Milford chronicle., 1954-06-25
Herb" WarburtOn
Worker And ''RamrOd"
BY Mcclellan Smith

NAVANAtlM NulllW
In the 18 years this reporter
has covered Capitol Hill he has
observed-at close range-hundreds
OF Congressman. Many of them
good, too many of them mediocre.
while those who have been out
standing could readily be counted
on the fingers of two hands. Repre-
sentative Herbert B. Warburton.
Wilmington Republican, is one of
those the writer would count on
his fingers. And for good reasons
which will be partially detailed
here.
All congressman take themselv-
es seriously, but in doing so. fail
to take their jobs seriously. In
congress, it is the Job that counts
not the man. It may sound cyni-
cal, but this writer has learned
that the average member of the
House of Representatives exerts
hlmself only to the extent that he
IS certain his exertiOns will hold
Tor him the same majority by which
ne won in his last election. He fig-
ures he is in Washington to please
only those who voted for him, and
THE heck with those who voted
against me last time"
Herb" Warburton's philosophy
is entirely different. He honestly
regards himself as the national
legislative representative of all the
people in Delaware, regardless of
voters individual political affilia-
tions. He puts it this way:
Il don't care how they voted
last time-fOr or against me-the
citizens of Delaware are my en-
ployers. l am here to serve every
last Blue Hen in the State. This
office doesn't belong to me: II be-
longs to the people of Delaware
not to Herb WarburtOn. I. with
my staff, am here to serve Della
wares best interests, not to safe
guard our jobs, come next cleo
tion" And that, to a seasoned Capt.
tOl Hill reporter, is unique in that
1t is as far from the average Con-
gressman's views of his constituent
cy as TimbuctOO is from say, Dover.
This attitude and philosophy of
Warburton's was strikingly docu-
mented within the past few days.
A business man of Wilmington.
who had opposed Mr.. WarburtOn in
MS bid for Congress, wrote the
for information of a
nature requiring considerable re-
search. More properly, the inquiry
should have been directed to one
1t the Federal agencies. Ninety
llne out OF every 100 Congressman
would have passed the inOuirv
along to that Agency with a re-
luest that it reply direct to the in
lulrer. This would have caused a
ielay of two or more weeks
But WarburtOn did not do il the |
easy way! He went directly to the !
agency involved. From its library
ne obtained the information his |
democratic constituent requested
Time and Onte-taking were involv-
cd, but the next morning the in
formation was in Wilmington. to
ne astOnlshment of the recipient
"ho' by the way, was equally
prompt in expressing his apprecia-
ion, noting that Mr.. Warbnrton's
cooperation surpassed any I have
ever received from members of INV
own Party in House or Senate"
Although a freshman" in Con |
Sress, Rep. Warburton serves on
Wo major House Committees-Tn- |
Commerce and Public
Works. Both demand a great deal |
u his time, but he very much likes |
ne assignments. Delaware. he ex- |
)lains, is an industrial state of ma |
or proportions. 1t has large stakes !
n legislation within the scOne of |
ne Commerce Committee, while
ne Public Works group must give |
-pprOVal to pending legislation To !
make the Delaware River Channel
traffic artery of even greater
lgniiicance to the industrial
.rowth of the State.
Committee work, although ex-
citing, does not consume all of
tep. Warburton's time. There is
correspondence to be acknowledg-