Evening star., 1938-06-24
PRESS VIEWS ON
CUSTER OF JENKS

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on the custer Of Arthur B. jerks ~
Republican member Of the House of
Representatives from New Hampshire
and the seating Of his Democratic op-
ponent, Alphonse Roy, who ran in the
election of 1896. The matter has been
investigated since the election, and the
State election board decided in favor Of
jerks.
"The New Hampshire Ballot Law Com
mission" says the Buffalo Evening News,
would seem to be in better position than
the House Elections Committee to de-
termine the right of this affair. But the
Constitution provides that each house
shall be the judge Of the elections, re-
turns and qualifications Of its own mem
bers. Thus the House was within its
rights IN setting aside the ruling OF the
State body: Its decision to do 80 will be
welcomed by Representative Roy, who
must stand for reelection next fan"
Among the 122 Conrressmen who
supported Mr. Jenks," says the Columbus
(Ohio) Citizen, "s2 were Republicans.
who might be accused of partisanship.
But 28 were Democrats, including many
whom We regard as among the most
judicially minded members OF Congress.
And most significant OF all, we think, is
tho fact that every one of the seven
Progressives and the five Farmer Labor
ties in the House-these being without
Republican or Democratic bias-voted
for Mr.. jerks"
"Jenks received his pay and mileage"
states the Grand Rapids Herald for
the time he has been a member and the
House voted to pay Roy $4,000 in salary
he never earned plus several Thousand
dollars more in mileage. Thus is the
Treasury raided to supply = campaign
fund by which Roy may run again this
fall, even though he has not and cannot
render any service in return for it. How
the action of those Democrats who voted
for tho custer impressed members Of
their own party was manifested when
they rose to their feet to applaud jerks
as he left the floor but remained silent
when Roy came in to be sworn in. 1t was
manifest, too, when the Democrats
rushed across the House to shake hands
and slap jerks on the back as he walked
out, but they let Roy find his way in
alone"
Perhaps we should not quibble over
few hundred or . few thousand dollars
more or less" advises the Toledo Blade,
when billions are spent for priming the
pump and pumping the primaries. but
IN this case Congress puts its ofilcial O. K.
upon the too prevalent practice of getting
something for nothing. The law-making
body sets bad example by giving 4
semblance Of legality to a reprehensible
theory
Minority Leader Spell," observes the
New York Times, secs q sinister design.
Mr.. Roy gets something like $25,0oO a
huge campaign fund for his benefit and
tnat Of Senator Brown, candidate for re-
election. Even if Mr.. Roy Is 10 re-
markably generous, why shouldn't the
unseated Mr.. jerks be just as generous?
He is a retired manufacturer. He is
president OF a bank. Surely he can
afford to be liberal with his own vast
campaign fund"
The phenomenon" according to the
Nashville Banner, suggests several nice
questions in parliamentary procedure,
though purely hypothetical What now
would be the status Of measures intro
duced by jerks, or what effect would the
change have on legislation if-as did not
happen-Jenks vote had been the dectd-
Ing factor? Fortunately, In the light OF
the present issue, that has never hap
pened In the House, though such 4 tie
frequently occurs in the Senate"
The sum Of $25,o0o," in the judgment
Of the Knoxville journal, lis simply
pocket change to the present Congress,
but the principle involved In this Incl
dent is identical with that Of any other
daylight holdup, with the taxpayer in the
role OF the victim reaching for the sky!'"
"Under ordinary circumstances" COM
ments the Cincinnati Tmes-Star, "a loss
OF membership in Congress through Q
patiently partisan vote is not a matter to
arouse the amusement of the loser But
AZ Mr.. jerks passed from the House
chamber to prepare for another contest
against his rival, his ruddy face was
creased in a broad grin. To the Demo-
Gratis who rushed up to express regret
for their action. he replied with a hearty
laugh: That's all right. That's all right,
boys. III be back with you next year,
And we'll bet hat he Isl"
In tho case Of Roy vs.. jerks, our
verdict is. Not proven" concludes the
Rock Island Argus and the Indianapolis
News makes the comment: THE Demo-
Gratis who voted for the change over
ruled New Hampshire's decision, thus
forcing upon the State 4 representative
which 1t said was not elected"