The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1935-08-08
WA5HIN GT0N. D. E..


that populate the Virgin islands.
All of this, it seems to me, shows
the woeful need for careful considera-
ton of that situation. 1t seems to me
equally apparent that as long as con-
gress keeps meddling in and as long as
politicians from the mainland are sent
there purely on political basis we
will continue to have pack of trouble
bundled up in those Virgin islands.
Several attempts have been made to
work out a governmental system worth
while but the politicians are not among
those who will let plums escape. 1t is
certain, therefore, that the Pearson
understandings battle royal is an
outcropping of what amounts to a
fostering sore in American govern
mental policy.
If congress continues in session past
August 10, and it is now apparent that
it may run to Sep
Long Session TENDER 1, it will have
Severe Strain been in session 225
days, some two
weeks longer than the average of the
so-called long sessions of congress.
Prior to adoption of the "lame duck"
amendment which did away with ses-
sions of unequal length, the shorter
sessions of congress averaged about
10 days. The longer terms were
around 215 days before final adjourn
ment was taken. Thus, the current
session stands in a fair way to be
among the list of hardy sessions.
Ali of which is by way of saying
that the current session of congress
has worn down its members both
physically and mentally to an extent
quite unusual. l was talking a few
days ago with veteran senator, a
man who has served almost % years
in the upper house of congress. He is
known as a physically strong indi-
vidual and usually lasts very well
through the work that piles up before
senators and representatives inquired
of him concerning the general health
of congress and his reply was:
ICSICI " say We al just a
of debilitated old men, incapable of
doing the job that is expected Of us
and everyone is hoping against hope
that we can live through this work and
this heat"
AS a result of that conversation the
thought came to me that here was an
answer to the oft repeated declaration
that members of congress fail to earn
their salaries of $4,000 per year.
have observed congressional proceed
ings almost score Of years and it is
my mature conviction that few times
in that period has congress failed to
earn its salt.
Of course, there have been many
sessions characterized wholly by no
results. There have been sessions
which were given over wholly to play
ing politics, to mending political
munition for political campaign soon
to follow. But it must be said in fair
ness to congress that these sessions are
the exception rather than the rule.
When the senator used the expression
"debilitated old men" he touched what
l believe to be keynote. The bulk of
the members of the house and senate
are what might be termed old men in
years although the average has been
lowered greatly in the last five years
by the election of numerous younger
men. 1t stands to reason, however,
hot oil Of 10 coninr rnnnohQrc Of tho
house and senate, and they are the
men who actually guide affairs, have
served many years in congress. They
have become more valuable to the ma
ton as a result of that service and
when they are overworked. it seems TO
me, there is real loss to the nation.
There is another reason why con-
gressional sessions should not run so
long and should not
When Sofons be carried on in the
Are Tired intense heat of
Washington summer
One condition nearly always has OBJ
tanned near the close of a long ses-
sion. As the days drag by, persons
with axes to grind and individual in
terests to serve have a way of digging
up questionable bills that heretofore
had been side-tracked and assumed to
be dead. With resistance low, the
average senator or representative is
unable to fight off legislation which he
knows to be bad with the same spiriL
that accompanied his activities earlier
in the session. Likewise. he is unable
to battle as successfully as before for
legislation which he knows to be good.
This condition opens the way for
a revival of lobbies They are back
in Washington in numbers now despite
the disclosures being made by the two
congressional committees that are in
vestigating the Hobbies that operated to
defeat, temporarily at least, the legis-
lation killing utility holding COM
panies. One would have assumed
justly with the investigations under
way after the utility legislation was
passed that lobbyists and self-serving
representatives would have been
frightened away from Washington.
Such was not the case. They are here
in such numbers that some observers
believe Mr.. Roosevelt has made mis-
take in demanding that congress stay
until ii has enacted the share-the-
wealth-tax bill and the legislation
which will prohibit lawsuits against
the government for damages resulting
from abrogation of the promise in gov
hnndc fn ;p
Mr.. Roosevelt is insisting on these
laws He will get them. But In the
opinion of many authorities he stands
fair chance also Of getting some
other legislation which he may not
want.
n western Newspaner ITnion