The daily independent., 1937-08-10

| His State; Maritime COmmlS-
sion Registry Is WhO's-WhO Of
Famous Lobbyists; Way Back
In 1928, Joe Robinson An
nounced He Was Ready To
Quit.
Washington-All the Senate
talk about New York State get
Ting chief benefits under the Wag-
ner Housing Bill overlooked the
fact that New York, and other
densely populated Eastern States,
have been paying a large part OF
the Vests agricultural and re-
clamation bills.
For instance, no member or
Congress has been more success
full in getting appropriation bills
beneff$ing his State than Con-
gressman Jack Dempsey Of New
Mexico. That State now has a
population of only 100000, less
than one-fourth as many as
Manhattan Island alone, but
Dempsey, a very astute operator
put through a total of ten bills al
this session authorizing or apprO-
priating funds for the benefit OF
New Mexico.
Among these was a $6,0OO,O 900
| reclamation project and S4.-
100000 project for the canallza-
ton of the Rio Grande River. Al
Ter Dempsey had got away with
these plus eight other bills, Re-
preventative Dick Kleberg, larg-
est ranch owner in Texas, came
up to him and said:
Jack, some of the Texas dele
CATION want to consult you about
some legislation we want to in
troduce.'
What's that?" inquired Demp-
sey.
We've got a resolution where
by Texas slices off some OF its
territory and gives it to New
Mexico so you'll have more room
to hold all your projects"
Men And Ambition
Albert Johnson of Washington
State. who for twenty years was
a stalwarv Republican member OF
the House, tells this story on the
late Joe Robinson.
"A group of us from the Senate
and the House, including Sena-
tor Jones Of Washington, were
honorary pall-bearers at a fun
eral," says Johnson. That was
in 1928. Joe Robinson was there,
and as we sat in tha. room on
the second story of the residence,
Robinson said:
- I know what you are think
ink about. You are wondering why
all this turmoil. why this contin-
ual battle in life. But you will
not stop. l am going 20 quit this
year, and go back to the hills OF
Arkansas. This is my last term.
But you men won't quit. Your
ambition will drive you forward,
or you will have some progam you
want to put over, and you will
continue in this turmoil, but l
am going 20 quit
That very summer continu-
ed Johnson. "on his return home
from Washington, he went to the
Houston convention and was
nominated as the running mate
with Al Smith. He became one Of
the leaders in the Senate, and
later died of hear failure while
leading one of those battles he
had declared he was tired of and
going to quit, in order to get back
to the mountains of Arkansas"
Statesmen
To some Of the politiCos in the
House, principle, apparently, is
one ching and consistency an
other.
After a protracted struggle.
Section 213, famous. ban against
simultaneous job-holding by huS-
bands and wives, was repealed.
When this act was passed in 1888
some 5000 husbands and wives
were dismissed, and a number of
divorces and unwed relationships
were directly attributed to it.
The House voted for repeal by
a large margin. Among chose who
shouted may" were:-
Representative Lewis L. Boyer,
Dem, ILL.,, whose son, John L., is
on his congressional payroll.
Representative Raymond S.
McKeough, Dem, ILL.,, whose
daughter, Catherine T., is OH his
congressional payroll.
Representative Andrew J. May,
DEM, KY, whose wife, julia G.,
is on his congressional payroll.
Representative John M. O-Con-
nell, DEM, N. Y, whose son,
John NJ, Jr., is on his congress
Sional payroll.
Representative Malcolm G..
Tarver Dem, Ga, whose son. NAL
colin c., Jr., is on his congress-
ional payroll.
Ship Lobbyists
Despite all the howl on Capt.
tol Hill about lobbyists. it has
taken the new Maritime Commits
sion to crack down on the but
tonhole boys.
The shipping lobby has been