjourns for
a long vacation in Florida is causing
a feeling OF great uneasiness to spread
among the lame ducks.
They are beginning to fear the
worst. In other words, they are be-
ginning to apprehend that the presi-
dent has adopted a strict anti-crutch
policy. If that information proves cor
rect. scores OF defeated members OF
congress. who have been looking long
ing1y toward the pie counter, will
start in the direction of home and prl-
yate life about the time President
Harding pulls out Of Washington to
bask in the salubrious breezes of
Florida. This is going to be very
tough on some of the limping MEM
bers. and especially on their wives
and daughters who have become at
tached to the capitals social life.
Washington is a very attractive city
and the thought OF having to go back
to Podunk to live after these years of
social splendor creates a distressed
state of mind.
All signs indicate that the president
has adopted policy of declining to
use the public treasury for the benefit
of the large assortment of lame ducks
whom the fortunes of war left Jobless
at the last election Naturally it is
a subject upon which there can be no
formal or proclaimed policy, but per-
sons who are watching the trend OF
affairs say the president does not rec
ognize that defeated members of con-
gress have claim on the treasury.
Not long ago a delegation came
here from Ohio to do some quiet
sleuth work with a view to seeing
whether or not is would be possible
to land a certain defeated Buckeye
member in a fat and comfortable jul
dicial berth The prospecting was not
good and the delegation went home
empty-ha handed
Following his defeat for renomina-
ton Senator Porter J. McCumber, OF
North Dakota, chairman OF the sem
ate finance committee and a co-author
OF the Fordney- McCumber tariff law,
was boosted for the governorShip of
the federal reserve board to succeed
w. P. G. Harding. d. R. Crissinger,
of Marion, O., was appointed.
Similarly, Senator Charles E. Town
send, defeated for reelection III Mich
igan, had been frequently mentioned
as likely to be appointed a member
of the interstate commerce commits
sion to succeed Charles c. McChord,
of Kentucky, a democrat, whose term
was shortly to expire. 1t was pointed
out that Townsend was not only a
very good friend Of the president, but
that by reason OF his experience as a
member of the senate interstate com
merge committee and as author Of the
Townsend railroad act, he was well
equipped for the appointment.
But the dope" went wrong again
and McChord, now chairman OF the
commission, was reappointed to six
year term at $4,000 a year.
President Harding's political eye
teeth were cut long time ago and
the congressional lame ducks are be
ginning to suspect that there is meth
cd in withholding nominations Tor
numerous vacancies and prospective
vacancies until the very close Of the
present congress. The presidents
heart is set on getting his ship sub
sidy bill through before March 4th.
Retiring members whose hearts are
set on securing appointive jobs are
likely to remain warm and mellow
toward the ship subsidy bill until
their personal fortunes are decided,
and the tip from the inner circle is
that good many appointments will
be held open until after the tate OF
the subsidy measure is determined. p