The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-01-21
Aging Senators Resent
Remarks By Colleague

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1u-u.t|
Several Senators past their 10th
birthday nniver rs ry tonight
verbally spanked younger collea-
que 68-year-old Sen. Thomas Hart,
R.. Conn, who boldly stated that
for a long time now men of too
advanced age" have held seats in
the Senate.
Hart, in a letter made public
last week, said he would be SO
this summer and said that "six
more years will carry me well
into the 70's and that is an age
of declining powers for nearly all
men. To this he added the comment
that for years it has been true that
men of too advanced age have held
seats in the U. S. Senate"
Some Of his colleagues, whose
ages run as high as 88, pricked
up their ears at these "untactfup'
words.
Sen. Arthur Capper, R., Kan,
who is 80, said he was amazed.
Hart is wrong in thinking that a
mans powers decline after he
reaches TO-" he said. II still feel
able to give the people Of Kansas
as good service as ever.
II have three more years to
serve, and l think I'll serve them
at least
Whether he will then run for re-
election depends on what happens
in the meantime" he said. II
still feel I'm going pretty good
and I've had no suggestions from
the people of my state that on ac-
count of my age ought to retire"
Sen. Theodore F. Green, D., R. l.,
who is 70, said tartly that ''if
Sen. Hart feels that his powers are
declining, he ought to resign-but
declining powers don't depend on
years"
81 agree with Sen. Hart that men
of fading powers have occupied
Senate seats too long-but it is
not a question of their age. Some
people are old at 81 and others
haven't grown up even when they're
3d."
Seventy-three-year old Sen. John
H. Bankhead, D., Ala, said that
Hart is acting too old for his age.
81 didn't think he was as old as
he is acting" he said testify.
There is no age when man
should resign-it all depends on
the man and some men are old at
So"
Bankhead said he walked three
miles a day land that is no old
mans walk-I could walk three
times as far as Sen. Hart" The
trouble with Hart, he added, is
that 'he's got sea legs, while I've
got land legs" Chart is a retired
admiraD.
Bankhead said he knew a man
100 years. old "who walks as spry
as Sen. Hart does now-and is as
spry."
In the House, Rep. Adolph J.
SABBATH, who will be 80 in April.
conceded that "men are not like
whiskey-they don't improve with
age" Nevertheless, he said, cal
though I will be 80 in April, I am
more active than nearly any other
member of Congress. feel as well
today as I did 20 years ago even
if I can't run quite as fast"
SABBATH said he always has a
good nights sleep and takes exer-
else. AS for Hart, he said "the
Senator may feel his age because
of his many social affairs which
keep him up at night"
Hart had no further comment.
The joint congressional stream
lining committee meets Tuesday
to study a plan to modernize Con-
gress which includes a recommen-
dalton that members be placed
under the federal civil service re-
tirement system.
SABBATH said he greatly favored
some sort of pension or retirement
plan. Capper said there was no need
for any. Green said one is badly
needed and that it is most urgent
that Congressional salaries be
raised soon. Already, "the Senate
tends to be a rich mans club"
he said.