Evening star., 1944-06-11
Sic Year Limit Urged for Congress
Arnold Proposal
By oud Lincoln

COlflSS W ICSdAu ilAAiSlAA dS dA
pensable asset to his constituency, then
the warning signal of Fascism is flying
When the notion runs rampant that the
people serve the state-in the form of
it's elected leaders-then the time has
come for more diligent exercise of the
right of independent choice and self
determination by the individual citizen.
1t is by virtue of these functions alone
that our Nation remains unassailable in
strength and stability"
Cites Age Of Leaders.
Mr.. Arnold pointed out that long
tenure of office inevitably resulted in
the holding of important positions by
men of advanced age. In this connec-
ton he said:
These revealing facts were published
recently. The ages Of committee chair
man of Senate Committees on Appro-
priations, Agriculture, Post Ofices,
Privileges and Elections, Commerce,
Reclamation and Naval Affairs are 86,
80, rs, n and II, respectively. In the
House the chairman OF the important
Ways and Means Committee is 80;
Foreign Affairs, "A; Rules, rs; Rivers
and Harbors, SO.
Contrast the ages of these present
members of Congress with those 6f the
men who served in our Republics first
administration and the reasons for the
all-too-frequent ineptitude of our cur
rent Congress and cabinet will be plainly
revealed. Thomas Jefferson was 46;
Alexander Hamilton, 80; Henry Knox,
%; Samuel osgood, Al; Edmond Ran
dolph, SO.
"The fruitful years of legislators
public life too often becomes the laurel
wreath of acclaim upon which he pins
n1onotonous sequence of public acts
Gradually, as term succeeds term. the
affairs of the Congressman's district be-
come more remote to him. He becomes
a part OF the Washington scene. The
details of organization and maintenance
of the machinery Of election are left to
his henchmen back home. To all in
tends and purposes, he becomes Cap
itolite in fact, and the State or Territory
which granted him his seat continues
to be his home and center Of interest
only as necessity and convenience die
tate.
Fears Prolonged Stay.
"The exigencies of war make it i'm
perative that the Congress remain in
almost continuous session. Until the
moment of victory comes, and well into
the period of reconstruction following
the conflict, it will be necessary to fol-
low the same legislative schedule in the
interest of the Nations welfare.
Naturally, such a condition tends to
expand tremendously the dangerous
policy OF increased centralization of
government in Washington. The issue
Of States Rights may become irrevocably
lost in the complex maize of bureaucracy
and government by directive, unless a
substantial bulwark Is established
against further encroachment.
TO guarantee regular infusion Of
new blood into the ranks OF Congress
would provide an excellent means of
anti-centralization control"
The fact that many members of Con-
gress after they have been retired re-
main in Washington and open offices
here brought from Mr.. Arnold the fol-
lowing comment:
The shores of the pond of Washing
ton society are Uttered with an ac-
cumulation of humanity deposited there
by reason of the presence of public
servants in various stages of activity
mostly defunct. Like the college football
star who loves to play football and hates
to quit his playing and go to work, they
are victims of the system which pro-
duces them. Once they have gotten a
taste OF the undeniahle glamour which
attends the position of an elected official
OF the United States Government, they
are forevermore 'grandstand players
Their sense of value becomes distorted.
They lose interest in their former pur-
suits as rule, and willingly adopt the
profession of staying in Washington.
Connection in the Metropolitan Area
has passed the point of being merely
humorous. 1t has become a civic neces-
sity to relieve the pressure wherever
possible, and there could be no better
place to commence than in the ranks
Continued on Page C-3, Column S.