The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-01-29

NdSnlngJOn, Jan. ~.
Unless it experiences a quick
change of heart it will never be said
Of this Congress that, during the war,
it distinguished itself for disinterested
and patriotic service. On the contrary,
a strong case can be made right now
for the reverse. Certainly, the record
of the last six months is nothing of
which to be proud.
###
To be sure, Congress has voted al
most unanimously the uncounted bill
lions asked by the President for the
prosecution Of the war. 1t wildly APP
plauded the Roosevelt and Churchill
speeches. 1t has given the President
all the personal power he asked AnG
much fervent oratory has come from
Senators and Representatives person
ally stressng the necessity Of sacri-
fees upon the part Of the people. But
have they themselves set an example
in this business Of sacrifice? Have
they given any evidence of willingness
to relinquish any personal perquisities
in the national interest?
&##
Let the record answer the ques-
tions. On December u, the Senate by
a vote Of So to 30 inserted in an appro-
priation bill provision giving each
Senator an additional $4,000 a year
clerk. This was done despite the pleas
OF various Senators that it was a
shameless and ineXcusable thing to do
at this time and under these circum-
stances, The House, seemingly more
self-respecting on this proposal, heed
ed the protest and refused to concur
thus killing this snely little scheme
1853
On January 10, the Senate, by a
vote of ~ to "a, passed a bill already
passed by the House, extending the
benefits Of the Federal Civil Service
Retirement System to all members Of
Congress. 1t is, Of course, unprece-
denied. Persons elected to Federal Of
flee have never been regarded as en-
titled to retirement benefits. Hereto
fore, they have applied solely to APP
pointed job holders and the primary
purpose was to provide some sort Of
pension for the small Federal clerks
whose pay is poor and who REACH
the age Of 10 after long service.
###
For members Of Congress now to
legislate themselves into the retire.
. ment system is a piece of unadulter.
ated selishness. 1t was done over
strong protests from Senator Byrd of
Virginia, Senator Norris of Nebraska
and others who pointed out that this,
in effect was an act by the Senate to
pension Senator's; that it would be
bad at any time, but with the nation
at war and the whole Federal credit
system under terrific strain, it is an
indefensible action.
##~
Nevertheless it was taken. The
twenty-four protesting Senators were
overridden by the majority and unless
the President vetoes the bill, which
is not likely members of Congress
are ''in.' OF course, it is small stuff
but it leaves a very bad taste in the
mouth, particularly, when it is noted
that in the majority that voted for the
additional clerk as well as for the
pension proposal, were the Senators
who over the radio and on the Senate
floor are most passionately patriotic,
belligerent and insistent upon the
necessity of sacrifice.
###
To these two purely selfish acts
must be coupled the larger facts that
in the face of unmistakable initiation
perils Congress has fddled and fooled
with the vital price-control law for
six months; that it has weakly and
wickedly yielded to pressure from the
farm lobby; that it utterly lacked the
force TO enact anti-strike legislation;
that it cravenly lodged the wage.
regulation issue; that the House re-
Gently passed. under lobby pressure
two Enthusiastically eXtravagent veteran
pension proposals and Senate com
mittee is now considering them.